Brewster's Rooster

Surman, John
Ecm Records (Jazz)
Jazz | Aug 2009

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2009-09-27
JOHN SURMAN: Brewster’s Rooster
ECM, 2009

MODERN JAZZ – Genre-hopping saxophonist Surman reunites with old friends (guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Jack DeJohnette) for an advanced straight-jazz session that also includes Drew Gress on bass. That’s one heck of a band, and they sound great, with lots of depth and buzzing interplay wrapped up in that soothing ECM blanket.

* * * * | All very good. Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9

1. 6:36 – serene, moody melody and light, skipping breaks; thoughtful solos
2. 7:29 – uptempo: lively sax, bouncy bass, winding guitar, busy drums
3. 6:54 – easygoing stroll, really nice quartet sound, quietly happy all around
4. 7:27 – upbeat: great drums here, drops for sneaky guitar, surfing sax solo
5. 5:51 – languorous Billy Strayhorn ballad: slow, romantic but bittersweet
6. 6:20 – free-jazz sound rises gradually on skittering drums, buzzes & swirls
7. 10:46 – calm intro; lively tune cruises with a serious edge, very well crafted
8. 6:39 – kind of a modernist strut, relaxed & soulful with some exotic touches
9. 6:48 – upbeat, smiling tune, very friendly with some tricky twists

[ Fo ] 09/27/09

Recent airplay

Kickback
Memory SelectNov 17, 2009
Brewster's Rooster
Kickback
No Cover, No MinimumOct 23, 2009
Hilltop Dancer
Memory SelectOct 20, 2009
Going For A Burton
Music CasseroleOct 17, 2009
Kickback
No Cover, No MinimumOct 09, 2009

Charting

2009-09-27 — 2009-11-29 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Nov 22 1
Nov 1 1
Oct 25 2
Oct 18 1
Oct 11 1
Oct 4 2

Track listing

1. Slanted Sky
2. Hilltop Dancer
3. No Finesse
4. Kickback
5. Chelsea Bridge
6. Haywain
7. Counter Measures
8. Brewster's Rooster
9. Going For A Burton