Woodwind artist John Surman is not a name one hears in this country very often, even in jazz circles, despite a career that spans 45 years. This is largely because his journey is centered in Europe, where the native of Devon, England first gained recognition in the fertile London scene of the mid-1960s. There, he played with band leaders like Mike Westbrook, Alexis Korner, and Ronnie Scott, all pioneers of British jazz. The soon-to-be 65-year old went on to record with guitar great John McLaughlin, Miles Davis collaborator Gil Evans, and others. In the late '70s, Surman began a relationship with the quintessential European jazz label, ECM Records, which continues to this day. Tonight, he begins a rare area appearance at Blues Alley, in support of his latest ECM release, Brewster's Rooster. more ›