John Surman - Words Unspoken (2024) [Hi-Res]

The album title - Words Unspoken - alludes to the instant musical understanding found by the members of this nimble quartet assembled by great British reedman John Surman. "My idea was to put together some musical ideas that would offer a collective sense of purpose but still be open enough to allow each of us to suggest other ways of developing the material together. Everything fell into place immediately. But I soon realized it wasn't so much the musical ideas that made it work, it was the musicians." Surman and US vibraharpist Rob Waring - both residents of Oslo - had previously collaborated in John's Invisible Threads trio with Nelson Ayres, but the associations with Norwegian drummer Thomas Stronen and UK guitarist Rob Luft were new.

With these four quick-witted players, all debate takes place in the music, stimulated by Surman's strongly melodic themes and improvisational imagination.

John Surman: soprano and baritone saxophones, bass clarinet
Rob Luft: guitar
Rob Waring: vibraphone
Thomas Stronen: drums