33 Days to Morning Glory

Turntable Kitchen recently commissioned Yumi Zouma to cover a classic record in its entirety for the site’s Sounds Delicious subscription service. After months of deliberation, the Yumis eventually landed on Oasis’ landmark 1995 LP (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, and without giving away too many spoilers, let’s just say they nailed it. We’ve already heard their beautifully blown-out, shoegaze-y cover of “She’s Electric”, and today the group shares their slinky and very Yumi-esque (the highest compliment) dream-pop version of Morning Glory‘s best track, “Champagne Supernova“, the first song they tackled for the project.

John Surman - Morning Glory (1973) {2016 Remastered Reissue - Fledg'ling Records FLED 3101}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 269 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 89 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1973, 2016 Island Records / Fledg'ling Records / John Surman / A Wing & A Prayer | FLED 3101
Jazz / Modern Jazz / Post Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

For Morning Glory, John Surman sets aside his signature baritone saxophone in favor of soprano sax, bass clarinet, and synthesizer – the result is a record as radiant and beautiful as its title portends, comprised of four epic tracks that despite their scope represent his most mainstream work to date. The skill and dexterity of the improvisations here are astounding. Surman and sidemen Terje Rypdal (guitar), Chris Laurence (bass), John Taylor (electric piano), Malcolm Griffiths (trombone), and John Marshall (drums) connect on an almost telepathic level. But for all its experimental approaches and ingenious ad-libbing, Morning Glory is a remarkably generous album, inviting and approachable like few avant-jazz dates before it. So much of Surman's brilliance hinges on his refusal to alienate listeners regardless of their personal leanings and expectations, while at the same remaining true to his singular muse.