A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe

A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe is a solo album by English saxophonist John Surman, recorded in October 1994 and released on ECM the following year.^[1]

A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe
Studio album by John Surman
Released	1995
Recorded	October 1994 (1994-10)
Genre	Jazz
Length	49:45
Label	ECM ECM 1528
Producer	Manfred Eicher
John Surman chronology
Nordic Quartet (1994) A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe (1995) Proverbs and Songs (1997)

Reception

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings included the album in its suggested “core collection” of essential recordings.^[2]

The AllMusic review by Stacia Proefrock stated: "John Surman is an artist with an amazing range and depth of style, from contemporary classical to jazz to electronic music. In few places is this more evident than on A Biography of the Rev. Absalom Dawe, on which Surman acts as a sort of one-man wind chamber ensemble... Elements of modern composition, jazz, and European folk can be heard throughout and the mood is one of reflection and wintry quiet. Overall, this is one of Surman's most daring and yet most successful projects to date."^[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Surman.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"First Light"	2:41
2.	"Countless Journeys"	7:31
3.	"A Monastic Calling"	5:53
4.	"Druid's Circle"	2:44
5.	"'Twas But Piety"	7:21
6.	"Three Aspects"	2:50
7.	"The Long Narrow Road"	2:46
8.	"Wayfarer"	9:28
9.	"The Far Corners"	6:34
10.	"An Image"	1:25
Total length:		49:45

Personnel

• John Surman – soprano and baritone saxophone, alto and bass clarinets, keyboards