Withholding Pattern is a solo album by English saxophonist John Surman

John Surman

John Douglas Surman is an English jazz saxophone, bass clarinet and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music as a basis...

, released on the ECM label in 1985.

The Allmusic review by Ron Wynn awards the album 4 stars and states "Saxophone workout from '85 by outstanding British player John Surman. While solo sax can be extremely tiring, Surman mixes enough elements of rock, free, blues, and hard bop to keep the songs varied. His aggressive style, especially on baritone, keeps the energy level high."

Track listing

1. "Doxology" – 6:02
2. "Changes of Season" – 9:30
3. "All Cat's Whiskers and Bee's Knees" – 2:59
4. "Holding Pattern I" – 5:02
5. "Skating on Thin Ice" – 4:53
6. "The Snooper" – 1:59
7. "Wildcat Blues" – 3:48
8. "Holding Pattern II" – 8:17

All compositions by John Surman

• Recorded December 1984 at Rainbow Studio, Oslo

Personnel

• John Surman
  John Surman
  John Douglas Surman is an English jazz saxophone, bass clarinet and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music as a basis...
  
  – baritone and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, recorder, piano, synthesizer