How Many Clouds Can You See? How Many Clouds Can You See? is the second album by English saxophonist John Surman featuring Harry Beckett, Alan Skidmore, Barre Phillips, and Tony Oxley recorded in 1970 and released on the Deram label. Allmusic awards the album 4 and a half stars and its review by Jason Ankeny states: "John Surman's second album remains his most impressive, anticipating the sound and scope of the European free jazz movement that would blossom in the decade to come". John Kelman in his All About Jazz review states: "While woodwind multi-instrumentalist John Surman's eponymous debut was a strange mixture of everything from free improvisation to calypso, his second date, 1970's "How Many Clouds Can You See?", is a much more focused affair. Surman clearly references one of his roots, John Coltrane, albeit on an instrument that the legendary saxophonist never played. All compositions by John Surman except where noted.