Ceratonia siliqua harubh. "Ceratonia siliqua", the scientific name of the carob tree, derives from the Greek "kerátiοn" κεράτιον 'fruit of the carob (from "keras" κέρας 'horn'), and Latin "siliqua" 'pod, carob'. The unit "carat", used for weighing precious metal and stones, also comes from κεράτιον, as alluding to an ancient practice of weighing gold and gemstones against the seeds of the carob tree by people in the Middle East. The system was eventually standardized, and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams. In late Roman times, the pure gold coin known as the "solidus" weighed 24 carat seeds (about 4.5 grams). As
How Many Clouds Can You See? 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. 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