Jazz Articles about Alexander von Schlippenbach

Alexander von Schlippenbach: Piano Solo '77

by Henry Smith
January 5, 2009

Pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach has been a mainstay of the European free jazz scene for nearly as long as it has existed, playing with Gunther Hampel and Manfred Schoof in the mid-'60s while forming the still active Globe Unity Orchestra in 1966. His trio with Paul Lovens and Evan Parker has been active since the early '70s, marking a career that has permeated many corners of the European avant-garde.

Piano Solo '77 collects four improvisations from ...

Schlippenbach Trio: Gold Is Where You Find It

by Nic Jones
July 2, 2008

As this trio is decades into its existence, readers and potential listeners might be forgiven for thinking that the trio's collective music is losing some of its power. This, however, is far from the case. There's kinetic energy about some of the performances here but that sense is tempered by the group's distinctly non-formulaic understanding of each other as musicians. The resulting mutual understanding amounts to something far in excess of the number of participants in terms of profundity.

It's ...

Alexander von Schlippenbach: Twenty Minutes

by John Eyles
May 20, 2008

This spring, Alexander von Schlippenbach celebrated his 70th birthday--on April 7th, 2008, to be precise. By way of celebration, he undertook a short tour of England in the company of Eddie Prevost. On some dates von Schlippenbach and Prevost each played a solo set and then played together; on others, Schlippenbach also played with Prevost's trio, including bassist Joe Williamson and saxophonist Alan Wilkinson. Schlippenbach and Prevost (minus the trio) played at Blackheath in south London, and the following day ...

Alexander Von Schlippenbach: Twelve Tone Tales Volumes 1 & 2

by Nic Jones
April 6, 2008

Alexander Von Schlippenbach Twelve Tone Tales Volumes 1 & 2 Intakt 2007

Pianist and composer Alexander Von Schlippenbach has staying power. Over the course of 40 years he has proven himself to be as fervently committed to the cause of free and near-free improvisation as anyone out there. As a key member of the Globe Unity Orchestra, he has explored the area within the context of a large ensemble; as a third ...

Alexander Von Schlippenbach - Daniele D'Agaro: Dedalus

by AAJ Italy Staff
December 17, 2007

Dev’essere un momento particolarmente felice dal punto di vista artistico e creativo quello che sta attraversando il musicista “friulandese” Daniele D’Agaro, visto che, dopo aver recentemente licenziato per El Gallo Rojo l’entusiasmante Comeglians a nome dell’Adriatics Orchestra, arriva alla prova su disco anche il duo con il pianista Alex Von Schlippenbach, da tempo ormai presenza stabile sui palchi della penisola. Dedalus si intitola la prima fatica della coppia e mai nome fu più azzeccato. E, appunto, c’è da perdersi nelle ...

Schlippenbach Trio: Winterreise

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 28, 2007

Avere un “luogo sonoro" a cui tornare periodicamente è una pratica che per molti improvvisatori risulta fondamentale, oltre che gradita. Non è difficile comprenderne il perché, dal momento che l'avventurarsi quotidianamente - e spesso nei contesti più differenti - nell'ignoto della “composizione istantanea" trova nella verifica periodica con un gruppo di colleghi di lungo corso il naturale contraltare dialettico. Per Alexander Von Schlippenbach, Evan Parker e Paul Lovens questo avviene da quasi quarant'anni. Come ha ricordato lo stesso Schlippenbach in ...

Alexander Von Schlippenbach: Twelve Tone Tales - Voll.1 e 2

by AAJ Italy Staff
January 29, 2007

A quasi trent’anni da Piano Solo (FMP - 1977), Alexander Von Schlippenbach ritorna alla registrazione solitaria con il pianoforte e lo fa realizzando un sogno a lungo coltivato. Quello di registrare un album intero utilizzando la tecnica dodecafonica elaborata da Schoenberg, appresa negli studi di Colonia con il maestro e compositore Bernd Alois Zimmermann, qua e là presente nei suoi precedenti lavori, soprattutto quelli con la Globe Unity Orchestra, ma mai utilizzata per realizzare un unico progetto. In Twelve Tones ...