Jazz Articles about Alexander von Schlippenbach

like 238

Alexander Von Schlippenbach Trio: Pakistani Pomade

by AAJ Staff
October 5, 2003

British saxophonist John Butcher recently asked me why his music is considered jazz. Sure, it's based on improvisation. Is that enough of a qualification? There are some connections with the American avant-garde from the '60s, including atonal experiments by Cecil Taylor and expansions of the saxophone's sound by Coltrane and Ayler. But in the end, as much as we all like categories, Butcher's music does not fall into any neat bin. “European free improv" is about as close as you ...

like 223

Alexander Von Schlippenbach: The Living Music

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2003

When this session was done, everyone needed a shower. There's no doubt about that. The Living Music lives and breathes at such a high level of intensity (and coherence) that it must have brought these seven European free improvisers to sheer exhaustion that long, productive afternoon almost exactly 24 years ago in Köln. But there's a strong sense about this record--now in its third release--that things fit where they belong.

Belonging is a relative concept, of course, and ...

like 137

Schlippenbach & Johansson: Live 1976/77

by Derek Taylor
January 1, 2001

Alexander von Schlippenbach has always worked well with drummers and his previous discography bears his preference for such percussive partners out. From the work unveiled on this disc to later meetings with the likes of Sunny Murray and Tony Oxley ( Smoke and Diggers Harvest respectively, both on FMP) his own percussive style with hooks in the innovations of Cecil Taylor has flourished in stripped down settings of piano and drums. Johansson is similarly suited to such environments. Whether in ...