Jazz Articles about Peter Brötzmann

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Peter Br: Fuck De Boere

by Derek Taylor
May 1, 2001

Leaving little room for equivocal interpretation, the title of this disc doesn't mince words and is totally indicative of the kind of antagonistic music symbolized by its imperative. As Brötzmann explains in the terse block prose of the sleeve notes the sentiment was gleaned from his many conversations with South African expatriate bassist Johnny Dyani who would recount stories of life under the social and political weight of apartheid. Extrapolated further, “De Boere" becomes an archetype for any entity or ...

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Peter Br: Right As Rain

by Derek Taylor
March 1, 2001

In the late spring of 2000, while in the midst of grueling tour with his tentet, Peter Brötzmann received some sobering news. Werner Lüdi, saxophonist, fellow improviser, and friend had passed away. Lüdi had been an infrequent collaborator of Brötzmann's over the years but the two men shared an endemic musical vision as early insurgents in the European free jazz explosion of the late 1960s. While Lüdi dropped in and out of the music, Brötzmann soldiered on swiftly acquiring the ...

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Br: Shadows

by Micah Holmquist
February 1, 2001

Peter Brötzmann is an impressive figure in more ways than one. To begin with, there is his status as a legend. From his 1968 debut Machine Gun to the present day, the German saxophonist has long stood for creativity and challenging conventions. Since then he has played with many of the great avant-garde masters such as Evan Parker, Cecil Taylor, and Ken Vandermark.

Brötzmann also has an impressive physical presence. A man of not inconsiderable girth and with his beard ...

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Caspar Br: Mute Massaker

by Mark Corroto
December 1, 2000

They say the 21st century has less irony and angst, more sincerity. Maybe if you are riding a huge IPO to Bill Gates-land, yes. Otherwise, I believe it remains the battle of us against McDonalds, Disney, and Brittney Spears. Apparently Caspar Brötzmann feels the same as evidenced by his newly-formed trio. Son of Peter Brötzmann, one of the greatest free-jazz saxophonists alive, Caspar chose a different direction. As customary for any baby boomer, he plays electric guitar. Brass and woodwinds ...

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Br: Shadows

by Mark Corroto
November 1, 2000

Peter Brötzmann is reunited with Japanese drummer Shoji Hano and guitarist Keiji Haino for a European tour last March. This live date recorded at Wels, Austria is about as raw and true a musical expression as it gets. Brötzmann has recorded and worked with each musician separately. He recorded Dare Devil (DIW) in 1991 with Hano and has previously toured with Haino. This date composes a synthesis of Brötzmann's freedom and energy and Haino's abandon.

Guitarist Keiji Haino can probably ...

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Br: Stone/Water

by Michael A. Parker
October 1, 2000

If you already have the 1998 3-CD release by the Brötzmann Chicago Octet/Tentet on Okka Disk, then reading this review is a waste of time: what more could be said? On the other hand, if you don't yet have that mammoth document of free jazz: life is short-what are you waiting for?

Actually, this tentet is slightly different than the one that dropped thousands of jaws worldwide via the 1998 set. Joe McPhee's sublime pocket cornet/valve trombone/soprano sax playing is ...

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Peter Br: Nipples

by Mark Corroto
June 1, 2000

Out of print for nearly 30 years, Nipples is showing itself (sorry) once again. The collector's dream Euro free jazz LP made it to CD thanks to writer/musician John Corbett's Unheard Music series for the Atavistic label. Along with other lost and unreleased gems, Corbett is bringing to light historically significant recordings by artists, some popular today and others forgotten.

For Messrs. Brötzmann, Parker, Bailey, and Bennink their appeal in today's world of jazz has never been greater. Free jazz ...