Peter Brotzmann Tribute Concerts at Cafe OTO

When the free jazz movement started in the United States in the late 1950s, it quickly spread in the 1960s to Europe where many musicians from the States found a more accepting environment for this form of music. One of the earliest benefactors from this exposure was Peter Brötzmann of Germany, a man who rose over the years to legendary status in the genre. He earned the highest respect from musicians and fans alike due to his innovative style and his willingness to grow continually through exposure to younger musicians. Brotzmann died on June 22, 2023. At Café OTO in London, musicians of all stripes who experienced his inspiration firsthand on the bandstand recently assembled to pay tribute to the man and his music. Funded mainly by the Robert Bielecki Foundation, the event featured 23 performances in a mix-and-match assemblage of small groups over a three day—four session period, culminating with a unique version of Brotzmann's famous tentet. Following are photos of those participants, including Caspar Brötzmann, Peter's son, who joined forces in freelance sets with several of his father's co-musicians. At the end, the audience and musicians were totally inspired from the wealth and intensity of the music that continually reached new highs in artistry. Peter Brotzmann would have been pleased.