Irene Schweizer

Captain Hate · January-12th-2006, 08:24 PM

I just got through listening to Portraits by Irene Schweizer, which I got in a trade (thanks Gokhan). Like most compilations from prior releases, it just gives you a taste from each release (most of which I don't have). But every cut is sooooo damn good. I think I should give up on the thought that Marilyn Crispell is going to start playing again with the old fire and concentrate on Irene; because I haven't heard a single dog in the bunch. If fact they all sound edgy and smoking.

So give me some recs; it'll just establish the order I get 'em cuz sooner or later I'll prolly get 'em all. Or maybe I should just get the whole Intakt catalog.

MRS · January-12th-2006, 08:34 PM

Pound for pound my favorite Bennink duo ever. . .followed very closely by Eleven Ghosts.

Sergio Zamora · January-12th-2006, 08:40 PM

The Storming of the Winter Palace. Just for the name alone.

barryC · January-12th-2006, 08:40 PM

One of my favorite Intakt cd's is ELSIE JO. Barry Guy, Irene, Evan Parker, Konrad Bauer, Barre Philips & Paul Lytton. Great set - 2 group pcs and a Parker/Schweizer duo. Smokin all over the place.

Captain Hate · January-12th-2006, 09:10 PM

This is going well. Brother Schau, I *loved* the version of Hackensack with Bennink.

Brian Olewnick · January-12th-2006, 09:15 PM

The Barry Guy LJCO discs with Schweizer are all very good. Otherwise, the one the Mexican guy mentioned.

Jesse · January-12th-2006, 09:26 PM

Cappy,
I still exhume a 70's FMP date, Tuned Boots, occassionally. Duets with Rudiger Carl, who is a complete nut.

Captain Hate · January-12th-2006, 09:27 PM

I got those Ollie (and like them a great deal), along with the Chicago Piano Solo and Wilde Senoritas/Hexensabbat. So I wasn't coming here *completely* bereft of knowledge.

stonemonkts · January-12th-2006, 10:02 PM

My favorites haven't been mentioned yet. These 3 are on Intakt:

Schweizer and Sommer

Schweizer and Favre

Ulrichsberg (Schwiezer and Favre again)

Michael mentioned another great one, her duo with Bennink.

Tom K · January-13th-2006, 04:48 AM

And wait for her Willisau concert with Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake to be released!

LeMo · January-13th-2006, 06:01 AM

Captain, you should also get her first solo on Intakt ("Piano Solo Vol.1") ,who is one of his very best and one of the best solo piano I've ever heard, in the league of Taylor (Cecil) and more impressive than the best Crispell ("For Coltrane").

The second volume is a notch less interesting - Don't know why because, it's the same session from 1990 recorded at her home by Peter Pfister. The Sound is magnificent.

She plays short pieces (longer is 5'29, shortest 1'34).
I don't know how this one (and his twin) compare to "Chicago Solo" but, I will repeat myself, it's one of the best piano solo I've ever heard.

I second Schauman about the duet with Bennink and add the duet with Pierre Favre who is as good in a different way (they are very tight together for obvious reason.)

And I will add also her Duet with Marylin on FMP ("Overlapping Hands: Eight Segment") where both pianist sound like one with four hands most of the time.

Nate Dorward · January-13th-2006, 08:57 AM

I thought vol 2 of the solo piano series was live, vol 1 was "alone", so I don't think they were done in her home? (I think they were done both in the same place, just only #2 had an audience.) Anyway, can check when I get home tonight. I like both volumes about equally.

The Ulrichsberg album is very strong, yes. Actually just about everything I've heard of hers has been excellent -- the only thing I wasn't that keen on was Les Diaboliques.

amfortas · January-13th-2006, 02:09 PM

Chicago Piano Solo
(intakt)

LeMo · January-13th-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

I thought vol 2 of the solo piano series was live, vol 1 was "alone", so I don't think they were done in her home? (I think they were done both in the same place, just only #2 had an audience.) Anyway, can check when I get home tonight. I live both volumes about equally.

As I don't have the Volume 2, I can't check, if it's live or not.
Don't remember that was live, anyway.

There's no liner note on the Volume one but I remember to have hear something where Pfister was spoken about the "recording from Irène's home".

But not sure anymore.
So, what's the verdict?

Dan G · January-16th-2006, 11:10 AM

I'm not at home, so can't look at the discs (nor listen to see if there is an audience on the second one, but I don't remember hearing evidence of one), but the pages for the Piano Solo discs on the EFI site say:

For # 1: Recorded at Alte Kirche Boswil, Switzerland on 23/24 May 1990.

and for 2: Recorded at Alte Kirche Boswil, Switzerland on 25 May 1990.

Anyone know what Alte Kirche Boswil is.

Regardless, both are worth having. I've only got a handful of Scwheizer albums, and for some reason whenever placing an order to Verge forget about her. I need more.

Nate Dorward · January-16th-2006, 04:35 PM

"Kirche" surely is a church. & yes the 2nd vol is live.

Frisco · January-17th-2006, 10:55 PM

Just pulled put, and played, "Cordial Gratin" a duo LP on FMP from Irene Schweizer and Joelle Leandre. Great record. Ever reissued on CD?

Nate Dorward · January-17th-2006, 11:44 PM

Not as far as I know: the EFI site doesn't list a CD issue. A lot of great stuff seems to be stuck in the FMP vaults still....

Pulled out the solo disc vol 2--yes there's applause there! Good album though I think I prefer vol 1.

Nate Dorward · January-17th-2006, 11:47 PM

Incidentally one disc I recently acquired is Urs Voerkel's Propinquity on Intakt -- which includes a series of duets with Schweitzer.... on drums! She sounds just fine on them too. -- The rest of the album is also worth checking out--some terrific duos with Paul Lovens. There are also a few quartet tracks which are kind of disappointing because the singer on them annoys me.... I skip over those ones & home in on the duos.

LeMo · January-18th-2006, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Pulled out the solo disc vol 2 (...) Good album though I think I prefer vol 1.

Seems that we agree on that.

Uli · January-18th-2006, 10:27 AM

[QUOTE=Dan G]

Anyone know what Alte Kirche Boswil is.

QUOTE]