Brötzmann / Parker / Drake - Antwerpen 08/09/2003

[mke]

On the new board, there hasn't been much mention of Parker and Drake. In fact, I don't think I've read the expression "The two kings" since the board switch. Anyway, last night, they fully lived up to the name: THE TWO KINGS!

I'd never seen Parker or Brötz before, but this was my 4th time seeing Drake. Finally, he played the way I saw him play the first time (with Tsahar and Kowald). The last two times I'd seen him, he was with David Murray, and was much more "shackled in". Here, Parker and Drake created incredibly deep, visceral and, in some respects, primal rhythms for Brötz to blow over. Pure joy to listen to. At one point, I was thinking "This is how people must have felt, listening to Basie, back in the day."

Brötz was of course blowing hard for most of the night, but also had significant stretches of more lyrical playing where he recalled the breath and vibrato of Ben Webster. For one of the two (I think) pieces, Parker played on a moroccan bass, playing various ostinatos, over which Brötzmann blew orientalese on clarinet and Drake played more freely at first, then going into various African rhythms. They brought the house down!

Before this trio, there was an improvised music quartet (I don't know the names of the musicians). Pretty good, but I'm not a big fan of that kind of music. Maybe LeMo will say something more about it.

[LeMo]

To have seen Brötz and his two partners early this year for, already, an astonishing concert, I must say than this was still far better.
At 62 the saxophonist is freer than ever. I was thinking when listening: who, today, blows with this incredibly large vibrato, almost caricatural, but without being caricatural at all? No one.
What struck me also as a paradoxe when watching the two black men and the "colossus" from Wuppertal (it's his incredible blowing power who give to the man is nickname as he's not tall at all) playing together, it's than thirty or forty years ago in Europe we would have the exact reverse picture: two white men backing a black american soliste.
Well, Brötzmann is maybe the last hard blowing man on this planet. Long live to him and let's hope that he can continued like that during many many years to come.
Before that a quartet organised around the piano of Fred Van Hove with the violin of Maurice Horthuis, The drums of Ivo Vander Borght and the soprano & sopranino saxophones of Michel Doneda has improvised two beautiful pieces.
It was the first encounter between Van Hove & Doneda - who was the two dominant voices here - and, after heard the quality of the musical relation they develop during this gig, I think it will not be the only one they will do together.
Doneda & Lê Quan Ninh (in the company of a buto dancer) had already played two days ago for what was one of the two or three highlight of this year festival. They are so much complementary than their relation gets telephatic at time.
What was astonishing it's that they produced, at some moments, sound who seems to be "electronic" in nature. A real "tour de force".
Not surprise after see them (it was the first time I saw Lê Quan Ninh), than the percussionist is so in demand on the electro-acoustic scene.
A "millesime year" for the "Free Music Festival" of Antwerpen who was celebrating their thirtieth edition, a manifestation than Brötzmann has congratulate in front of an audience where you could find belgium from both community and people comming from France, Holland, Germany, Italy, England.
And there was also this fellow, a dark tall and hansome guy who passed by, sees some light and drops in.
Never heard this "kind of jazz before" as he tolds me (in Festival, I got very social and speak with everybody, no exception) but was very please by it. A nice fellow.
Reminds me a bit of mke by the way.
But it couldn't be him. I know the guy.
I would have recognize him. Sure.

[Uli]

Sounds like you cats enjoyed yourself.


The King & Hamid, baby!



ps and looks like an official hang a Anvers.

[LeMo]

Yep, Uli, it was a good time even if we was and are, still, in the high pic of an heatwave, here and in a good part of Europe.

Just an addition, here.
I mist the friday night concerts.
But you could hear the following ones:

- Luk Mishall (Belgium and an unknow master of the soprano), Maggie Nichols, Arne Van Donngen, Michael Weilacher.
- Konrad Bauer Trio (Bauer, Barre Phillips, Günter "Baby" Sommer)
This was the trio from which Peter Kowald was a member. The concert was dedicated to his memory.
- André Goubeek, Peter Jacquemyn, Wu Wei, Lê Quan Ninh

All three improvising, of course.

On Saturday (I couldn't be there either) at noon, a conference/ interview/ video projection was organised with & around Peter Brötzmann.

At four PM in a protestant church of the town, the festival as done an special event in hommage to Peter Kowald(called "Remember Kowald").
The late bass player has play at this festival in many occasions.

Fred Van Hove has done, first, a Church organ solo followed by a solo by Luk Mishalle.

The great even was a bass trio who reunited Peter Jacquemyn, John Edwards & William Parker and was described by friends as groundbreaking.

Next time, mke or I will put the program on line and in time that people could attempt the festival if interesting.

[hermann]

That I should have known, I'm sorry.
So , thanks in advance for the next chance:
"Next time, mke or I will put the program on line and in time that people could attempt the festival if interesting."