PETER BROTZMANN TENTET CHICAGO 2007

[Frisco]

Just back from the first three of eight nights in Chicago, featuring the Peter Brotzmann Tentet and subgroups. The concerts were presented in celebration of Ten Years that the group has been together. The festivities began on Wednesday night at The Hideout with the duo of Peter Brotzmann and Fred Lonberg-Holm.

Many of the subgroups put together for the festival have previously worked together and/or have put out recordings. Not so with the Brotzmann/Lonberg-Holm duo. Though they have worked together in larger groups, this was the first time together on stage as a duo. However, their rapport and respect for one another is so strong that it took only a matter of minutes for the two to gel. Fred was heavily into use of his foot petals and electronics along with his cello along with Peter on tenor sax, steel clarinet, and taragato. Much high-energy improvising along with many softer moments for some very nice ebb and flow. My favorite section was one in which Peter was on the Steel (A?) Clarinet and Fred scaping the cello for some emotionally charged sounds that almost brought a tear to the eye.

The second set on Wednesday was a cd release concert of The Thing with Ken Vandermark. In contrast to the first set, The Thing has been a working trio for quite a few years now and often joined by Vandermark. I'm not sure if they got by me but I didn't hear any of the rock covers that the band was working off of recently. Just straight out high-energy free-jazz pieces in a solid set. Vandermark on tenor and baritone saxes and bass clarinet, Mats Gustafsson on baritone and alto saxes, Ingebright Haker Flaten on bass and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums. My highlights included the drumming of Paal who seems to be able to make the music move and jump like only perhaps Hamid Drake can do, and the duo baritone work of Ken and Mats.

Thursday's concert at Elastic began with a fine free-jazz set from the quartet of Jeb Bishop on trombone, Vandermark on reeds, Per-Ake Holmlander on tuba and some type of tenor (?) trombone, and Paal on drums. Great interaction between the four. Jeb has to be one of the great unsung artists on the music today. His creative use of mutes, growls, blasts, and outright swing was wonderful to hear in this context.

Some of Peter's finest and most ferocious playing came in the next set, a trio of Peter (tenor and alto sax, steel clarinet, and taragato), Haker-Flaten, and Nilssen-Love. This was the set that threatened to tear down the walls. Extended improvisations, totally improvised, no holds barred energy music. All three seemed to feed off of one another and inspire each other to up the ante. Paal jumping out of his chair, snapping the snare, lightning speed rolls, then to reach down and place cymbals and objects on the drums for a new dynamic. Ingebrigt spinning off some deep, rapid fire lines. Peter equally inspiring on all horns, but perhaps eclipsing everything with a fierce extended improv on the tenor sax. He couldn;'t have possibly played with more energy or inspiration than this.

After an off night on Friday, Saturday's set was the corner piece of the fest, the eleven piece Tentet on the large stage of the Museum of Contemporary Art. I believe that it was Jeb Bishop that officially made the Tentet an eleven piece group. Friday must have been a good rehearsal day as there was obviously much thought put into the structure and dynamcis of the set. Although the music appeared to be totally improvised, it was structured into many sections where the group broke down into smaller units in which they would work off of a theme and allow the music to slowly build until the entire unit was on board bringing the sound to a frenzy, only to come down and make for an entirely different section to unfold again. Highlights included the dual drumming of Nilssen-Love and Michael Zerang, hearing Johannes Bauer for the first time in a while, Mats pulling out the fluteophone, and Vandermark soaring on the b flat clarinet during a section that reminded me of a flipped out marching band.

After the concert, Brotzmann recalled the origins of the Tentet and explained that he never dreamed that it would still be intact ten years later. He thanked the audience for the support and seemed genuinely touched by the enthusiasm and sheer numbers in the crowd. His last words conveyed the message that "we need you and hopefully you need us as much as we need you". A much needed shot in the soul of my life anyways......................

More to come tonight (Sunday Dec.2) though Friday Dec. 7. Hopefully someone can report.

[Derek Taylor]

Awesome reportage, Pat. I seriously considered making the trek for all or part of this, but just couldn't swing it w/ my current work load. Glad you were there & are now posting words that make me feel as if I was too. Thanks!

[acoustic]

lucky you ... I can only dream for such events to happend around

[Rob C]

Nice write-up, Frisco.

I have so far only been able to make the first (last Wednesday) night's sets. Loved The Thing! (And the CD--Immedate Sound--is quite nice.) I'm not a fan of what Fred Lonberg-Holm does, really, but Brotzmann is always exhilirating to hear.

I'm hoping to get to Thursday night's sets at Elastic.

[Frisco]

Ok, so nobody with a word about the last week of this incredible event?
Uli?, Rob? Who else is in Chicago?
My friend from Cleveland was there for the entirety but I've not heard from him either.
I'd be most interested in hearing about the Brotzmann/Gustafsson/Nielssen-Love Trio.

[Rob C]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Ok, so nobody with a word about the last week of this incredible event?
Uli?, Rob? Who else is in Chicago?
My friend from Cleveland was there for the entirety but I've not heard from him either.
I'd be most interested in hearing about the Brotzmann/Gustafsson/Nielssen-Love Trio.

I only made the one show, unfortunately.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Ok, so nobody with a word about the last week of this incredible event?
Uli?, Rob? Who else is in Chicago?
My friend from Cleveland was there for the entirety but I've not heard from him either.
I'd be most interested in hearing about the Brotzmann/Gustafsson/Nielssen-Love Trio.

l


Unfortunately I worked most of the nites. One nite off I went to hear Don Moye who is almost more rare to hear in town.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Frisco

My friend from Cleveland was there for the entirety but I've not heard from him either.

He told me it was great.

Originally Posted by Frisco

I'd be most interested in hearing about the Brotzmann/Gustafsson/Nielssen-Love Trio.

Jim strongly recommended that I pick up a disc by those three; I didn't have enough cash, went to the ATM and when I came back it was gone.

[Scott Dolan]

Goddammitt, Capzz!!

You were in Chicago and didn't tell me?!

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Goddammitt, Capzz!!

You were in Chicago and didn't tell me?!

No Jim was in Chicago, not me. If I was in Chicago, it would be my sister-in-law that I wouldn't inform.