RIP Peter Brotzmann

[sideshowbob]

According to his family he has died at the age of 82.

 

[Elephantears]

Oh f*ck. Terrible news. I must admit a lot of my feeling is selfish because I really want to see him play again. Every time I've heard him he's been playing at the highest intensity, and bringing that out of everyone else around him. I missed the last Cafe Oto gig but all reports said it was blistering - I was gutted to have missed that and even more so now I won't be hearing him again. What a spirit of truth and fire he was/is.

 

[Tony L]

Sad news, I had no idea he was so old to be honest, I assumed he was the generation beneath from his musical approach. RIP.

 

[jon l]

oh no

 

[Engels]

Just saw on twitter - an uncompromising titan on tenor. I'll be playing 'Machine Gun' loud once I have house to myself

 

[sideshowbob]

Oh f*ck. Terrible news. I must admit a lot of my feeling is selfish because I really want to see him play again. Every time I've heard him he's been playing at the highest intensity, and bringing that out of everyone else around him. I missed the last Cafe Oto gig but all reports said it was blistering - I was gutted to have missed that and even more so now I won't be hearing him again. What a spirit of truth and fire he was/is.

For some reason I only ever saw him play once, in Berlin just over a decade ago. It was awe-inspiring.

 

[poco a poco]

Very sad news. RIP.

 

[paulfromcamden]

Gutted.

An absolute gentleman.

RIP Brotz.

 

[Elephantears]

I'm listening to Nipples.

Furious brutalist poetry powered by Han Bennink, drumming his way through hell like Dulle Griet, and Evan Parker matching Brotzmann's intensity. Recorded in 1969 and it's so NOW. Amazingly it was produced by Manfred Eicher - so I'd urge any ECM fans to get your ears around this and prepare to be shocked.

https://ecmreviews.com/2022/07/14/peter-brotzmann-nipples/

 

[Elephantears]

I have this fantasy now of Evan and Han Bennink doing a tribute gig.

 

[Tantris]

The last time I saw Peter was at the 2017 Mulhouse Météo Festival, with Toshinori Kondo and Heather Leigh - one of the gigs that really sticks in your mind! He seemed indefatigable - I thought he would go on forever ...

 

[Graham H]

RIP. Another cornerstone gone.
https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/the-portal/peter-brotzmann-6-march-1941-22-june-2023

 

[Seanm]

Just came across this, my new favourite photo. It's himself driving.

https://twitter.com/cjherbert/status/1672149837511311361?s=20

 

[Graham H]

It's himself driving.

Looks like Derek Bailey driving, with PB in the back seat. Is that what you meant?

 

[Seanm]

Looks like Derek Bailey driving, with PB in the back seat. Is that what you meant?

Yep. Both looking the part. Made me think of Wim Wenders’ American Friend.

 

[Seeker_UK]

Peter always looked 50% cool, 50% he was going to thump the living c**p out of you.

 

[MarkW]

I saw tis sad news only today. Playing Machine Gun, such fierce music.

 

[foxwelljsly]

The last time I saw Peter was at the 2017 Mulhouse Météo Festival, with Toshinori Kondo and Heather Leigh - one of the gigs that really sticks in your mind! He seemed indefatigable - I thought he would go on forever ...

I last saw him with Steve Noble and Keith Tippett at Cafe Oto in the last days of my living in that London. An astounding gig. Always thought I would hear him perform again. An amazing musician with a truly formidable catalogue of recordings. RIP.

 

[sideshowbob]

Nice Richard Williams elegy:

https://thebluemoment.com/2023/06/26/peter-brotzmann-1941-2023/

 

[paulfromcamden]

Nice Richard Williams elegy:

https://thebluemoment.com/2023/06/26/peter-brotzmann-1941-2023/

That is a nice piece - thanks for posting. I'm glad Richard mentioned Peter's lyricism. For all it's fierce reputation I think that's something that set Peter's playing aside from many of his peers. I understand Peter mostly listened to 1950s swing when he was at home painting and I'm sure you can hear that in his playing.