Irene Schweizer

[jazz1]

Irene Schweizer is coming to town soon, with drummer Pierre Favre.

I would like to explore her music so I need some advise, where to start?

Obviously I will have to get the one with Favre.

[shrugs]

check out the duets with Cyrille or the ones with Moholo on Intakt.

I also hear the Chicago Piano Solo is very good. It's also on Intakt.

and don't forget the Barry Guy London Jazz Composer Orchestra appearances.

esp. Theoria

[David Williams]

Theoria is great, so is Double Trouble II, where Irene shares piano duties with Marilyn Crispell - a nice contrast in styles. These are the only examples of her playing I have, though, so far.

[Late]

I'd go for Chicago Piano Solo. It gives you Irène straight, no chaser.

[king ubu]

I just got Chicago Piano Solo - in a sales bin, for about 7 bucks.

My first Schweizer (and I am the Schweizer on this board... -_- )

No chance to listen yet, but I'll report back.

ubu

[jazz1]

I just got Chicago Piano Solo - in a sales bin, for about 7 bucks.

My first Schweizer (and I am the Schweizer on this board... -_- )

No chance to listen yet, but I'll report back.

ubu

I love this albulm.

The Monk and Ibrahim influence are obvoius.

She also like to startle the listener and demand attention, intense stuff.

At first it may sound quite "out"but after a few listenings you will dicover that the music is well stuctured.

One of my fav cd of 2003.

In general theUS audience is not well exposed to European jazz, such a pity!!

As I think it as a freshess and openess that is quite different.

Your comments are awaited with anticipation

[Johnny E]

I'd say check out 'Les Diaboliques'. It was recorded live with a trio of vocalist Maggie Nichols, bassist Joelle Leandre, and Irene on piano. There is a playful spirit that runs through this recording. And the playing is incredible!

Also check out 'The Storming of the Winter Palace' with an all-star lineup of free improvisers: vocalist Maggie Nicols, trombonist George Lewis, bassist Joelle Leandre, and percussionist Günter Sommer. Anything with Lewis on it is essential.

[David Ayers]

As well as sampling Intakt releases, you might also want to try Willi the Pig, with Tchicai, a rare LP of a 1975 concert dubbed to CD by Atavaistic as part of their Unheard Music Series.

[king ubu]

Wow! Chicago Solo Piano is a great disc! I listened to it for the first time last night, and there are some tracks that absolutely blew me!

I will have to look for some more!

By the way: anyone knows a good (and cheap) online source for Intakt CDs?

ubu

[jazz1]

By the way: anyone knows a good (and cheap) online source for Intakt CDs?

ubu

Cadence is asking 17$ the swiss francs is quite strong compare to the $

Not a bad deal.

[king ubu]

Thanks! But I think subscribing might be the best. Usually the swiss frank tends to be in between 1.4-1.5 US$ - the current situation being rather extreme for the last two or three years.

Subscribing might be the best thing, anyway, as supporting small labels is a good thing for sure, and Intakt has a very fine back list, which I think as a subscriber you can get for the special prize, too. (which is 25 swiss franks)

ubu

[ds0823]

I'd say "Irene Schweizer duet with Han Bennink" from Intakt is a good start, 'cuz you can hear some famous tunes that Monk had played b4, such as "Just a Gigolo" and "Hackensack".

Also the 2 volumes of "Piano Solo" are pretty nice as well.

[clifford_thornton]

Schweizer is amazing and rather underrated in the continuum of free European pianists. For some of her earlier recordings, I recommend the trio with Pierre Favre and Peter Kowald, "Santana" (on a private LP as well as an FMP reissue), the Favre quartet on Wergo (which adds Evan Parker on his usual axes), and any of FMP LPs of the 70s -- especially those involving the powerhouse saxophonist Rudiger Carl (sort of in between Brotzmann and Parker on tenor). Hopefully the Atavistic UMS-FMP reissue series will hit some of these superb titles.