Irène Schweizer (1941-2024)

[colinmce]

One of my favorite musicians. A trailblazer and truly a great master of this music. She leaves behind an astounding legacy, least of all as a co-founder of the ever strong Intakt label. 

RIP with gratitude. 

[rostasi]

Loved her work. She gave us a lot to remember her by.
Amazing that she began with a couple of "Guru Guru"s.

[soulpope]

R.I.P   ....

[Rabshakeh]

Oh no! 

A real favourite of mine. Especially those Intakt duos.

RIP

[mjazzg]

That's a great shame. A terrific musician which a gem laden back catalogue 

I will never forget seeing Les Diaboliques, improvising and humour of the highest order.

 

 

[soulpope]

1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said:

Oh no! 

A real favourite of mine. Especially those Intakt duos.

These are great indeed ....

[optatio]

R.I.P. ...

[Clunky]

2 hours ago, Rabshakeh said:

Oh no! 

A real favourite of mine. Especially those Intakt duos.

RIP

sad news, a very fine musician

[Steve Reynolds]

RIP

blessed to see Irene live from a few feet away circa 2009 at The Stone:)

actually it was March 10, 2012

duo with Pierre Favre

second set was my first time seeing Rainey, Halvorson & Laubrock 

Edited July 17, 2024 by Steve Reynolds

[mikeweil]

R.I.P. ..... sad news.

[Д.Д.]

Oh no :(. Schweizer is my favorite jazz pianist. Saw her live (solo) once in a small club in Geneva in 2006 - it was an excellent concert.   

[clifford_thornton]

Very sad to read this news. She was amazing & I had a fun experience interviewing her by phone many years ago. Sweet person. RIP.

[ep1str0phy]

Sorry to hear this. I love her playing. Not only was she a great improviser in a vacuum, but she helped to establish the vernacular of piano playing in free music. I'd be hard pressed to find another player of her generation who was so deft at integrating into so many different stylistic environments.

Her duo records are incredible, especially the recital with Louis Moholo-Moholo. That album should be required listening for anyone who wishes to understand how traditionalist idiomatic conceits can coexist with total free improvisation. They play a ton of tunes, but the composed content never gets in the way of the abstraction (and vice versa). You have to cherish the masters while they're still around. 

[romualdo]

Irene's duos with Bennink, Cyrille, Favre, Crispell, Kowald & Moholo were superb & Les Diaboliques trio with Joelle Leandre & Maggie Nichols was a fav.

Early material with the Manfred Schoof Orchestra & later the LJCO saw her in a larger context.

She even played with Henry Cow in the late 70s

RIP Irene, will miss you

[Д.Д.]

My favorite  "with a drummer" duo is the one with Günter Sommer. But I like them all, it's a great body of work. 

[king ubu]

Just had a bout with the grim reaper myself ... and the news of Schweizer's passing really had me weep. I've heard her at least a dozen times, mostly solo and duo (Favre, Moholo, Baron included), saw her at many, many concerts (a rare trait among musicians!) and 20+ years ago spent a couple of hours at her kitchen table, discussing her work and Swiss/European free music as part of an Intakt portrait a friend and myself produced for a small local radio. Fondest memories!

[Hardbopjazz]

RIP