What do y'all think of Peter Brotzmann??

[roswell1965]

I was checking out some clips over at amazon.com - from "Nipples" (great title) and "Machine Gun".. Is this just undisciplined aural mayhem? Any one here a fan?? I'm new here and haven't seen anything on him.

Thanks, Mark

[Mike Ruhl]

"undisciplined aural mayhem". I like that.

[Dig Gonsalves]

I've only seen him once, but *What a Show* !!!
Brotz (ts, as, tarogato, Bb clarinet)
Marco Eneidi (as)
Lisle Ellis (b)
Jackson Krall (d)

Absolutely Incendiary! They left the place a rubble. Of note: Eneidi's melodicism evoked the most melodic forays I've ever heard Brotz explore. But on Tenor, Brotz destroys and then recreates entire galaxies. Fierce.

Most of all, he must be seen/heard/experienced Live and Direct.

I enjoy the duet date with Hamid Drake "Dried Rat Dog," even more so now that I've seen and met them.

Ear plugs advised...

[Ivy]

I saw that same lineup at Mills College in Oakland last year. Just like you said: not for the faint hearted. I dug Eneidi a lot too- he was using an old King Super 20 alto- nice sound. Brotz tore it up with a variety of clarinets, alto and of course tenor. Brotz's playing is brave and with lots of fire-definitely not for the average Getz fan. I also liked the drummer.

[Mike Ruhl]

Brotz's playing is brave and with lots of fire-definitely not for the average Getz fan.
Well, I'm pretty much "the average Getz fan", but I dig Brotzmann and (even moreso) Evan Parker. It's an acquired taste.

[hershel]

i'm into getz and brotzmann, too, and my own playing reflects that.
i like 'dried rat dog' alot. i'm not into the big band things that much. i prefer hearing brotzmann in small groups where he really stands out.

yes, absolutely fierce.

[roswell1965]

Thanks for the replies everyone... That's TWO votes for Dried Rat Dog so I guess I'll probably start there. I also found a pretty good webpage about Broz, thought I'd share it with those who might not have seen it. Links to some interesting interviews and audio/video clips

http://www.shef.ac.uk/misc/rec/ps/efi/mbrotzm.html

Mark

[Bootman]

An Amazing player, very much in his own mould.

[Mike Ruhl]

I almost forgot to mention...a while back there was a magazine interview with then-President Bill Clinton and he mentioned Brotzmann as one of his favorites. Kind of fitting...

[Ivy]

Pretty damn cool that a President could dig somebody like Brotz. I wonder what Dubya listens to.

I saw a whitehouse concert televised on Public television where a myriad variety of artists performed and the camera pans down to Dubya's face- nothing but a blank stare.

[Saxpunk]

Does anybody know what Brotzmann's setup is on tenor? I can't figure out how to get a tone even remotely close to what he's got.

[dolphyo]

Man this is an old post but good to see Herr Brotzman mentioned here again. i have seen him many times myself but it has been awhile now. he does play a Selmer Mark vi with a rubber Berg mouthpiece and with his huge capacity to blow and overblow strong and loud i would imagine a big tip piece maybe .120-.130 range but who knows? i only have two lungs, how many do you have?

[Saxpunk]

Well currently I have two, but I'm thinking about getting a third surgically implanted :D either that or a hole to attach an air compressor. The mouthpiece and horn make sense, but I wonder what reeds he uses, they've gotta be synthetic to get that kind of tone.

[dolphyo]

Hey Saxpunk, i don't think it would be synthetic reeds at all even though that could explain bleeding chops in his past and cracking ribs from playing so hard and loud if you can believe past legendary stuff said about him. check out my Pal/Friend World class free jazz tenorist John Dikeman.com who is now in Amsterdam. he is an Albert Ayler nut and likes Brotzman too and i can tell you they all sound pretty damn close. I played with John in Philly last summer at a private gig that was recorded and standing next to him unmiked was unreal! Hurricane-like force from a skinny guy with his old nickel plate Conn Chu transitional and metal Florida Otto Link 10* and 2 1/2 reeds. you don't need hard reeds or chops of steel though it wouldn't hurt, just charge yourself up with enough human electricity to light up a small city. check John out everyone!

[themacintrasher]

He's a bit too much for me, but I certainly respect him.

[Saxpunk]

He's good, I checked out the website. I guess the trick is really being in control of the overtones.

[iranzi]

Man this is an old post but good to see Herr Brotzman mentioned here again. i have seen him many times myself but it has been awhile now. he does play a Selmer Mark vi with a rubber Berg mouthpiece and with his huge capacity to blow and overblow strong and loud i would imagine a big tip piece maybe .120-.130 range but who knows? i only have two lungs, how many do you have?

Brotzmann been using King Super 20 Silversonic tenor for quite a few years now, before that he had a Mark VI. Evan Parker switched from Mark VI to Silversonic around the same time.

[Rackety Sax]

I love him, and he's got good politics too (check out his liner notes to F*** the Boer). Never heard anyone else sound like they were strangling their sax when they play. Also a fine clarinet and tarogato player.

[barrett tsuji]

Hes pretty heavy..

[John_Dikeman]

wow Dolphyo, you make me blush! I don't frequent this forum that often anymore but was amused to see a Brotzmann discussion, didn't expect to see my name on the page... It was great playing with you and hopefully we'll do it again. The comparisons are funny, actually seeing Joe McPhee reminded me of you a little. There's a specific way both of you lean back and play these great altissimo/overtone/screaming lines.

Yeah, I'm a Brotzmann fan! Just saw him with the Tentet. He played a killer solo.

Also check out the quartet recordings with Joe McPhee! Nipples is probably my favorite though. And to move on to Joe, another killer player, his solo album is breathtaking if you can find it: Tenor and Fallen Angels.
Course, I could write a list....

btw, last two times I saw Evan it seemed he was back on a Selmer. Not that it matters.

[FranzKafka]

wow Dolphyo, you make me blush! I don't frequent this forum that often anymore but was amused to see a Brotzmann discussion, didn't expect to see my name on the page... It was great playing with you and hopefully we'll do it again. The comparisons are funny, actually seeing Joe McPhee reminded me of you a little. There's a specific way both of you lean back and play these great altissimo/overtone/screaming lines.

Yeah, I'm a Brotzmann fan! Just saw him with the Tentet. He played a killer solo.

Also check out the quartet recordings with Joe McPhee! Nipples is probably my favorite though. And to move on to Joe, another killer player, his solo album is breathtaking if you can find it: Tenor and Fallen Angels.
Course, I could write a list....

btw, last two times I saw Evan it seemed he was back on a Selmer. Not that it matters.

So you're in Amsterdam ATM.. I'd really love to see you live in the near future.
So I will:D.

[John_Dikeman]

So you're in Amsterdam ATM.. I'd really love to see you live in the near future.
So I will:D.

gee, that almost sounds like a threat!

[littlemanbighorn]

Brotz rules.

Last time I talked to Evan he was planning on selling one of his sixes to buy a second Super 20.

John: I noticed that you recently played with a friend of mine, Jacob Heule.

[John_Dikeman]

littlemanbighorn: Sort of delayed here but...
Yes, I did in fact. He was touring with Ava Mendoza, who is one of my closest friends from way back in high school (also a ****ing brilliant guitarist). Was great to meet Jacob and Tony.
BTW, do you know the Gordon Grdina trio? I'm helping them arrange a gig here in Amsterdam soon. I know their reputation but never really heard the music.

Sorry this is totally off topic, maybe we should move to PM...

[odsum25]

For anyone interested, Brotzmann is playing in Austin on April 30 with Eric Revis and Nasheet Waits.

[Matt Otto]

I've always enjoyed Brotzmann and Joe McPhee...

[themacintrasher]

I've always enjoyed Brotzmann and Joe McPhee...
You dedicated a song to him off your last album, didn't you?

[Matt Otto]

I've always enjoyed Brotzmann and Joe McPhee...
You dedicated a song to him off your last album, didn't you?

Yes, Brotzmann and Bennink...

[littlemanbighorn]

I'll keep in on topic while taking it off at the same time.

Going to see Brotz at the end of the month in Seattle with Nasheet Waits. Should be amazing.

Yeah, I know Gord. I'll be seeing him play tonight with some friends of mine in the loft I'll be living in as of May 1st.