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Christian Broecking
This Uncontainable Feeling of Freedom
Irène Schweizer — European Jazz,
and the Politics of Improvisation
The Authorized Biography
Translated from the German by Jeb Bishop
Verein Freundinnen und Freunde von Irène Schweizer
Hochschule Luzern – Musik
Broecking Verlag
IMPRESSUM
© Verein Freundinnen und Freunde von Irène Schweizer, Zürich
© Texts: authors
© Photographs and posters: see photo credits
Authors: Christian Broecking, Olivier Senn, and Toni Bechtold
Translation: Jeb Bishop
Organization of the English Translation:
Verein Freundinnen und Freunde von Irène Schweizer, Anja Illmaier
Image selection: Christian Broecking
Cover design: Niklaus Troxler
Typesetting: Christian Walter
Index of persons: Toni Bechtold
Editing: Natalie Kirschstein, Christian Broecking, Marianne Regard, and Maxi Sickert
Proofreading: Natalie Kirschstein
ISBN Ebook: 978-3-75411-064-5
ISBN Print: 978-3-75411-017-1
Publisher:
Verein Freundinnen und Freunde von Irène Schweizer,
Hochschule Luzern – Musik,
and Broecking Verlag
Verein Freundinnen und Freunde von Irène Schweizer, Zurich
Broecking Verlag, Berlin
Hochschule Lucerne / Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Inhaltsverzeichnis
THIS UNCONTAINABLE FEELING OF FREEDOM
IMPORTANT PERSONS
Conny Bauer: Trombonist, born 1943. Repeated appearances with Schweizer in the 1980s. Recordings with Schweizer and the London Jazz Composers Orchestra: Theoria (1991) and Radio Rondo (2008). Lives in Berlin.
Han Bennink: Percussionist, born 1942. Has worked with Schweizer since the recording of European Echoes in 1969. Countless appearances together in various ensembles. Duo CDs: Irène Schweizer – Han Bennink (1995) and Welcome Back (2015). Lives in Amsterdam.
Anthony Braxton: Saxophonist, music theorist, born 1945. Lives in Middletown (Connecticut).
Peter Brötzmann: Saxophonist, born 1941. Has known Schweizer since 1965. Occasional concerts together in the early years. Recorded on European Echoes in 1969. In 1984, Schweizer played in his ensemble at the Sound Unity Festival in New York. Lives in Wuppertal.
Peter Bürli: Journalist, head of the jazz department of the Swiss Radio DRS/SRF. Born 1957. Has done articles and programs on Schweizer since 1985; organized numerous studio recordings and concert recordings with Schweizer, some of which appear on Intakt CDs. Lives in Zürich.
Rüdiger Carl: Saxophonist, clarinetist, accordionist, born 1944. Met Schweizer in 1972 as part of the FMP scene, and then played in many ensembles with her. Various recordings together for FMP, and, after 1988, with COWWS. Lives in Frankfurt.
John Corbett: Cultural organizer, concert promoter, gallerist, born 1963. Presented Schweizer in Chicago; her solo concert there in 2000 was released on CD. Re-released the out-of-print live recording of the Tchicai-Schweizer Group at the 1975 Willisau Jazz Festival, “Willi the Pig,” on CD. Lives in Chicago.
Sylvie Courvoisier: Pianist, born 1968. Met Schweizer in the early 1980s. Lives in New York.
Monique Crelier: Born 1994; has been Schweizer’s partner since 2009. Formerly ran a hairdresser’s salon. Lives in Basel.
Marilyn Crispell: Pianist, born 1947. Duo CD with Irène Schweizer: Overlapping Hands: Eight Segments (FMP 1990). Lives in Woodstock.
Andrew Cyrille: Percussionist, born 1939. Various concerts with Schweizer; CD releases: Irène Schweizer – Andrew Cyrille (recorded live at Willisau Jazz Festival 1988) and Berne Concert with Trio 3 + Irène Schweizer (2007). Lives in New York.
Jacques Demière: Pianist, born 1954. Worked with Schweizer as composer and pianist in the mid-1980s. Lives in Geneva.
Hamid Drake: Percussionist, born 1955. Numerous appearances with Schweizer in Europe and Chicago. Their recordings from taktlos 1998 and Willisau 2007 appear on the Intakt CD Irène Schweizer – Fred Anderson – Hamid Drake. Lives in Chicago and Milan.
Pierre Favre: Percussionist, born 1937. First recording with Schweizer as Pierre Favre Trio: Santana (1968). Has since been a close musical partner and confidant of Schweizer. Was present along with Schweizer in 1969 at the recording of European Echoes by Manfred Schoof. Countless concerts and three duo CDs with Schweizer. Worked at Paiste from 1967 to 1972, Schweizer worked there as his secretary. Lives in Uster.
Peter K. Frey: Bassist, born 1941. In 1971, played in the Irène Schweizer Quartet with Makaya Ntshoko and Jürg Grau. Lived in the cultural-politically engaged musicians’ living community WG am Wasser with, among others, Schweizer and the pianist Urs Voerkel, from 1974 to 1977. In their Huus Trio, Schweizer played drums. Founded the Workshop for Improvised Music (WIM) and Swiss Musicians’ Cooperative (MKS). Lives in Zürich.
Jost Gebers: Bassist, social worker, born 1940. Founder of Free Music Production (FMP), directed FMP, organized the Total Music Meeting, Free Music Workshop, and other concert series in Berlin from 1968 to 2000. Produced and released numerous recordings with Schweizer, including Wilde Señoritas (1976) and Hexensabbat (1977). Lives in Borken.
Barry Guy: Bassist, born 1947. Leads the London Jazz Composers Orchestra. Various appearances and recordings with Schweizer, including Theoria (1991) and Radio Rondo (2008). Lives near Zürich.
Rosina Kuhn: Painter, born 1940, a friend of Schweizer’s since 1977. Performances together until 1983. Designed the CD covers for Les Diaboliques. Lives