Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tentet

[Peter]

The Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tentet played at Milwaukee School of Engineering Monday 11/08/04. An enjoyable show and a pretty good turnout. Fred Lomberg-Holm conducted the 1st number using cue cards that said things like "softer" "frenzied", etc. I'm not sure if Brotzmann was into this approach as he wasn't playing much and Fred made some shrugging, questionning gestures to which Brotzmann responded by starting to play. Fred also had some sort of box with tggle switches that he operated. On the next number directions were given by christmas tree-like light bulbs. Perhaps something was wrong because at one point Brotzman flicked a bulb and it then turned on. I'm not sure if this is a new approach as this was the first time I've seen this band since an Empty Bottle show 4-5 years ago. To me Jeb Bishop was the stand-out. His playing added a bit of welcome structure that works well with the wild energy blowing of Mats Gustofson, Ken Vandermark and Brotzman. I also really enjoyed Bishop when Atomic & Vandermark 5 played Onopa Brewery in Milwaukee this past summer.

[Д.Д.]

Thanks for review, Peter.

Last time I saw the Tentet a couple of years ago, there were no special conducting tools. But Bishop indeed was one the most impressive soloists.

Who's on drums now - Hamid Drake or Paal Nielsen-Love?

[gnhrtg]

Thanks, Peter. The light-bulbs have been in use at least as early as the mini-European tour the tentet had around last May or so, possibly earlier. It should be Nilssen-Love on drums, though you never know; was he? When I saw them during that mini-tour (without Gustafsson but with Ramanan and Kondo) Bishop was easily the most interesting player and he had a quite long solo feature, or actually a composition that featured him, according to Brotzmann, too.

[Peter]

There were two drummers, Michael Zerang & Paal Nielsen-Love.