Search - Tchicai/Schweizer Quartet :: Willi The Pig (1975)

Great Live Set by Lesser Known Musicians

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 06/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Tchicai had a small period in the 60s when he took part in some of the greatest groups of the new free jazz movement. His insistent and piercing alto contributed to Coltrane's monumental Ascension session, as well as being a founding member of the New York Contemporary Five with Archie Shepp. His musical profile was at odds with his contemporaries, and yet provided a terrific foil to their all out sonic assault. But after an auspicious start, his music has lost it's profile in the US. Living in Europe for most of the last 25 years, Tchicai is still making terrific music, but mostly unknown here in the US. Irene Schweitzer is a pianist who's career is mostly centered in Europe. Together Tchicai and Schweitzer led a quartet at the first Willisau Festival in Switzerland and by the evidence presented here, it was an amazing concert indeed. The Willisau concert is presented here in it's entirety....a forty minute set of wailing improvisations and lyrical moments. Tchicai plays soprano and alto and is a fierce improviser. From the insistent opening motif, repeated with greater and greater intensity over the turbulent rhythm section, to the quiet moments on alto, Tchicai is amazing. His tone is individual and his improvisational ideas are both fiery and extremely well thought out. Tchicai is able to blow "energy jazz" with the best of the 60s avant-garde, but unlike many out performers, who rely more on tone, timbre and sheer power, Tchicai's improvisations have an intellectual integrity shared with Braxton, Lacy and only a few other saxophonists have been able to achieve. Tchicai's improvisations have the structure of compositions, hanging together in a way few others manage to achieve. Leading the rhythm section, Schweitzer is a revelation to me. I had not heard her before this disc. She is by turns modal, percussive and atonal in an almost Boulezian way. She has an energy taken from the lineage of Cecil Taylor, but uses her piano not only as a drum, but also as a lyrical instrument. Her ideas are clearly articulated and compelling. And the remaining team of bass and drums are strong compliments. Part of Atavistic's noble Unheard Music Series, this recording was almost lost. When Atavistic producer John Corbet asked Irene Schweitzer which of her out of print recordings she would like to see in print again, she immediately identified this performance. Unfortunately, the Willisau Festival, which had originally recorded and distributed this recording, had misplaced or destroyed many of it's early tapes. As a result, Corbet had to record this new CD from an old vinyl copy. This feat of engineering is truly impressive, as there is almost no trace of pop or crackle in the final pressing. Had the liner notes not told this story, I would never have known the difference. This is a spectacular document. If you are a fan of free jazz, this is a CD you should get. This pairing of Tchicai and Schweitzer is a wonderful pairing, and the results are truly among the finest concert recordings of the 70s. Highly recommended. Thanks once again Atavistic."