Alexander von Schlippenbach
Main Lines/1967
Forthcoming September, 2026
In September, 1967, three of the primary ensembles of free music in Northern Europe gathered for a mini-festival on Radio Bremen: the Manfred Schoof Quintet, the Peter Brötzmann Quartet, and the Irene Schwiezer Trio. Pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach appeared as part of the Manfred Schoof Quintet, but in these sets, which mixed the dozen members of the ensembles, as well as presenting them on their own, Schlippenbach in fact either led or was at the center of several groupings, presenting two of his compositions. Main Lines/1967 compiles four tracks from these formative studio sessions, which took place just as the participants were formulating the basic direction of improvised music in Europe. The CD includes large ensemble music in the mode of Schlippenbach's Globe Unity recordings, the first of which were made a year earlier. Mani Neumeier, who would soon become the drummer in the rock group Guru Guru, offers a wild percussion-centric ride in "It's Up," while saxophonist Peter Brötzmann squares off against trios – three basses, three pianos, three drummers – in the volatile piece "Three." The most compositionally complex works are Schlippenbach's, the title track and "Turn 14," which was part of the Schoof Quintet's repertoire. Other participants include drummer Jaki Liebezeit, who would go on to propel Can, bassists Peter Kowald, Uli Trepte, and Buschi Niebergall, pianist Fred Van Hove, saxophonist Gerd Dudek, and celebrated improvisor/drummer Sven-Åke Johansson. A major unearthing, these recordings celebrate their 60th anniversary next year but have lost none of their incendiary edge.
- Main Lines (Schlippenbach/12:38)
- Three (Brötzmann/8:01)
- Turn 14 (Schlippenbach/10:07)
- It's Up! (Neumeier/15:37)
Alexander von Schlippenbach, piano
Irène Schweizer, piano (1, 2, 4)
Fred van Hove, piano(1, 2, 4)
Peter Brötzmann, tenor and baritone saxophone
Gerd Dudek, Soprano and tenor saxophone (1, 3, 4)
Manfred Schoof, cornet, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion (1, 3, 4)
Manfred Miller, cornet (4)
Buschi Niebergall, bass
Peter Kowald, bass
Uli Trepte, bass (1, 2, 4)
Sven-Åke Jjohansson, drums
Jaki Liebezeit, drums, percussion
Mani Neumeier, drums, tablas (1, 2, 4)
Recorded at Radio Bremen in Studio F, September 15, 1967.
Engineered by Rolf Mittag.
Mastered by Alex Inglizian.
Cover photo by Ute Klophaus; Interior photo by Uwe Oldenburg.
Design by Michael Dyer/Remake.
Produced by John Corbett.
Special thanks to Alex von Schlippenbach.
CvsDCD121