Peter Brötzmann

At last, the reissue of German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann's long out-of-print first record, one of the most auspicious debuts of free music, and a trenchant tribute to the inventor of the saxophone. For Adolphe Sax is a roundhouse punch of European free jazz, delivered in1967 by the saxophonist's first classic trio featuring drummer Sven-Ake Johansson and bassist Peter Kowald. Initially issued in a tiny private run on Brötzmann's own BRO label -- silkscreened cover designed by Brötzmann, with hand-stamped inner record labels -- it was later reissued on FMP as one of the earliest in the Berlin-based label's extensive, essential catalogue. The Unheard Music Series has lovingly remastered For Adolphe Sax from the original tapes, and the package includes a plump gallery of period photos from Brötzmann's personal collection. In addition to the original music, the CD is augmented by a never-released nine-minute track, recorded in the studios of Radio Bremen, which adds Belgian pianist Fred van Hove to the trio; in a way, this group give a hint of the transition from Brötzmann's initial threesome with Johansson and Kowald to the next working trio with Van Hove and drummer Han Bennink.