Twenty years of Jazz at 'the Ear'

The Jazz Ear record store in Tel Aviv will mark its 20th anniversary with a typically envelope pushing program.

By BARRY DAVIS
jazz 88 (photo credit: )
jazz 88
(photo credit: )
The Jazz Ear record store in Tel Aviv will mark its 20th anniversary with a typically envelope pushing program featuring German saxophonist Peter Brotzmann, American trumpeter Joe McPhee, Chicago-based double bass player Kent Kessler and fellow Windy City resident drummer Michael Zerang. Brotzmann is one of the leaders of the European free jazz community and has collaborated with numerous like-minded musicians on both sides of the Atlantic, including British guitarist Derek Bailey, veteran improvisational pianist Cecil Taylor and his sidekick on his upcoming Tel Aviv dates, Joe McPhee. Brotzmann's energized playing style as portrayed on his suitably entitled 1968 album, Machine Gun, was described by one critic as "a heavy impact sonic assault so aggressive it still knocks listeners back on their heels decades later." All four members of the quartet perform regularly in the States and Europe and, like their forebears in the Chicago-based improvisational music movement AACM (Association for Advancement of Creative Musicians), have often found more receptive audiences outside their home country. They will benefit from the warm-up services of local reedman Harold Rubin on all four shows next week at Tel Aviv's Levontin 7. The Peter Brotzmann-Joe McPhee Quartet will also perform at Levontin 7 on May 14 and 15 at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. For more information call 03-5605048 or 03-6215222.