Peter Brotzmann / Han Bennink Duo April 26, 2008

Epistrophy Arts presents the legenedary free music duo in a rare texas appearance.

$15 Advance tickets available at End of An Ear and Waterloo Records. $18 door
(512) 462-6008 for ticket info

PETER BROTZMANN AND HAN BENNINK “Few modern saxophonists can sound as powerfully abrasive as Mr. Brotzmann, and few drummers can seem as convincingly unhinged as Mr. Bennink. Each is a pillar of the European free-improvising scene, and a touchstone for the rambunctious wing of the contemporary avant-garde.” -New York Times 2006

Epistrophy Arts is proud to present one of the legendary duos in the history of free music at Austin’s Historic Victory Grill on Saturday April 26. German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and Dutch drummer Han Bennink were first heard together on late-1960's recordings such as Brötzmann's seminal Machine Gun (FMP), these frequent collaborators have been making music for more than 40 years and working as a duo since 1976. This performance is part of a rare two-week American tour.

Brötzmann is a self-taught musician and co-founder of the groundbreaking FMP label whose early collaborations in the mid-1960's helped build the foundation of the European free jazz scene. He has since worked in various formats with a seemingly endless list of the genre's most respected performers, including membership in such all-star ensembles as the Globe Unity Orchestra, the ICP Orchestra, Last Exit and his own Die Like A Dog Quartet and Chicago Tentet. His discography as a leader/co-leader alone spans more than 65 releases. The latest is 2008's Born Broke (Atavistic), a two-disc set with drummer Peeter Uuskyla. Learn more at http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/mbrotzm.html

Known for his penchant for theatrics and use of found objects as percussion instruments, Han Bennink is a pioneer of the renowned Dutch jazz and improvised music scene and one of the world's most respected improvisers on his instrument. Bennink established his reputation early on with his collaborations with jazz luminaries Eric Dolphy, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery etc. His enormous body of work includes well over 200 recordings featuring collaborations with a long list of iconic figures and longstanding membership in such groups as the Brötzmann/van Hove/Bennink trio, Clusone Trio, Tobias Delius 4tet and ICP Orchestra. A specialist in the duo format, Bennink has also recorded duets with Eugene Chadbourne, Dave Douglas, Ellery Eskelin, Myra Melford, Misha Mengelberg and Cecil Taylor among many others. Learn more at http://www.hanbennink.com/

About Epistrophy Arts:
Epistrophy Arts is a grass-roots cultural organization dedicated to presenting the finest adventurous and improvised music in Austin Texas. Since January of 1998 we have presented over 50 concerts with some of the major figures in contemporary adventurous music.
This project is funded in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Creative Opportunity Orchestra and through individual contributions.