Sketches And Ballads

AVANT-GARDE JAZZ. Full Blast is veteran “free jazz” saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, electric bassist Marino Pliakas, and drummer Michael Wertmüller. For this live recording of Wertmüller’s powerful composition, the group is augmented by “friends” on reeds, trumpet, and percussion. The insert says this piece is scored, but there is much free improvisation.

Instrumental. No FCC issues.

** First a fast, powerful, high-energy introductory section lasting ~7min. Tutti mostly. Clarinet and trumpet often in front with juxtaposed melodies. Tenor sax occasionally interrupts with a very harsh, squawking tone. Forceful bass & drums sound like rock.
Then a sequence of short sections (several mins each) varying considerably in tempo, style, timbre, and instrumentation: sometimes tense, sometimes exuberant, sometimes ugly & harsh, and sometimes relatively gentle. A few of the sections noted: a good one with solo trumpet; another nice one with solo baritone sax; ugly squawks on tenor sax; one with tenor sax & snare drum; one with sax & lots of bass; one with clarinet & tympani.
Stops suddenly (with ~30 sec remaining in track) to mild applause. (36:11)