Peter Brötzmann (born March 6, 1941) is a German free jazz saxophonist. March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ... Free jazz, or avant-garde jazz, is a movement of jazz music characterized by diminished dependence on formal constraints. ... A saxophonist is a musician who plays the saxophone. ...

Brötzmann is among the most important European free jazz musicians. His rough, lyrical timbre is easily recognized on his many recordings. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Free jazz, or avant-garde jazz, is a movement of jazz music characterized by diminished dependence on formal constraints. ... In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note which distinguishes different types of musical instrument. ...

He studied painting in Wuppertal, but grew dissatisfied with art galleries and exhibitions. He has not abandoned his art training, however: Brötzmann has designed most of his own album covers. He first taught himself to play various clarinets, then saxophones, and began playing with double bassist Peter Kowald. The Mona Lisa is perhaps the best-known artistic painting in the Western world. ... Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... A bass clarinet, which sounds an octave lower than the more common Bb soprano clarinet. ... Saxophones of different sizes play in different registers. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Peter Kowald (born April 21, 1944, died September 21, 2002) was a German free jazz musician. ...

For Adolphe Sax, Brötzmann's first recording, was released in 1967 and featured Kowald, drummer Sven-Ake Johansson and pianist Fred Van Hove. Life-size statue of Adolphe Sax outside his birthplace in Dinant, Belgium. ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

1968 saw the release of "Machine Gun", an octet recording often listed among the most notable free jazz albums. One critic has written "Machine Gun" offers "a heavy-impact sonic assault so aggressive it still knocks listeners back on their heels decades later." [1] (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB020405201225411692&sql=A3b7tk6kxlkrk) 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... An octet, in general, is a group consisting of eight (8) elements. ...

The logistical difficulties of touring with an octet resulted in Brötzmann eventually slimming the group to a trio with Han Bennink and Van Hove. Han Bennink (born April 17, 1942) is a Dutch jazz drummer and percussionist. ...

In the 1980s, Brötzmann flirted with heavy metal and noise rock, including a stint in Last Exit. Heavy metal is a form of rock music characterized by aggressive, driving rhythms and highly amplified distorted guitars, generally with grandiose lyrics and virtuosic instrumentation. ... The genre commonly known as noise rock, developed in the 1980s as an experimental outgrowth of punk rock. ... Last Exit was a music group composed of Bill Laswell, Peter Brotzmann, Sonny Sharrock and Ronald Shannon Jackson. ...

Brötzmann has remained active, touring and recording regularly. He has released over thirty albums as a bandleader, and has appeared on dozens more.

Brötzmann has since recorded or performed with many musicians, including Cecil Taylor, Evan Parker, Han Bennink, Bill Laswell, William Parker, Willem Breuker, Ken Vandermark, Conny Bauer and Brötzmann's son, Caspar Brötzmann, a notable guitarist in his own right. Cecil Percival Taylor (born March 15, 1929) is a pianist (and poet) now generally acknowledged to be one of the great innovative sources of free jazz (along with the better known Ornette Coleman). ... Evan Parker (born 1944) is a British free jazz saxophone player. ... Han Bennink (born April 17, 1942) is a Dutch jazz drummer and percussionist. ... Bill Laswell (born December 2, 1950) is a prolific bassist, producer, and record label owner who has collaborated with hundreds of musicians all over the world. ... This article is about the jazz bassist. ... Ken Vandermark (born September 22, 1964) is an American jazz saxophone and clarinet player. ... Konrad Conny Bauer (born July 4, 1943) is a world-renowned free jazz trombonist. ...

External link

• Interviews, discographies and photographs (http://www.shef.ac.uk/misc/rec/ps/efi/mbrotzm.html)