Following on the heels of European
Echoes, Balls was the second release by the
German FMP label; it remains one of the great documents of Peter Brötzmann’s core late-sixties/
early-
seventies’ trio with
pianist Fred Van Hove and drummer Han Bennink. At the time of the recording, the trio had been
playing together for some time, including forming the nucleus for a number of other recordings
(including both the groundbreaking Machine Gun and Nipples offerings). Originally
recorded on one August day in 1970, the record has been out of print for some time; Atavistic's
reissue on its Unheard Music Series imprint sweetens the deal by including two new unreleased
tracks from the era (“Untitled 1” and “Untitled 2”).
Given the participants and its subtitle, “Free Action!,” one’s might expect that the nearly hour-
long program is full of bombast and torrential intensity. Sure, the sonic blasts are here, with
Brötzmann’s take-no-prisoners approach leading the group to meet his challenge. However, what
also makes this release so enticing is the album’s "quieter” moments, particularly when Van
Hove
and Bennink engage in active discourse. Van Hove is a diverse player, as his lickety-split
calisthenics merge effortlessly with the influences of jazz and classical music.
The title track is perhaps the best indicator of what this record is all about. It opens with Bennink
and Van Hove’s scraping abstractions, which cease upon Brötzmann’s entrance. Eventually
Bennink, on the shell, and Brötzmann, on tenor, duel for a few moments, dancing around like two
birds in flight (the shell/sax combo appears again on “Filet Americain”). Van Hove and Bennink offer
some thoughts, their duets consist of mining more spacious notions, with Van Hove’s dancing or
skittish piano and Bennink’s “everything including the kitchen sink” approach adding to the
sense of engagement.
Such swirling, varied statements set the tone for the remainder, not that the program is
predictable by any means, rather, these energetic surges and tension building keep one’s interest at
a high level. Those hearing this for the first time might find themselves amazed at the versatility as
well as physical prowess of this group. Catching these iconoclasts early in their career is surely a
treat and of course, for those who already embrace these musicians and their art, the music is pure
joy.
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the web.
Click here for more reviews of Atavistic's Unheard Music
Series.
~ Jay Collins
