https://actrecords.bandcamp.com/album/catching-ghosts-1
Jazz
Rating: World Treasure
released April 28, 2023
It’s with a heavy heart that I’m writing this so soon after Brötzmann’s passing at 82 years old. He’s obviously one of the great voices and in some cases one of the most brutal in jazz. If you don’t know about him and his music the finest place to read about him is in The Wire. Click here if interested:
https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/the-portal/peter-brotzmann-6-march-1941-22-june-2023
I had already listened to this record before his death and for some reason, perhaps a stupidly egotistical one, I wish I had gotten the review in before hand.
Even though Brötzmann is the biggest name on the bill this is primarily a record under Majid Bekkas‘ leadership. He’s Moroccan and all the songs are Gnaoua Traditionals.
You can listen to more of his music here:
https://majidbekkas.bandcamp.com/community
This album is a follow up to The Catch of a Ghost which was released in 2020.
However, Bekkas isn’t featured on The Catch of a Ghost and Brötzmann is more aggressively free jazz. Both records are in my “World Heritage” ranking level which is means to me it transcends the five star rating. The full recording isn’t on Bandcamp but it is on Spotify.
Every record that mentions ghosts in the title makes me think of Mark Fisher and the hauntology movement. Fisher, a writer I greatly admire and one who also made a considerable impact on my understanding of the disagreeable nature of capitalism, committed suicide in 2017.
Finally, and forgive me for what might seem like non sequiturs but really aren’t, if you’re interested in the next step in discordance after Brötzmann check out Borbetomagus.
RIP to the free jazz legend: Peter Brötzmann.
Warmth Highest 