Gunter Hampel
Gunter Hampel and his Galaxie dream band
The Music of Gunter Hampel
One of the more confusing LP covers, this is actually the Birth release titled Familie (BIRTH 008). It appears as if Birth’s releases 008-012 share the same exact cover (saving cash?). Which recording you actually have is indicated with a little blue arrow on the back; “Arrow marks which recording you are just holding in your hands.” (BIRTH was Gunter Hampel’s label)
Featuring Hampel on vibes, bass clarinet, flute, soprano sax and piano, his wife Jeanne Lee voice and Anthony Braxton alto sax, flute, soprano sax, contrabass clarinet and clarinet from a concert in Paris at the Theatre du Mouffetard, April 1st, 1972. Although this music is related to the headier Euro-school of ‘free jazz’ (traces of the Second Viennese School in the mix), the Music of Gunter Hampel contains those moments of intense and dense improvised horn sqwonk and holler mixed with Jeanne Lee’s mostly subtle vocal soundings that touch on more animistic forces while the tracks containing Hampel on vibes with Jeanne Lee floating along get to more ethereal and beautiful places. Apollo to Sonny & Linda Sharrock’s Dionysus?
It’s interesting to note that Gunter started the GUNTER HAMPEL QUINTET in 1960! and he’s still going’ strong.
the free jazz Keith Richards?