MISHA MENGELBERG and ICP ORCHESTRA – Japan Japon (LP-1982 + 7inch single)

Label: Instant Composers Pool ‎– ICP 024, DIW ‎– DIW 1014,

           International Music Activity ‎– IMA 1

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: Japan / Released: 1982

Style: Free Improvisation

Recorded on 11 May 1982 at Osaka and 17 May 1982 in Tokyo.

Recording Engineer by – Tsutomu Suto

Painting and design by – Tomiyasu Shiraiwa

Back cover photos by – Mitsuyoshi Nishida and Tsutomu Suto

Includes liner notes in Japanese by Kazunori Sugiyama

Produced by IMA (International Music Activity)

Co-produced by ICP (Instant Composers Pool)

This Japanese release included limited bonus 7inch single:

ICP ORCHESTRA – Caravan, DIW  1001, 33 1/3 rpm, (JAP) 1982

A1 - Salute To Fujisawa Shukoh ................................................ 2:50

A2 - Kwela ................................................................................ 17:42

a)      Hap

b)      Boodschappen

c)      Welkom

d)      Briefkaart

e)      Maurits

B1 - Habanera ............................................................................ 6:21

B2 - Carnaval ............................................................................. 3:35

B3 - Japan Japon ....................................................................... 7:10

B4 - Zing Zang Zaterdag ............................................................ 3:14

+

C  -  Caravan (7inch single) ........................................................ 7:12

Artists:

Misha Mengelberg – piano, voice

Han Bennink – drums, percussion

Peter Brötzmann – tenor sax, alto sax, bass sax, voice

Keshavan Maslak – tenor sax, alto sax, voice

Michael Moore – alto sax, clarinet

Toshinori Kondo – trumpet, voice

Walter Wierbos – trombone

Joep Maassen – trombone

Larry Fishkind – tuba

Maurice Horsthuis – viola

Recorded live on May 11th (Osaka) and 17th (Tokyo),  ICP Orchestra Japan Tour in 1982.

Instant Composers Pool (ICP) is an independent Dutch jazz and improvised music label and orchestra. Founded in 1967, the label takes its name from the notion that improvisation is "instant composition". The ICP label has published more than 50 releases to date, with most of its releases featuring the ICP Orchestra and its members.

In 1967 saxophonist Willem Breuker, pianist Misha Mengelberg and drummer Han Bennink founded the ICP label in Amsterdam. Mengelberg and Bennink had been playing together since 1961 and found success as members of Eric Dolphy's quartet in 1964, as documented on his live album Last Date. Mengelberg had also been involved in the Fluxus art movement and was developing a composition style that involved musical games. As European free jazz musicians, they were butting up against disinterest in their music from contemporary jazz labels, so they formed a cooperative as a means to release their own recordings. Mengelberg coined the label's name as a testament to improvisation being composition at the instant that the music is played. ICP's first records documented Breuker and Bennink's New Acoustic Swing Duo, and a trio of Mengelberg and Bennink with John Tchicai, whose album was titled Instant Composers Pool...

Breuker left ICP in 1974 to concentrate on his group, the Willem Breuker Collective, and went on to found his own record label, BVHaast. Mengelberg and Bennink intensified their collaboration and, widening their own musical project as the Instant Composers Pool Tentet with saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and cellist Tristan Honsinger. Throughout the 1970s, the ICP label continued to release records, many as co-productions with other European independent labels, including albums by Jeanne Lee, Derek Bailey, Dudu Pukwana, Steve Lacy, Paul Rutherford, Evan Parker, Maarten Altena and Peter Brötzmann. Most of these releases were of limited (and sometimes even numbered) edition and featured a distinctive idiosyncratic graphic design by Bennink.

 LP Japan Japon + 7inch single – Caravan

A stunning early 80s performance from pianist Misha Mengelberg – working here with the ICP Orchestra, and at a level that's completely fresh and very striking – at a mode when the Dutch jazz approach was something very new indeed, and handled here with a wonderful balance between playful arrangements and fierce improvisations! In addition to Misha on piano, the lineup also includes Han Bennink on drums and percussion, Keshavan Maslak on alto, Walter Wierbos on trombone, Peter Brötzmann on alto and baritone, Maurice Horsthuis on viola, and Toshinori Kondo on trumpet – and most of the players vocalize at some point – but in ways that aren't really singing, and instead act as a great addition to their improvised musicianship. Larry Fishkind also throws in some incredible work on tuba – really amazing sounds – and titles include "Kwela", "Japan Japon", "Habanera", "Carnaval" and "Zing Zang Zaterdag".........

and +

ICP ORCHESTRA – Caravan, DIW  1001, 33 1/3 rpm, (JAP) 1982

One sided rare 7” , released together with ”Japan Japon” 12” LP

Another Japan released musical BOMB…. The legendary ICP Orchestra  under chef Mengelberg´s  leadership playing Ellington´s Caravan in a very wonderful and dreamy way… until… until… Peter Brötzmann enters the stage with some WILD blowing that makes hearts and clocks stop. Totally beautiful playing from Brötzmann, absolutely over the top. The greatest story teller of them all, hits again.

Listening to this music makes the world feel like a better place to be.

Enjoy!

If you find it, buy this album!