"nô pintcha - don't stop"

Last night the club Porgy & Bess hosted a stream of performers from England, Germany, Australia, Chicago and elsewhere in one of several "Solidarity" events around Europe this spring. Known as "nô pintcha - don't stop", the concerts form a collective effort to keep the Konfrontationen annual summer festival in Nickelsdorf---a mainstay event of the free jazz world, since 1976---alive. The man in the white shirt in the photo, the phenomenal vocalist Phil Minton, flew from London to contribute. He is leading (cajoling, scaring, seducing, etc.) a 40-voice pick-up choir in a 35-minute directed improvisation---invigorating, electric, and full of unexpected detours. (I was invited to join the choir but offered instead, with Phil's blessing, to document, so segments of this choir extravaganza, with sound, should eventually find their way to YouTube.) The spontaneous collective decision by all the vocalists to surround Phil in a kind of ritual 40-person mega-hug, after the performance ended, was beautiful to witness, and a kind of metaphor for the activism that has energized musicians and audiences to find a way to keep this festival going. Hans Falb, the host with the most (owner of the extensive facilities in Nickelsdorf providing food, drink, picnic tables, rehearsal spaces, art and sculptures, concession stands with hard-to-find recordings and books), is the animated guy in the upper right corner of the photo (back row). You can read an interview with him, giving some history of the festival, and explaining the current situation, here.

The other stellar performers, appearing in various configurations, included the indefatigable and enormously gifted Georg Graewe, playing three different sets; the inventive young singer, Almut Kühne; my favorite drummer always and forever, Paul Lovens; the astonishing Australian bass player Clayton Thomas, who lives in Berlin; and the magnificent cut-throat Ken Vandermark. Having performed in Nickelsdorf myself a couple of summers ago, it is one marathon experience and serious hang, not to be missed, a place where practically every free jazz improvising musician has performed. The full house last night at Porgy & Bess was a testament to the enthusiastic reception for this music---may it find a stable and generous new home and continue its vibrant, collaborative avenues in the coming years.