1967 Manfred Schoof Sextett “Manfred Schoof Sextett” on Wergo

Well, I have to say I have a real soft spot for just this brand of hardcore Germanic free-atonal butcher knife blowing, and here the Schoof Man brings it hard. The music is composed by Alexander von Schlippenbach, whose “Pakistani Pomade” is unlikely to be anyone’s idea of a casual Sunday afternoon listen, so if the pouring of molten liquid brass surprises you as needle hits groove, you pretty much get what you deserve. Which is to say, there’s no room on the choruses for Stevie Nicks, and that’s not only because there’s no choruses.

​My man Gerd Dudek, representing the tenor, and whose “Flying To The Sky” with Takehiro Honda is a truly excellent slab of wax, punches in with very deliberate randomness. Representing the Swedes, and longtime Brötzmann wingman, Sven-Åke Johansson kicks some drums around. Vesala-buddy Buschi Niebergall is on stand up, and Jaki Liebezeit (long lost cousin of Mr. Byard) takes a minute out from touring with Can for some snare hits of his own. Yes, friends, this one will clear out the arteries, but as will all genuinely out Free Jazz that I enjoy, there is still a pocket and a groove, it’s just harder (and more fun) to locate. Oh yeah.