Willem Breuker had established his reputation during the late '60s as one of the young lions of European free jazz, appearing on record and in concert with luminaries such as Peter Brotzmann (including his seminal recording Machine Gun), Anthony Braxton, and Gunter Hampel. When he formed his 11-piece Kollektief in 1974, one might have expected a free form maelstrom of improvised sound. Imagine the surprise of listeners when they instead encountered a performance like the one documented herein, one that was very typical of the Kollektief's live shows of the mid- to late 70's. The opening Ouverture 'La Plagiata' roars into existence, guns ablaze, as propulsive and tightly focussed as a Count Basie stomp, but layered with themes (as the title implies) pilfered from sources far and wide, including worker's songs and national anthems, all played with an uncompromisingly romantic brio rarely proffered by the avant-garde. Breuker had assembled a number of the very finest musicians on the then burgeoning Dutch scene, several of whom remained in the band for over a quarter of a century. Pianist Leo Cuypers, trombonist Willem van Manen and bassist Arjen Gorter are but three who are well featured on this disc and who would go on to create strong and beautiful music both with the Kollektief and in other projects in the years to come. Gorter takes a lovely solo on the overtly political and extremely infectious PLO-Marsch, and Breuker evinces his own free rots in a sublimely raunchy number, Riette. This latter composition also showcases an additional element sorely lacking from the European avant-garde at the time and one beloved by Breuker: humor. The European Scene is the first of several great albums by this band and captures them just as they were coming into their own as a major force of the new music. Very highly recommended. ~ Brian Olewnick, Rovi

1		Ouverture "La Plagiata"
2		Steaming
3		Luiermuziek
4		Logical
5		PLO-Marsch
6		Trauermusik Aus "Keetje Tippel"
7		Szenenwechsel-Musik Aus "La Plagiata"
8		Riette
9		Nietzsche Aan Te Doen

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