The Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is led by conductor Alexander von Schlippenbach and includes an all-star group of European creative jazz musicians. Their first, self-titled recording was released on ECM in 1989 and included Kenny Wheeler; pianist Aki Takase; and Dutch bandleaders and key figures in European avant-garde jazz, pianist Misha Mengelberg (of the ICP Orchestra) and Willem Breuker (of the Willem Breuker Kollektief). In 1998, DIW released Live in Japan '96, co-led by Schlippenbach and Takase. The cast is slightly different on this second album; the lineup differences include the lack of Mengelberg, the inclusion of trombonist Wolter Wierbos (another ICP Orchestra member), and the addition of free blower Evan Parker. ~ Joslyn Layne, Rovi