The Willem Breuker Kollektief’s farewell tour

The Kollektief
 
When free jazz hit Europe in the mid-’60s, national cultures had a heavy influence on how the music developed. The Brits’ non-idiomatic free improvisation was reserved and cooperative. A rough and intense variant developed in Germany. And the permissive Dutch became the comedians of the New Thing, injecting humour into a form not famous for being funny.

The Amsterdam-based Instant Composer’s Pool (ICP) was formed in 1967 by drummer Han Bennink, pianist Misha Mengelberg and reed player Willem Breuker. Bennink and Mengelberg had already been playing together since 1961, most famously on Eric Dolphy’s last date, but all hell broke loose when Breuker’s anarchistic tendencies were added to the mix. While Breuker stuck around a while, recording a duo LP with Bennink and appearing on early ICP recordings, his preference for written compositions clashed with Mengelberg’s “instant composing” view. Breuker’s antics were often over the top and largely theatrical, compared with Mengelberg’s sly inside-the-music jokes. The Willem Breuker Kollektief arose from these differences in 1974, and, 38 years and one death of a leader later, a final memorial tour stops at la Sala Rossa tonight.

When Breuker succumbed to lung cancer in 2010, he left the 10-member Kollektief with a cool collection of original tunes and a vast repertoire of big band covers crossing all eras. Like the ICP, Breuker preferred both older and newer forms of jazz, avoiding the be-bop that is the mainstay at most jazz clubs. A typical Kollektief show could go from tightly arranged cartoon music to free blowing, from Kurt Weill cabaret to ’40s swing, stopping by Dixieland and re-arranged classical staples along the way.

Breuker’s generous spirit contributed to the Kollektief’s longevity. He insisted on everyone taking home the same salary, and he shared the spotlight evenly. This applied to both the music and the often silly stage stunts — not that these were necessarily distinct parts of the act. There was humour even within the solos, which might start out as free jazz overblowing, but end as a parody of that genre, and the musical accompaniment would often be carefully arranged to complement the pranks. Some found the horseplay distracting and others wondered how good the band could be if they just stuck to the music. However, no one complained about wasting entertainment dollars on the group, or that the group could not play at the highest levels, when they set their minds to it.

On this tour, longstanding members of the Kollektief will provide an overview of Breuker’s compositions. The works span 45 years, and include pieces not previously performed by the band. This makes the show a must-see, even for fans who’ve caught their act at one of their many stops in our city.
And if you’ve never witnessed this Dutch institution, then be warned: this is your last chance. ■

The homage to Willem Breuker at la Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent) tonight, Thursday, Sept. 27, 9:30 p.m., $18