Biography Rüdiger Carl

An adept on several instruments, notably saxophones, clarinet and accordion, Carl has been an active participant on the European free jazz scene since the late 60s.

Among many musicians with whom he has worked are Arjen Gorter, Makaya Ntshoko, Louis Moholo, Maarten Altena, Tristan Honsinger, Johnny Dyani and Han Bennink.

In particular, he has a long-standing musical relationship with Irène Schweizer that began in the early 70s.

In the mid-70s Carl was a member of Globe Unity Orchestra, appearing on several albums including their 1986 recording 20th Anniversary. From the late 70s he has given solo performances and has also established other important and continuing partnerships, including those with drummer Sven-Åke Johansson and Hans Reichel. Together with Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, these three form the Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett. Carl has also worked with Alexander Von Schlippenbach and the September Band.

Unusually among free jazz musicians, Carl has used the accordion in many of his performances. Indeed, the instrument is unusual, and frequently reviled, in any genre of jazz. It is a measure of his originality and technical skill that he has won over a large audience for the instrument (and also for the concertina that he sometimes plays).

Carl, together with Jay Oliver, Phil Wachsmann, Stephen Wittwer and Schweizer, formed the COWWS Quintet, the group retaining its name when Oliver died in 1993 and was replaced by Barre Phillips who was succeeded later by Gorter.

He is also a member of the Canvas Trio with Joëlle Léandre and Carlos Zingaro and has performed in duo with Mayo Thompson Léandre. In the late 80s and early 90s Carl was concert organiser of Musik Im Portikus at Frankfurt am Maine and from the mid-90s led the F.I.M. Orchester in the same city.

A strikingly talented multi-instrumentalist, Carl has made a very big impact in free jazz and continues to explore original concepts that expand the envelope beyond previously set limits.

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