Lustfully swinging bebop, absurdist modern composed music, atonally abrasive and writhing avant-garde jazz and the wooden sounds of an under-subsidized Dutch brass orchestra; it all comes together effortlessly in the universe of the Dutch pianist and composer Misha Mengelberg. He founded the Instant Composers Pool (ICP) in 1967 with the other musical absurdist Willem Breuker, but the two quickly
… became confused. And where Breuker (until his death in 2010) held sway in his Kollektief, ICP grew into a democratic orchestra full of prominent musical avant-gardists such as reed players Ab Baars and Tobias Delius, strings Tristan Honsinger and Mary Oliver and of course Mengelberg's loyal drummer. Han Bennink. The album ICP 049, recorded live by the VPRO, is a striking reflection of the unbridled stage performances of this tentet, opening with the silly, unsteady song Niet Zus, Maar Zo, sung by Mengelberg, after which a dizzying musical adventure begins. Music to flee from or to immerse yourself completely, just as carefree as the musicians themselves. (MR)more