Pierre Favre

Like his contemporaries, saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:1BEsuwAkTQMG50TeHB5qny">Steve Lacy</a> and trombonist <a href="spotify:artist:6nCAbymHv2MRYV1sluCDr9">Roswell Rudd</a>, Swiss drummer Pierre Favre played Dixieland before embarking on a career in free jazz. Favre was self-taught on drums. He began working professionally at 17; he played with touring American musicians like <a href="spotify:artist:4BTW4B783hmugcZa676VuD">Lil Hardin Armstrong</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6VeTIJi6Dlx8ywPfIwqALY">Albert Nicholas</a> in the mid-'50s. In the '60s, Favre played with such bop musicians as <a href="spotify:artist:570vCzcespB48HIQyTbDO6">Bud Powell</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:57fCBf7506avv91VXx6KIb">Benny Bailey</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3ZppcUE7tHnE6SzUR4ipSy">Booker Ervin</a>. He also worked in Switzerland for Paiste & Sohn, the cymbal- and gong-making company. In the mid-'60s, Favre developed an interest in free jazz, forming a trio with pianist <a href="spotify:artist:0ytbVMei74be9tZ9DWiFP9">Irene Schweizer</a> and bassist <a href="spotify:artist:6o1OpKGBkE7eSYjtaMfQKe">George Mraz</a> (who was eventually supplanted by <a href="spotify:artist:3rvehwC8q4z7YG39y1Dhvk">Peter Kowald</a>). Saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:42WVIJPKijZYsOWhNqnAke">Evan Parker</a> joined the band in 1968, making it a quartet. In the late '60s, Favre played with saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:5DlFW9TwvDgSJHJuufuiAO">Peter Brotzmann</a>, drummer John Stevens, and trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:4gBdaOEelc50MG1QmlACtu">Manfred Schoof</a>, among others of note; he also began collaborating with modern classical musicians and avant-gardists from other disciplines. He recorded a solo album, Mountain Wind, in 1978, and began leading an all-percussion group that included <a href="spotify:artist:6P6IXsZWyS49AUbhGCvvLK">Nana Vasconcelos</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4VIPZJwfn4EGbJxYVHJ0WX">Paul Motian</a>. Favre has recorded extensively for the ECM label in the '80s and '90s, with artists including vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:0le01dl1WllSHhjEXRl4in">Tamia</a>, classical composer <a href="spotify:artist:2P6ygesd9xg5DPOBnda2jg">Arvo Part</a>, saxophonist/composer <a href="spotify:artist:5THaOlI8Qr3Za3FD6FnWvK">John Surman</a>, and bandoneonist <a href="spotify:artist:0XsuWf5f3kRzml20heorPz">Dino Saluzzi</a>. He began the 21st century with Punctus (2001), Crisscrossing (2004), and Fleuve (2007). ~ Chris Kelsey, Rovi