Paal Nilssen-Love

Circus

Drummer Paal Nilssen-Love is a tireless engine, on and off the stage. For more than a quarter of a century, he has been one of the most prolific, energetic and flamboyant representatives of the European improvisation scene. He whacked rhythms together in The Thing and Atomic, and developed intense collaborations with heavyweight folks like Ken Vandermark, Peter Brötzmann, Joe McPhee, Akira Sakata, Otomo Yoshihide, Arto Lindsay, Terrie Ex, Mars Williams and countless others. But even within such a versatile range, Circus remains something special in the man's work.

Although there is plenty of improvisation, Nilssen-Love also composed music for the band. To do so, he drew inspiration from music from Ethiopia and Brazil, so it is full of rousing and hypnotic rhythms. The sextet, made up of a small who's who of the Northern Improvisation League, follows one central rule: anyone can introduce any song at any time. The result is that each concert is different and surprising, full of intense contrasts and swirling interplay. Exuberant, life-affirming music with an almost physical impact on body and soul. Hearing is believing!

"This was a shared ritual, an exuberant celebration, an ode to freedom, to life. A concert that would turn any club, any tent, upside down (now we people to make it happen). Afterwards: nothing but grinning faces, a roff blown off, a world that suddenly felt somewhat askew. You never get used to it. Thankfully." - Enola Magazine on their previous Belgian concert