With both these records, Wilde Señoritas and Hexensabbat,the young pianist from Switzerland presented her first solo recordings,in 1977 and 1978 respectively: a firework of modern jazz piano music.The first solo records of a female European jazz pianist were listened to as a manifesto of free music and as a document of emancipation.
Wilde Señoritas and Hexensabbat count today, twenty-five years later,as classics of modern jazz music.
A great female pianist can be heard on these recordings, mostly made live. Schweizer's technique was already developed, her influences and roots can be heard clearly. In a record review of Hexensabbat,
the musician Lindsay Cooper emphasized back thenthat Irène Schweizer was experimental as well as warm and communicative qualities that still characterize the music of Irène Schweizer today.The records Wilde Señoritas and Hexensabbat have been out of print for a good ten years. Intakt Records obtained the rights from the Berlin label FMP and is now re-releasing both records as a double CD.
The CD booklet documents the original record covers,contains photos from the Berlin photographer Dagmar Gebers from the live concerts and an extensive interview from Patrik Landolt with Irène Schweizer about the time of the awakening of European jazz and the development of Irène Schweizer¹s piano music. |