The Bridge

In the series "A conversation with a giant" (Joe McPhee, Cel Overberghe), we invite Alexander Von Schlippenbach this time. Under the direction of Rodrigo Amado, "The Bridge" will be presented to you afterwards. The Bridge is a generation-spanning top ensemble from the European improv scene, also featuring Ingebrigt Håker Flaten: Double bass (Norway) and Gerry Hemingway: Drums (Swiss).

The band's name is a direct tribute to Sonny Rollins' classic 1962 album The Bridge, reflecting Amado's deep connection to the lineage of great tenor saxophonists. With Spontaneous Creations, the group performs without prior discussion, relying on exceptional synergy and rapport. Their sound frequently references radical pioneers like Albert Ayler and the idiosyncratic piano style of Thelonious Monk (channeled through Schlippenbach). Performances transition between "meditative lyricism" and "fierce turbulence," a balancing structural invention with raw, visceral energy, with a huge Dynamic Range.