released May 18, 1986

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REVIEWS

"Carte Blanche finds Günter Christmann and Torsten Müller making an elated and beguiling music that quite surpasses the limitations usually found in the duo format. Christmann's long association with FMP both as a soloist and in outstanding collaboration with percussionist Detlef Schönenberg has given him an expansive vocabulary of sound language to draw upon, resulting in a music that brings to mind the dexterity and recklessness of a circus juggler. Torsten Müller's rich double-bass tone and fluid upper register leaps both provoke and lull Christmann's colorist approach represented here, making for an unexpectedly soaring sound. The division of densely textured improvisations and compositions into a number of short tracks makes this recording particularly desirable to those unfamiliar with this very "free" style of music making. Carte Blanche fits squarely into what seems the central philosophy of the FMP artists and staff; adventurous yet accessible, "outer edge" playing." - Coda Magazine

"Christmann, one of the groundbreaking sound-oriented trombonists, and Müller engage in a series of freely improvised dialogues. Each clocks in at under 3 ½ minutes, but the overall effect is that of an album-long exercise in powerful and creative free music making. The conversations have the feel of rapidly heated molecules racing around each other with manic intensity – each musician attacks with a busy and almost percussive style. There are no obvious “blow outs” – the energy rages but is bottled to a certain degree – though there is a good amount of sudden shifts and counterpoint. Neither stays in one place for any length of time. This is energetic stuff showing both men in peak form." - Milo Fine, Cadence

Günter Christmann: trombone &….
Torsten Müller: double bass

Recorded by Elke Schipper on August 21st, 1985, at the Schulzentrum in Langenhagen.

CD mastering by Olaf Rupp.
Produced by Günter Christmann and Jost Gebers.

Cover artwork by Heinz Knoke.
Design by Günter Christmann.