From 1972 to 1982, OM were one of the great improvising jazz-rock bands in Europe. Polyrhythmic thickets or deep cosmic space: ‚Electric Jazz Free Music‘ was the powerful label of those years. After a 25-year break, Christy Doran, Urs Leimgruber, Bobby Burri and Fredy Studer reunited as OM for the first time in 2006 at the KKL Luzern: with unbroken vitality, rich in new experiences, but also more subtle and fierce than ever. Two years ago, shortly before the band’s 50th anniversary, drummer Fredy Studer died unexpectedly. The anniversary became In Memoriam Fredy Studer. Gerry Hemingway and Tony Buck play in his place.
In ‚Fragmente‘, sound and rhythmic material from recent years – in the form of minimal fragments – form the basis of their new works. The improvisation of jazz, the energy of rock, contemporary sounds, noise and electronic sounds are mixed into the new OM texture, which never loses sight of its original vision.
Supported by Pro Helvetia and SUISA-Stiftung
