“Their catalog is of consistently excellent quality, concentrated and intense, with an independence of spirit which recalls Mingus.” – Penguin Guide to Jazz
“Seduces the listener into a spacious, colorful realm of improvised music with hauntingly beautiful solos from trumpeter Smith and suspenseful textural shadings from bassist Kowald and percussionist Sommer.” – Jazz Times
Peter Kowald: double bass;
Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet, flugelhorn, African thumb piano, flute;
Günter Sommer: drums, percussion, bells, organ pipes
Recorded live by Jost Gebers on November 13th and 14th, 1979 (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), and on January 29th, 1981 (tracks 4, 8, 9), at the Flöz in Berlin.
Mixed by Jost Gebers.
Mastered by Jonas Bergler.
Produced by Jost Gebers
Artwork: Peter Kowald.
Layout: Peter Kowald and Jost Gebers.
Photos: Dagmar Gebers
This download edition follows the CD compilation of the LPs FMP 0730 (Touch the Earth) & FMP 0920 (If You Want the Kernels, You Have to Break the Shells), and is drawn from the LP master tapes.
