Paul Lovens (born 6 June 1949) is a German musician. He plays drums, percussion, singing saw, and cymbals. He has performed with the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and

Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra The Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is a large German jazz ensemble led by Alexander von Schlippenbach. The orchestra performs orchestral jazz and experimental big band music and has included in its ranks such leading musicians as Misha Mengelbe ...

. He was born in

Aachen Aachen is the List of cities in North Rhine-Westphalia by population, 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, 27th-largest city of Germany, with around 261,000 inhabitants. Aachen is locat ...

, Germany. In the early 1970s, he was part of a trio with pianist

Alexander von Schlippenbach Alexander von Schlippenbach (born 7 April 1938) is a German jazz pianist and composer. He came to prominence in the 1960s playing free jazz in a trio with saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer Paul Lovens, and as a member of the Globe Unity Orch ...

. Since then he has worked with

Cecil Taylor Cecil Percival Taylor (March 25, 1929April 5, 2018) was an American pianist and poet. Taylor was classically trained and was one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an energetic, physical approach, resulting in comple ...

Harri Sjöström Harri Sjöström (born February 29, 1952, in Turku, Finland) is a saxophonist who specializes in the soprano saxophone. Life and career Harri studied saxophone with Harry Mann, Leo Wright and Steve Lacy. He also studied photography and film at th ...

, Günther Christmann,

Eugene Chadbourne Eugene Chadbourne (born January 4, 1954) is an American banjoist, guitarist and music critic. Life and career Chadbourne was born in Mount Vernon, New York, Mount Vernon, New York, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He started playing guitar wh ...

Peter Brötzmann Peter Brötzmann (6 March 1941 – 22 June 2023) was a German jazz saxophonist and clarinetist regarded as a central and pioneering figure in European free jazz. Throughout his career, he released over fifty albums as a bandleader. Amongst his m ...

, Teppo Hauta-Aho,

Mats Gustafsson Mats Olof Gustafsson (born 29 October 1964) is a Swedish free jazz saxophone player. Career Gustafsson came to the attention of lovers of improvised music as part of a duo with Christian Munthe (started in 1986), as member of Gunter Chris ...

Thomas Lehn Thomas Lehn (born 1958 in Fröndenberg) is a German piano and synthesizer player active in free improvisation and contemporary music. Lehn has recorded with Marcus Schmickler, Keith Rowe, John Butcher, Phil Minton, Phil Durrant, Radu Malf ...

Phil Wachsmann Philipp John Paul Wachsmann (born 5 August 1944) is an African avant-garde jazz/jazz fusion violinist born in Kampala, Uganda, probably better known for having founded his own group Chamberpot. He has worked with many musicians in the free jazz id ...

, Rajesh Mehta and

Joëlle Léandre Joëlle Léandre (born 12 September 1951) is a French double bassist, vocalist, and composer active in new music and free improvisation. In the field of contemporary music, she has performed with Pierre Boulez's Ensemble InterContemporain, and ...

. He also played with

Florian Schneider Florian Schneider-Esleben (7 April 194721 April 2020) was a German musician. He is best known as one of the founding members and leaders of the electronic band Kraftwerk, performing his role with the band until his departure in 2008. Early li ...

and Ebehard Kranemann in an early incarnation of

Kraftwerk Kraftwerk (, ) is a Germany, German Electronic music, electronic band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk was among the first successful a ...

. Since 1967, Lovens has run the record label Po Torch with

Paul Lytton Paul Lytton (born 8 March 1947, London) is an England, English free jazz and free improvisation, free improvising percussionist. Lytton began on drums at age 16. He played jazz in London in the late 1960s while taking lessons on the tabla from ...

Discography

As leader

* ''Voerkel/Frey/Lovens'' (FMP, 1976) * ''Carpathes'' with

Michel Pilz Michel Pilz (28 October 1945 – 2 November 2023) was a German jazz clarinetist. Pilz was a clarinet student at the Luxembourg Conservatory in the mid-1960s. He then joined Manfred Schoof's ensemble in 1968, an association he would maintain in ...

Peter Kowald Peter Kowald (21 April 1944 – 21 September 2002) was a German free jazz and free improvising double bassist and tubist. Career A member of the Globe Unity Orchestra, and a touring double-bass player, Kowald collaborated with many European f ...

(FMP, 1976) * ''Was It Me'' with

(Po Torch, 1977) * ''Paul Rutherford/Paul Lovens'' (Po Torch, 1978) * ''Moinho Da Asneira'' with Paul Lytton (Po Torch, 1980) * ''Weavers'' with Gunter Christmann, Maarten Altena (Po Torch, 1980) * ''The Last Supper'' with

Toshinori Kondo was a Japanese avant-garde jazz and jazz fusion trumpeter. Career Kondo was born in Ehime Prefecture. He attended Kyoto university in 1967, and became close friends with percussionist Tsuchitori Toshiyuki. In 1972 the pair left university, and ...

(Po Torch, 1981) * ''Der Traum Der Roten Plame'' (FMP, 1982) * ''Death Is Our Eternal Friend'' with Toshinori Kondo (DIW, 1983) * ''The Fetch'' with Paul Lytton (Po Torch, 1984) * ''Stranger Than Love'' with

(Po Torch, 1985) * ''News from the Shed'' with Butcher/Durrant/Malfatti/Russell (Acta, 1989) * ''

Regalia Regalia ( ) is the set of emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royal status, as well as rights, prerogatives and privileges enjoyed by a sovereign, regardless of title. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and ...

'' with

(FMP, 1989) * ''Goldberg'' with Urs Voerkel (Po Torch, 1990) * ''Nothing to Read'' with

(Blue Tower, 1991) * ''Choice-Chase'' with

Stephan Wittwer Stephan Wittwer (1 March 1953 – 18 September 2024) was a Swiss experimental musician, improvisor and composer. Earlier, his main instruments were electric and classical guitar, amplifier and recording studio, but in later years, his instrument wa ...

(Intakt, 1995) * ''Mouth Eating Trees and Related Activities'' with Mats Gustafsson (Okka Disk, 1996) * ''Patrizio'' with

(Victo, 1997) * ''Quicksand'' with Frank Gratkowski (Meniscus, 2001) * ''Papajo'' (Emanem, 2002) * ''Acthung'' with Thomas Lehn (Grob, 2003) * ''Trio'' with Christmann/Gustaffson (FMP 2010) * ''Wegen Meines'' with Moodswing 3 (Rai Trade, 2010) * ''Live at Hasselt'' with Vandeweyer/Van Hove/Blume ( NoBusiness, 2013) * ''Live 2013'' with Stefan Keune (FMR, 2016) * ''Mein Freund Der Baum'' with Stoffner/Mahall (Wide Ear, 2017)
''The Room: Time and Space''
with

Seppe Gebruers Seppe Gebruers (born May 9, 1990) is a Belgian musician, composer and improvisor. He is also a teacher and researcher at KASK conservatory Ghent. Gebruers plays both solo and in bands. His work ranges from jazz to contemporary classical music. G ...

, Hugo Antunes (el NEGOCITO Records, Po Torch & Troika vzw, 2018) * ''Nothing Particularly Horrible'' with Keune/Russell/Schneider (FMR, 2019) * ''Meeting the Past'' (Zarek, 2020) With

Globe Unity Orchestra The Globe Unity Orchestra is a free jazz ensemble. Globe Unity was formed in autumn 1966 with a commission received by Alexander von Schlippenbach from the Berlin Jazz Festival. It had its debut at the Berliner Philharmonie on 3 November combinin ...

* ''Live in Wuppertal'' (FMP, 1973) * ''Der Alte Mann Bricht ... Sein Schweigen'' (FMP, 1974) * ''Bavarian Calypso & Good Bye'' (FMP, 1975) * ''Evidence Vol. 1'' (FMP, 1976) * ''Into the Valley Vol. 2'' (FMP, 1976) * ''Pearls'' (FMP, 1977) * ''Jahrmarkt & Local Fair'' (Po Torch, 1977) * ''Improvisations'' (Japo, 1978) * ''Hamburg '74'' (FMP, 1979) * ''Compositions'' (Japo, 1980) * ''Intergalactic Blow'' (Japo, 1983) * ''Rumbling'' (FMP, 1991) * ''20th Anniversary'' (FMP, 1993) * ''Globe Unity 2002'' (Intakt, 2003) * ''Baden-Baden '75'' (FMP, 2011)

As sideman

With

Alfred Harth Alfred Harth, now known as Alfred 23 Harth or A23H, is a German multimedia artist, band leader, multi-instrumentalist musician, and composer who creatively mixes genres. Career Harth founded a free improvisation band, Just Music (band), Just M ...

* ''Es Herrscht Uhu Im Land'' (Japo, 1981) * ''1970–1971'' (Laubhuette, 2007) * ''Groups Duos'' (Laubhuette, 2009) With Sven-Ake Johansson * ''Idylle & Katastrophen'' (Po Torch, 1980) * ''Uber Ursache & Wirkung Der Meinungsverschiedenheiten Beim Turmbau Zu Babel'' (FMP, 1989) * ''Fur Paul Klee'' (Jazzwerkstatt, 2012) With

Evan Parker Evan Shaw Parker (born 5 April 1944) is a British tenor and soprano saxophone player who plays free improvisation. Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free ja ...

* ''The Ericle of Dolphi'' (Po Torch, 1989) * '' 50th Birthday Concert'' (Leo, 1994) * ''2x3=5'' (Leo, 2001) With Mario Schiano * ''Unlike'' (Splasc(H), 1990) * ''Meetings'' (Splasc(H), 1994) * ''Used to Be Friends'' (Splasc(H), 1996) * ''Social Security'' (Victo, 1997) With

* ''Pakistani Pomade'' (FMP, 1973) * ''Three Nails Left'' (FMP, 1975) * ''The Hidden Peak'' (FMP, 1977) * ''Anticlockwise'' (FMP, 1983) * ''Das Hohe Lied'' (Po Torch, 1991) * ''Detto Fra Di Noi'' (Po Torch, 1982) * ''Elf Bagatellen'' (FMP, 1990) * ''Physics'' (FMP, 1993) * ''

The Morlocks and Other Pieces ''The Morlocks and Other Pieces'' is an album by Alexander von Schlippenbach and the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. It was recorded in July 1993 at RIAS Studio 10 in Berlin, and was released in 1994 by FMP. It features six compositions by Sc ...

'' (FMP, 1994) * ''Complete Combustion'' (FMP, 1999) * ''Swinging the Bim'' (FMP, 2000) * ''Hunting the Snake'' (Atavistic, 2000) * ''Globe Unity 67 & 70'' (Atavistic, 2001) * ''

Broomriding ''Broomriding'' is an album by pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach. It was recorded on September 21, 2002, at DeutschlandRadio Berlin, and was released on CD in 2003 by Psi Records. On the album, Schlippenbach is joined by bass clarinetist Rudi Ma ...

'' (Psi, 2003) * ''Compression: Live at Total Music Meeting 2002'' (a/l/l, 2004) * ''Winterreise'' (Psi, 2006) * ''Globe Unity 40 Years'' (Intakt, 2007) * ''Gold Is Where You Find It'' (Intakt, 2008) * ''Bauhaus Dessau'' (Intakt, 2010) * ''First Recordings'' (Trost, 2014) * ''Features'' (Intakt, 2015) * ''Warsaw Concert'' (Intakt, 2016) * ''Globe Unity 50 Years'' (Intakt, 2018) With

Aki Takase (born January 26, 1948) is a Japanese jazz pianist and composer. Biography Takase was born in Osaka and started to play piano at age 3. Raised in Tokyo, she studied classical piano at Toho Gakuen School of Music.Ankeny, Jaso"Artist Biography". ...

* ''St. Louis Blues'' (Enja, 2001) * ''Plays Fats Waller'' (Enja, 2003) * ''New Blues'' (Yellowbird, 2012) * ''Plays Fats Waller in Berlin'' (Jazzwerkstatt, 2013) * ''Signals'' (Trost, 2016) With others * Rajesh Mehta, ''Orka:solos and duos feat. Paul Lovens'' (Hatology, 1998) * Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, ''Trumpet Madness'' (Leo, 2005) *

Maarten Altena Maarten van Regteren Altena (born January 22, 1943) is a Dutch composer and contrabassist. Altena attended the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (he studied contrabass) and graduated in 1968. Between 1980 and 1985, he studied composition with Robert ...

, ''Pisa 1980: Improvisors' Symposium'' (Incus, 1981) *

, ''

Live in Japan '96 ''Live in Japan '96'' is a live album by the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. One track was recorded in July 1996 at Nakano Public Hall in Tokyo, while the remaining tracks were recorded in August 1996 at Shin-Kobe Oriental Theatre in Kobe. Th ...

'' (DIW, 1997) *

Paul Burwell Paul Dean Burwell (24 April 1949 – 4 February 2007) was a British thaumaturge and percussionist, influential in the fields of free improvisation and experimental art. Born in Ruislip, he studied drums with Max Abrams, then at Ealing Art Colle ...

, ''Circadian Rhythm'' (Incus, 1980) *

, ''Hellington Country'' (Intakt, 1997) *

Gunter Christmann Gunter Christmann (23 April 1936 – 19 November 2013) was a German-born Australian painter. Born in Berlin, Christmann emigrated to Australia in 1959. Regarded as a painter's painter, Christmann has been making abstract and figurative paint ...

, ''Sometimes Crosswise'' (Moers Music, 1995) *

Ivar Grydeland Ivar Grydeland (born 1 October 1976) is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) and composer raised in Kongsberg. Career Grydeland was born in Trondheim, Norway, and studied jazz guitar at the Norwegian Academy of Music (1996–2000, and 2001–2 ...

, ''These Six'' (Sofa, 2003) *

, ''Peter Kowald Quintet'' (FMP, 1973) *

Joelle Leandre Joelle is a feminine given name, and may refer to: * Joelle (actor), Joelle, English-Austrian actress and singer * Joelle Behlok, Lebanese television presenter and winner Miss Lebanon 1997 * Joelle Carter (born 1972), American actress * Joelle Fishm ...

, ''

Joëlle Léandre Project ''Joëlle Léandre Project'' is a live album by bassist Joëlle Léandre. It was recorded in January 1999 at Sons d'Hiver in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France, and was released in 2000 by Leo Records. On the album, Léandre is joined by pianist Marilyn C ...

'' (Leo, 2000) * Joelle Leandre, ''At the Le Mans Jazz Festival'' (Leo, 2006) *

Guerino Mazzola Guerino Bruno Mazzola (born 1947) is a Swiss mathematician, Musicology, musicologist, jazz pianist, and writer. Education and career Mazzola obtained his PhD in mathematics at University of Zürich in 1971 under the supervision of Herbert Groß a ...

, ''Synthesis'' (Stoa Music, 1991) *

Irène Schweizer Irène Schweizer (2 June 1941 – 16 July 2024) was a Swiss jazz and free improvising pianist. Life and career Schweizer was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland on 2 June 1941. She performed and recorded numerous solo piano performances as well as ...

, ''Ramifications'' (Ogun, 1975) * Irène Schweizer, '' Live at Taktlos'' (Intakt, 1986) *

, '' Lifting the Bandstand'' (Fundacja Słuchaj!, 2021) *

Philipp Wachsmann Philipp John Paul Wachsmann (born 5 August 1944) is an African avant-garde jazz/jazz fusion violinist born in Kampala, Uganda, probably better known for having founded his own group Chamberpot. He has worked with many musicians in the free jazz id ...

, ''Free Zone Appleby 2006'' (Psi, 2007)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovens, Paul 1949 births Living people Free jazz percussionists German drummers German male musicians German male drummers German male jazz musicians Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra members Globe Unity Orchestra members ECM Records artists Emanem Records artists FMP/Free Music Production artists Incus Records artists Leo Records artists Intakt Records artists DIW Records artists Okka Disk artists NoBusiness Records artists Musicians from Aachen