Gestalt Et Jive ‎– Live In Rhein-Main

Gestalt et Jive was an innovative multinational avant-rock group founded in 1984 by Alfred Harth. The group thrived on a boundary-pushing agenda of “hot and danceable free improvisation” that fused complex rhythmic ideas, dense textures, and fragmented song structures performed by a cast of highly original musicians. The band’s lineup reflected its international spirit, with British keyboardist Steve Beresford, French bass master Ferdinand Richard, German drummer Uwe Schmitt, American drummer Anton Fier, and the enigmatic A23H (Alfred 23 Harth) coming together for the group’s early years (1984–1985).
The initial incarnation featured Steve Beresford, Ferdinand Richard, Uwe Schmitt, and A23H. Uwe Schmitt, noted for his sensitive, sophisticated drumming, eventually transitioned out of performance around 1985, shifting focus to a successful journalism career in Germany. To maintain the group’s creative momentum, A23H brought in Anton Fier and later Peter Hollinger, pushing the rhythm section into fresh territory. Steve Beresford, whose energetic style was key in the early phase, departed in 1986 to concentrate on solo projects.
The band’s nucleus for its later years (1986–1988) crystallized around Ferdinand Richard, Peter Hollinger, and A23H. Richard, celebrated for his work as the bass player and vocalist of French avant-rock legends Etron Fou Leloublan, brought a highly distinctive voice to Gestalt et Jive. His playing, whether on standard bass or six-string alto bass guitar, was marked by oblique figurations, odd-metered arpeggios, and a cool, cerebral timbre that complemented the band’s complex sound world. With Richard, Harth, and Hollinger, Gestalt et Jive embraced spontaneous improvisations, sudden instrumental shifts, and an ever-evolving palette of fragment-based pieces, reflecting both postmodern and internationalist ideals.
The last concert took place in October 1988 at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Canada—a symbolic curtain call at one of the leading stages for experimental and avant-garde music.

Releases:

•Nouvelle Cuisine (1985)
•Gestalt et Jive (1986)
•Neowise (2020)
•Live in Rhein-Main -For Holli (2025)
•Short tracks on Sweet Paris (1990), Musique’s Action (1993 compilation), and Alterations (2016 compilation)

These records capture the band’s dynamic shifts, from intricate, brainy interplay to exhilarating improvisation, all underpinned by Richard’s iconoclastic bass lines and Harth’s conceptual energy.
The new double album “Live in Rhein-Main” extends the documented journey of Gestalt et Jive, adding two essential live recordings to a body of work that already includes “Nouvelle Cuisine”, a double LP by Gestalt et Jive, and “Neowise”. Together, these releases trace the restless evolution of a group determined to stretch the boundaries of jazz and experimental music.
The first disc features the Wiesbaden concert of 1986, a set where daring interplay and spontaneous invention revealed the band’s creative intensity. The second disc captures their unforgettable appearance at the 13th Jazzfest Hofheim in 1987. On that night, Ferdinand’s delayed arrival from Avignon forced a reshuffle in the festival lineup, unexpectedly pushing Gestalt et Jive into the role of closing act. The result was a powerful, conclusive performance that left the audience exhilarated, sealing the evening with surprise, energy, and artistic closure.
“Live in Rhein-Main” is more than just another archival release. It reconnects the thread between the group’s formative studio works and their explosive stage presence, offering a vivid window into their mid-1980s aesthetic. At the same time, it stands as a tribute “For Holli”, the late drummer Peter Hollinger whose precision, drive, and free-spirited energy gave Gestalt et Jive its heartbeat.
These two concerts confirm not only the band’s flexibility and fearless improvisation, but also their lasting contribution to the cultural landscape of the Rhein-Main area and the European avant-garde scene.
Nearly four decades later, the fire remains unmistakably alive.