PAUL LOVENS

Sporting a black suit and tie no matter what the occasion or outside temperature, German drummer Paul Lovens is a much-loved and highly respected presence on the European improvising scene, and since the mid-'90s, has also begun performing regularly in the United States as interest in the art of European improvisers increased stateside. Much of Lovens' lifestyle and philosophy seem linked to his father, an accountant who passed away when his son was still a young boy. A few weeks after the funeral, Lovens recalls seeing some drums in a shop window, pointing them out to his mother and saying something to the effect of "This is what I want. This is what I want to do."  Although influenced by beat and British Invasion music, Lovens quickly fell into playing jazz, beginning with the traditional variety but quickly spreading into modern adventurism as the music of the '60s began to read more...