Bill Elgart

Bill Elgart, often credited as Billy Elgart is one of many American jazz musicians who have settled in Europe. Quite often based out of Munich, Elgart's credits include appearances on some choice

Paul Bley

piano
1932 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bley records, an appropriate bandleader to bring up in this context as he has in his own biographical writings explained what has come to be known as the "Bley test" for American jazz musicians trying to settle in Europe. Whether or not Elgart was able to pass this test, he seems to have successfully replaced

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian in Bley's band in the early 70's, and jazz listeners have the opportunity to directly compare the two drummers on several albums on which they both appear, including the early ECM release Paul Bley With

Gary Peacock

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Peacock as well as the album Turning Point, good enough to be released by both the Improvising Artists and Steeplechase labels and also highlighting a rare appearance by tenor saxophonist

John Gilmore

saxophone, tenor
1931 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">John Gilmore outside the interplanetary confines of the

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra Arkestra. Elgart has also collaborated with vibraphonist, pianist, composer and bandleader

Karl Berger

vibraphone
1935 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Karl Berger, appearing on that artist's return to recording following a hiatus, No Man Is An Island on the Knit Classics label.

European musicians seem fond of having Elgart around, as he has appeared in a steady series of interesting bands through the 80's and 90's, with no signs of letting up. He will frequently have a superb rhythm section partner, such as

Dave Holland

bass
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Holland on recordings with trumpeter

Kenny Wheeler

flugelhorn
1930 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wheeler, or fine bassists such as

Ed Schuller

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Schuller and Wayne Darling.

Tomasz Sta��ko

trumpet
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Sta��ko. The latter artist also played with Elgart in a quartet under the leadership of Vlatko Kucan.

In 2001, Elgart and Berger were both part of the Annemarie Roelofs Projekt, recording for the Double Moon label with

Frank Möbus

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank M?bus , Vitold Rek and

Ingrid Sertso

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingrid Sertso. Source: Eugene Chadbourne

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Ab Baars, Meinard Kneer, Bill Elgart: thr��e thr��o dr��

Read "thr��e thr��o dr��" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
December 3, 2021

The trio of Ab Baars, Meinard Kneer, and Bill Elgart obliges listeners to reflect on how they listen to freely improvised music, not in a concert setting where the listeners' attention is in effect captured, but the act of listening to a performance from recorded format. A fellow critic eschews records, saying that the experience is spurious and lacks the vitality of an in-person attestation. Does his philosophy cut off his nose (or ears) to spite his face? Proof of ...

Recording

Bill Elgart is Hale and Hearty on Evil Rabbit Records

Source: Chris Rich
November 22, 2011

Evil Rabbit is beyond pleased to announce the release of its 18th recording, Modern Primitive, with legendary expatriate American drummer Bill Elgart joined by Jan Klare upending alto sax, clarinet and flute, Jeff Platz getting his guitars ashes hauled and Meinrad Kneer working a double bass til it's near ready for kindling across 9 compositions and a total of 49:46 minutes worth of playing time. Bill is often cited for his legendary solo work, “A Life" , recorded at Yale ...
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