Never, perhaps, has the case for improvisation as spontaneous composition been made as convincingly as by Germany's Alexander Von Schlippenbach, a key figure in European jazz since his Globe Unity Orchestra in the 1960s. The pianist, catapulted in from 1972 thanks to the Enja Jazz Classics re-issue series, here includes written notation (for ‘Fuge Für Tante Lilli’) in the artwork; but after that opener, it becomes increasingly unclear how much is composed and how much improvised. Second track, ‘Yarrak’, in 5/4, is a Dave Brubeck left hand below a Cecil Taylor right – and Taylor's integration of classical music, as well as his tremendous percussive power, is evident on several other tracks too. Yet although he could certainly challenge Taylor for his ‘88 tuned drums’ title, Von Schlippenbach also shows a more restrained, ruminative side here, demonstrating phenomenal feel as well as phenomenal technique. Stunning.