Kowald died of a heart attack at the home of Patricia and William Parker after playing a concert in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at B.T.M. with Masahiko Kono, Tatsuya Nakatani and Kazuhisa Uchihashi. Emergency workers tried to save him working intensely for 45 minutes.
Details regarding funeral arrangements and a memorial will be posted when we receive them.
Peter Kowald distinguished himself as one of the leading players of the free school style of improvising was well know and respected on both sides of the Atlantic both in his native Germany and in his adopted home of New York City by musicians and fans alike. He made numerous recordings for the German FMP label with his long time collaborators Peter Brotzman and Alxeander von Schlippenbach. From 1973 to 1978 he was the principal bassist for the Globe Unity Orchestra. Kowald has participated in a wide variety of collaborations, working with dancers, poets and artists, in addition to all of the musicians he has worked with. Kowald has recorded many duos with European, Japanese and U.S. musicians -- including bass duets with Barre Phillips, Jo
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