Zentralquartett was a German jazz ensemble from East Germany, initially formed as Synopsis in 1973 for the Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw. Their radical free jazz performance in Warsaw gained international recognition and forced the DDR's cultural policy to revise its stance towards free jazz. The band released their first album Synopsis in 1974 under Amiga Records, and another release was published by FMP Records. In 1975, under the band's original name Synopsis, they released Auf der Elbe schwimmt ein rosa Krokodil. After a hiatus from approximately 1978 to 1984, the group reformed as Zentralquartett and continued to produce albums such as Plié (1994), Careless Love (1998), and 11 Songs – Aus Teutschen Landen (2006). The band maintained a unique style blending folklore, free jazz, and traditional elements. Notable members included Günter Sommer, Ulrich Gumpert, Conny Bauer, and Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky.
