Peter Kowald, born on April 21, 1944, in Masserberg, Germany, was a double bass player and tubist known for his contributions to free jazz and improvised music. In the mid-1960s, Kowald began playing with Peter Brötzmann and later joined the Globe Unity Orchestra, a key ensemble in the European free jazz scene. He also collaborated extensively with Alexander von Schlippenbach, founding Free Music Production together. Throughout his career, Kowald worked with numerous improvisers, including Karl Berger, William Parker, and Evan Parker. His solo work on double bass was documented on several albums, such as Open Secrets (1989) and Was Da Ist (1995), the latter of which received high praise in The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Kowald's interdisciplinary collaborations included projects with dancers like Pina Bausch and visual artists. He was awarded the Albert Mangelsdorff Prize in 1995 for his global, inclusive approach to improvisation. Kowald passed away on September 21, 2002, in New York City at the age of 58.
