P[eter] Brötzmann

Images and Signs – A Card Game [Numbered]

Ystad: Brötzmann, 2002. Two 3 ¾ x 2 ½ in. hand-stamped carton boxes, one titled “Signs” with 25 richly illustrated cards ( 3 ⅜ x 2 ¼ in.), and another titled “Images” with 16 richly illustrated cards of the same size. Offset printed cards. First and only edition, number 17 of 120. Near fine. Item #6810

Ystad: Brötzmann, 2002. Two 3 ¾ x 2 ½ in. hand-stamped carton boxes, one titled “Signs” with 25 richly illustrated cards ( 3 ⅜ x 2 ¼ in.), and another titled “Images” with 16 richly illustrated cards of the same size. Offset printed cards. First and only edition, number 17 of 120. Near fine.

A set of two card games developed by the free jazz musician Peter Brötzmann, originally released at a performance at the Ystad Exhibition in Sweden in 2002. Brötzmann dealt hands of cards to his Chicago Tentet, prompting them to perform a musical translation of the images in the cards. The slow experiments in interpretation makeup the game.

“Signs” consists of 24 abstract images in black and white, whereas “Images” consists of 15 abstract illustrations in color. Each box carries an adjoining title card, as well as a note from Brötzmann titled “some little advices and instructions” that outlines the very loose game: “take a walk into the woods / take your voice, kazoo / first of all: burn the guitars, / then take out one of the games, shuffle / activate your fantasy . . .”.

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