Pierre Favre Trio - Bird Food [CD]

Cat. no: SONGS004CD
Format: CD
Barcode: 0730706018503
Release Date: 19 Jun 2026
Genre: Jazz

Recorded live at Radio Studio Zurich on February 19, 1968, Bird Food is the earliest known documentation of the Pierre Favre Trio - rediscovered in the drummer's personal archive after more than half a century - a recording found after 57 years.

In 1968, Swiss drummer Pierre Favre was forming what would become one of the pioneering ensembles of European free jazz. Recorded live at Radio Studio Zurich on February 19, 1968, Bird Food predates Santana - previously considered the trio's debut album - by nearly seven months, making it the earliest known document of this historic formation.

The tape lay dormant in Pierre Favre's personal archive until he and trombonist-producer Samuel Blaser uncovered it while sorting through old recordings. A discovery that rewrites the timeline of the trio and captures, in vivid immediacy, the birth of a musical language. The programme of four tracks features Ornette Coleman's composition 'Bird Food', and three by the trio's pianist Irene Schweizer.

Pierre Favre: drums
Irene Schweizer: piano
Jiri Mraz: bass

Recorded: Radio Studio Zurich, February 19, 1968

Tracks: Bird Food / Sounds II / Hinten / The Attack