3 Points and a Mountain
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| 3 Points and a Mountain | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Live album by | |
| Released | 1979 |
| Recorded | February 26, 1979 |
| Studio | Akademie der Kunste, Berlin |
| Genre | Free improvisation |
| Length | 1:16:50 |
| Label | FMP 0670 |
3 Points and a Mountain is a live album by saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, pianist Misha Mengelberg, and percussionist Han Bennink. It was recorded on February 26, 1979, at the Akademie der Kunste in Berlin, and was initially released on vinyl later that year by the FMP label. In 2000, FMP reissued the album on CD, with previously unreleased tracks, under the title 3 Points and a Mountain... Plus, and, in 2022, it was reissued on vinyl by the Cien Fuegos imprint of Trost Records.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [8] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [9] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | B+[10] |
In an AllMusic review of the expanded version, Joslyn Layne called the album "a great and enjoyable session from three of the most creative and unique musicians in European avant-garde music," and stated that it is "a surprisingly balanced meeting" between the three players. She commented: "the results are all that you might hope for from these three, and even more light-hearted than you might expect... The three musicians take turns riling each other as the trio whips up engaging, lively music, and have a grand time doing it."[1]
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings noted that the album "bring[s] out some of Brötzmann's best playing," but cautioned that it is "still subject to the Dutch pair's eccentricities of form."[9]
Author Todd S. Jenkins described the album as "a most memorable session," and wrote: "Mengelberg's presence seems to encourage the others to hold back on the dynamics and have fun with the sound flow. Excellent moments of inspiration abound, and the title track is the most precious offering."[11]