Editing Jazz (section)

====Free jazz in Europe====
[[File:Peter-broetzmann.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Peter Brötzmann]] is a key figure in European free jazz.]]

Free jazz was played in Europe in part because musicians such as Ayler, Taylor, [[Steve Lacy (saxophonist)|Steve Lacy]], and [[Eric Dolphy]] spent extended periods of time there, and European musicians such as [[Michael Mantler]] and [[John Tchicai]] traveled to the U.S. to experience American music firsthand. European contemporary jazz was shaped by [[Peter Brötzmann]], [[John Surman]], [[Krzysztof Komeda]], [[Zbigniew Namysłowski]], [[Tomasz Stańko]], [[Lars Gullin]], [[Joe Harriott]], [[Albert Mangelsdorff]], [[Kenny Wheeler]], [[Graham Collier]], [[Michael Garrick]] and [[Mike Westbrook]]. They were eager to develop approaches to music that reflected their heritage.

Since the 1960s, creative centers of jazz in Europe have developed, such as the creative jazz scene in Amsterdam. Following the work of drummer [[Han Bennink]] and pianist [[Misha Mengelberg]], musicians started to explore by improvising collectively until a form (melody, rhythm, a famous song) is found Jazz critic [[Kevin Whitehead]] documented the free jazz scene in Amsterdam and some of its main exponents such as the ICP (Instant Composers Pool) orchestra in his book ''New Dutch Swing''. Since the 1990s Keith Jarrett has defended free jazz from criticism. British writer [[Stuart Nicholson (jazz historian)|Stuart Nicholson]] has argued European contemporary jazz has an identity different from American jazz and follows a different trajectory.<ref name="Nicholson">{{cite book |last1=Nicholson |first1=Stuart |title=Is Jazz Dead? Or Has it Moved to a New Address? |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York}}</ref>