But Breuker did a lot more during these pre-Kollektief years. He improvised with drummer Pierre Courbois (who, Breuker claimed, was the first to play “free” in Holland), who then introduced him to German musician Gunter Hampel. In 1966, Breuker composed a piece that addressed that summer’s tumultuous political scene entitled “Litany for the 14th of June, 1966,” which won second place at Loosdrecht, and earned recognition for Breuker as one of the first in Holland to incorporate national politics into music. This composition was performed a couple more times before being recorded in September 1966 for Breuker’s debut album, Contemporary Jazz for Holland/Litany for the 14th of June 1966. The first side of this album features a 17-piece band that included bassist (previously a guitarist) Arjen Gorter and Breuker’s reeds teacher Ab van der Molen, while the second side is performed by a quintet including Mengelberg. (and Pierre on both sides). — Rovi