The late legendary German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann was honoured at Dalston’s Cafe OTO last Sunday, as music fans gathered to mark the launch of writer Daniel Spicer’s new biography, Peter Brötzmann: Free-Jazz, Revolution and the Politics of Improvisation, and the release of the musician’s final recordings before his death in 2023 at the age of 82.
A long-established local favourite since it opened in 2008, the venue was unexpectedly thrown in the spotlight two weeks ago by Daniel Blumberg, 2025 Oscar winner of Best Original Score for The Brutalist, when he mentioned the iconic café and music venue at the end of his victory speech.
At the 97th Academy Awards’ press conference, Blumberg added that he has been going to the café “for over ten years” and described it as a space where one would encounter “amazing musicians”.
Among those amazing musicians, until recently, was Peter Brötzmann, a pioneering figure of the European free-jazz movement in the late 60s and early 70s. His last public performance took place at Cafe OTO, where he held a two-day residency in February 2023 before his death on 22 June.
In his speech, Brötzmann biographer Spicer said: “Peter Brötzmann was a fixture at this place.”
Commenting on Brötzmann’s music, one regular at the venue, Clive, a member of Cafe OTO for 15 years, said: “The sound, the power of his music, it’s uncompromising.”
Spicer went on to mention that Brötzmann created a European way of improvising music, going against the long-established American view on jazz. His avant-garde, fast-playing style resonated with university students who campaigned against European colonialism during this period.
Interestingly, the cultural significance of the German musician’s work shares a parallel with the mention of Cafe OTO at the Oscars. At a prestigious and exclusive event in Hollywood, the mention of the Dalston café seemed like the collision of two worlds. But that is not to say that the café is not unknown in any way. In fact, Cafe OTO has been entrenched in the heart of Dalston since 2008, serving as a diverse hub for those who appreciate music.
Reflecting on the café’s namedrop at the Oscars, Spicer said: “It’s a wonderful thing for this place to get some recognition because it’s a fantastic venue that gives artists a lot of recognition that they don’t get elsewhere. But I don’t think it will change the character of the place, now that it’s been mentioned.”
“I genuinely don’t pay attention to the Oscars, but I was quite surprised it mentioned an East London café and I found out it was here,” Clive said. “Maybe it’ll attract new people.”
Cafe OTO
Location
18-22 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL
Opening Hours for café
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: 10am to 5pm
Website
https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/archive/
Events to come this week
Thursday 20 March, 7:30 pm
£16 / £14 in advance £8 Members
Friday 21 March, 7:30 pm
£14 / £12 in advance £7 Members
Saturday 22 March, 7:30 pm
£20 / £17 in advance £12 Members
FUJI|||||||||||TA + Yoni Silver
Sunday 23 March, 7:30 pm
£20 / £17 in advance £12 Members
Remigius Kim - Reporter for Hackney Central - Former News Reporter for Torstar Corporation, The Palatinate and The Borgen Project.