Borbetomagus

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This article is about the musical group. For the Celtic city, see Worms, Germany.

Borbetomagus are a free improvisation group.

Borbetomagus formed in 1979 when saxophone players Jim Sauter and Don Dietrich collaborated with electric guitarist Don Miller; bass guitarist Adam Nodelman was briefly a member.

Their music has been described as "a huge, overpowering, take-no-prisoners mass of sound." [1] One extended technique they use is called "bells together" where Sauter and Dietrich physically place the openings of their saxophones against each other.

While the core trio listed above have been responsible for most of Borbetomagus's music, they have collaborated with Voice Crack, Tristan Honsinger, Peter Kowald and others. Sauter and Dietrich have also recorded a duo CD, and a collaborative CD with Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore.

They have are considered widely influential on the Japanese noise music scene as demonstrated by the rerelease of their limited Live at Inroads cassette on CD by the Japanese label P.S.F. Records. They have also been influential on many American free jazz and noise musicians such as Thomas Ankersmit, Sonic Youth, Pelt and Kevin Drumm.