One of the early European free jazz bassists of note,
Altena first came to the attention of American audiences via alto saxophonist
Marion Brown's 1967 album
Porto Novo (the album also featured Dutch drummer
Han Bennink).
Altena studied music at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam from 1961-1967. His first recording was made in 1967 as a member of saxophonist
Theo Loevendie's jazz group (
Loevendie subsequently embarked on a more successful career as a composer of classical works). In the '60s and '70s,
Altena played with soprano saxophonist
Steve Lacy, saxophonist/composer
Willem Breuker, pianist Guus Janssen, and guitarist
Derek Bailey.
Altena participated in many of
Bailey's Company projects during the '70s. Beginning in the mid-'70s,
Altena worked more frequently as a leader, recording mostly for his own Claxon label. Besides leading his own ensembles,
Altena has also worked extensively as a soloist. In recent years,
Altena's more notable collaborators have included drummer
Gerry Hemingway, trombonist Walter Wierbos, percussionist
Paul Lovens, and bassist
Peter Kowald, to name only a few. In addition to his many self-produced albums,
Altena has also recorded for the hatArt, Bimhuis, and Splasc(h) labels, among others. ~ Chris Kelsey