German drummer Paul Lovens is a much-loved and highly respected presence on the European improvisation scene, and since the mid-'90s, has also been performing regularly in the United States as interest in the art of European improvisers increased stateside. Although influenced by beat and British Invasion music, Lovens quickly fell into playing jazz, beginning with the traditional variety but quickly spreading into modern adventurism. Since the early '70s, Lovens has worked with a who's-who of European improvisers, and in the mid-'70s began his own vinyl label imprint, Po Torch, and released a series of percussion duets with British drummer Paul Lytton, among other projects. In the late '80s, Lovens performed with American free jazz giant Cecil Taylor as part of a series of collaborations involving Taylor with various European improvisers. In 1996, he formed the duo Me and Paul with guitarist, banjo player, and vocalist Eugene Chadbourne.