The Squid's Ear Magazine
Top Sellers and Staff Lists for 2015
Customer Best Sellers for 2015

An alphabetic list of the top 40 (or so) best sellers from 2015 releases. Following that is Phil Zampino's Top 20, and then Carl Kruger's Top 20.



 
Alcorn, Susan: Soledad
Alcorn, Susan:
Soledad

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Pedal Steel guitar innovator Susan Alcorn in a mostly solo release, beautifully performing 4 lush compositions by Astor Piazzolla, with bassist Michael Formanek joining for the Alcorn-penned "Suite for AHL".

AMM: Spanish Fighters
AMM:
Spanish Fighters

(Matchless -- Great Britain )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

Recorded at the festival Neposlusno (Sound Disobedience) in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2012, the AMM duo of Eddie Prevost on percussion and John Tilbury on piano perform an extend improvisation of tension and dynamic, delicately balancing sound in a rich dialog.

Bang, Billy / William Parker: Medicine Buddha
Bang, Billy / William Parker:
Medicine Buddha

(NoBusiness -- Lithuania )


Price: $15.95    




Out of Stock

A 2009 concert at The Rubin Museum Of Art, New York, on the 8th May, 2009 from the duo of double bassist William Parker, also performing on shakuhashi, dousn gouni; and the late violinist Billy Bang, also performing on thumb piano; organic and deeply felt dialog.

Brotzmann / van Hove / Bennink: 1971
Brotzmann / van Hove / Bennink:
1971

(Corbett vs. Dempsey -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

Unreleased material from legendary European players Peter Brotzmann (sax), Fred Van Hove (piano) and Han Bennink (drums), captured live in 1971 for intensely heavy playing at the 2nd Internationales New Jazz Meeting Auf Burg Altena, and in detailed studio work at Radio Bremen.

Davis, Kris Infrasound (w/ Goldberg / Noriega / Badenhorst / Bishop / Radley / Versace / Black): Sav
Davis, Kris Infrasound (w/ Goldberg / Noriega / Badenhorst / Bishop / Radley / Versace / Black):
Save Your Breath

(Clean Feed -- Portugal )


Price: $13.95    




Out of Stock

A superb octet including pianist and leader Kris Davis providing innovative compositions, with the powerful support of Ben Goldberg, Oscar Noriega, Joachim Badenhorst & Andrew Bishop on reeds, Nate Radley on guitar, Gary Versace on organ, and Jim Black on drums.

Evans, Peter / Tim Dahl / Mike Pride: Pulverize The Sound
Evans, Peter / Tim Dahl / Mike Pride:
Pulverize The Sound

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

The trio of trumpeter Peter Evans, electric bassist Tim Dahl, and drummer/percussionist Mike Pride have played together since 2010, crossing the boundaries of improvisation, composition and rock in dynamic genre-defying music intended to be played loud.

Feldman, Morton played by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas: Two Pianos And Other Pieces 1953-1969 [2 CDs
Feldman, Morton played by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas:
Two Pianos And Other Pieces 1953-1969 [2 CDs]

(Another Timbre -- UK )


Price: $28.95    




In Stock

"Two Pianos" is one of Morton Feldman's most experimental and radical works, performed here by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas; plus lesser known works including 'Piece for Four Pianos', 'Between Categories', 'False Relationships and the Extended Ending' and 'Two Pieces for Three Pianos'.

Frith, Fred / Evan Parker: Hello, I Must Be Going
Frith, Fred / Evan Parker:
Hello, I Must Be Going

(Les Disques Victo -- Canada )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Two masters who rarely play together--guitarist Fred Frith and saxophonist Evan Parker--performing together as a duo at the 30th Musique Actuelle Festival in Victoriaville, Canada for an amazing exchange of ideas and intensely subtle dialog.

Korekyojinn: Fall Line
Korekyojinn:
Fall Line

(Magaibutsu -- Japan )


Price: $14.95    




Out of Stock

The 5th studio album from the trio of Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins alone / Koenji Hyakkei), Kido Natsuki (Bondage Fruit / Salle Gavoux), Nasunomitsuru (Altered states / Umbeltipo), avant-progressive instrumental rock, melodic and complex rock performed at breakneck speed.

Lacy, Steve Quintet: Last Tour  (2004)
Lacy, Steve Quintet:
Last Tour (2004)

(Emanem -- Great Britain )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

The Steve Lacy Quintet's final tour with vocalist Irene Aebi, trombonist George Lewis, bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel and drummer John Betsch, performing live in Boston for an impressive set punctuated with words from Burroughs, Waldman, Kaufman, Creeley & Schelling.

Lightcap, Chris Bigmouth: Epicenter
Lightcap, Chris Bigmouth:
Epicenter

(Clean Feed -- Portugal )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Bassist Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth features 2 saxophonists--Chris Cheek and Tony Malaby, Craig Tabor on keys and Gerald Cleavers on drums, in 8 melodic tracks inspired by landmarks of NYC and influenced by jazz tradition, West African music, pop hooks, and more.

Shipp, Matthew Quartet Declared Enemy: Our Lady Of The Flowers
Shipp, Matthew Quartet Declared Enemy:
Our Lady Of The Flowers

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

Named after Jean Genet's infamous novel, New York pianist Matthew Shipp's quartet Declared Enemy with Sabir Mateen on tenor sax & clarinet, William Parker on double bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums, return for a second outstanding album of dynamic and masterful jazz.

McPhee / Saft / Morris / Downs: Ticonderoga
McPhee / Saft / Morris / Downs:
Ticonderoga

(Clean Feed -- Portugal )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

A burning spiritual session inspired by John Coltrane's "Live at the Village Vanguard Again" that began when Jamie Saft told Joe Morris about his deep admiration for Alice Coltrane's playing, adding McPhee and Downs as the perfect complement to realize this excellent album.

Mitchell, Roscoe Trio: Angel City
Mitchell, Roscoe Trio:
Angel City

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

Art Ensemble founder Roscoe Mitchel on reeds, winds and percussion, in an extended electroacoustic work performed with James Fei on reeds and analog electronics and William Winant on percussion; a composition/improvisation blending sound and space in creative and compelling ways.

Morris, Joe : Solos - Bimhuis
Morris, Joe :
Solos - Bimhuis

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Live recordings from guitarist Joe Morris, performing solo at Bimhuis in Amsterdam in two Octobers from 2013 to 2014, showing remarkable technical and creative skills while captivating his audience with accessible progressions and story-telling; masterful!

Nordstrom / Johansson / Schlippenbach: Stockholm Connection [3 CDs]
Nordstrom / Johansson / Schlippenbach:
Stockholm Connection [3 CDs]

(Umlaut Records -- Sweden / France / Germany )


Price: $36.95    




In Stock

A unique 3CD-box from Umlaut Records putting in attention the musical collaborations between two of Sweden's most headstrong musicians: the pioneers Bengt "Frippe" Nordstrom and Sven-Ake Johansson.

Pavone, Mario: Blue Dialect
Pavone, Mario:
Blue Dialect

(Clean Feed -- Portugal )


Price: $13.95    




Out of Stock

A beautiful jazz trio record from New York collaborators Mario Pavone, who provided all of the compositions except for one group improvisation, with Matt Mitchell on piano and Tyshawn Sorey on drums; lyrical, lovely, and sophisticated music.

Roberts, Matana : Always
Roberts, Matana :
Always

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Two passionate studio improvisations from saxophonist Matana Roberts, who lovingly dedicates the album to "those bard(s) of summer...the ideas herein of which I gleaned/interrogated/investigated/celebrated with you..."; subtle, rich, and inspiring.

Schlippenbach / Parker / Edwards / Prevost: 3 Nights at Cafe Oto
Schlippenbach / Parker / Edwards / Prevost:
3 Nights at Cafe Oto

(Matchless -- Great Britain )


Price: $69.95    




In Stock

Presenting 3 CDs, a DVD, and a solid 80-page book of images and text, capturing 3 nights at Cafe Oto from the trio of Evan Parker (tenor sax), John Edwards (double bass), and Eddie Prevost (drums), joined one night by Alexander v. Schlippenbach, and another night by Christof Thewes.

Shipp, Matthew Chamber Ensemble: The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael
Shipp, Matthew Chamber Ensemble:
The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




Out of Stock

Frequent collaborators, Matthew Shipp (piano) and Michael Bisio (bass) are joined by fellow Downtown New Yorker Mat Maneri on viola create what they refer to as a chamber ensemble, performing the 15 improvised and inspired chapters of Shipp & Bisio's "Gospel".

Shipp, Matthew Trio: To Duke
Shipp, Matthew Trio:
To Duke

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

Pianist Matthew Shipp's trio with Whit Dickey on drums and Michael Bisio on bass, take on Duke's Ellington's classic compositions, adding free elements and unexpected angles without losing the melodic charm of these classic jazz standards; recommended.

Swell's, Steve Kende Dreams (Swell/ Brown / Crothers / Parker / Taylor): Hommage A Bartok
Swell's, Steve Kende Dreams (Swell/ Brown / Crothers / Parker / Taylor):
Hommage A Bartok

(Silkheart -- France )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

Trombonist Steve Swell presents an homage to composer Bela Bartok, applying jazz techniques to the composer's music to find something new and unexpected, in an amazing quintet with Connie Crothers (piano), William Parker (bass), Chad Taylor (drums) & Rob Brown (sax).

Threadgill, Henry & Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound [2 CDs]
Threadgill, Henry & Zooid:
In for a Penny, In for a Pound [2 CDs]

(Pi Recordings -- USA )


Price: $18.95    




In Stock

Henry Threadgill's new epic work in four movements written specifically to feature each of the musicians in Zooid: "Ceroepic" for Elliott Kavee (drums), "Dosepic" for Christopher Hoffman (cello), "Tresepic" for Jose Davila (trombone & tuba), and "Unoepic" for Liberty Ellman (guitar).

Wooley, Nate (w/ Ingrid Laubrock, Sylvie Courvoisier & Matt Moran): Battle Pieces
Wooley, Nate (w/ Ingrid Laubrock, Sylvie Courvoisier & Matt Moran):
Battle Pieces

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

"Battle Pieces" was conceived as a background for an improviser, using linguistics, tape processes & aleatoric concepts to fashion an ever-shifting composition that supplies the soloist with information within the context of an ever-changing series of densities, velocities and silences.

Drake, Hamid / Sylvain Kassap: Heads Or Tails [2 CDs]
Drake, Hamid / Sylvain Kassap:
Heads Or Tails [2 CDs]

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $23.95    




Out of Stock

A masterful fountain of melodic ideas, intriguing rhythms, and exceptional technical skill from the duo of Hamid Drake on drums and frame drum, and Sylvain Kassap on clarinets and chalumeau, recording live at the France Musique at Studio Theatre dÕAlfortville and in the studio.

Judson Trio (Joelle Leandre / Mat Maneri / Gerald Cleaver): An Air of Unreality [VINYL]
Judson Trio (Joelle Leandre / Mat Maneri / Gerald Cleaver):
An Air of Unreality [VINYL]

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $19.95    




Out of Stock

A live performance at Judson Church in Manhattan as part of the 20th Vision Festival from the NY/France free improvising trio of Joelle Leandre on double bass, Mat Maneri on viola, and Gerald Cleaver on drums and percussion, two tracks of steadily building, incredibly compatible dialog.

Wisseltangcamatta, The: Movements
Wisseltangcamatta, The:
Movements

(Creative Sources -- Portugal )


Price: $15.95    




Out of Stock

Live recordings at LOFT in Cologne, Germany from the trio of George Wissel on prepared saxophone, Achim Tang on doublebass, and Simon Camatta on drums & percussion, performing seven "Movements" that use prodigious technique with reserve and direction, revealing the structure of their work as the pieces build and recede in fascinating ways.

Mitchell, Roscoe Quintet: Turn
Mitchell, Roscoe Quintet:
Turn

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock
Eskelin, Ellery: Solo Live At Snugs
Eskelin, Ellery:
Solo Live At Snugs

(Hatology -- Switzerland )


Price: $18.95    




In Stock

Ellery Eskelin performing solo on tenor saxophone at 61 Local in Brooklyn, NY, four original compositions, personal and distinctive improvisation like listening to tales from a well seasoned and adept traveler.

Eisenstadt, Harris (w/ Moore, Schoenbeck, Dresser): Golden State II
Eisenstadt, Harris (w/ Moore, Schoenbeck, Dresser):
Golden State II

(Songlines -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




Out of Stock

Live recordings at the 2014 Vancouver International Jazz Festival from drummer Harris Eisenstadt's excellent and lyrical Golden State chamber jazz ensemble, here as a quartet with Michael Moore on clarinet, Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, and Mark Dresser on bass.

Durrant, Phil / Daniel Thompson: Live / Studio <i>[Used Item]</i>
Durrant, Phil / Daniel Thompson:
Live / Studio [Used Item]

(Bead -- UK )


Price: $10.00    




In Stock

The improvising string duo of stalwart London improvisers, Daniel Thompson on acoustic guitar and Phil Durrant on the octave mandola, are heard in two settings of texturally rich, intricate interactions, first at Cafe OTO in 2022 for an extended improvisation, then at Cable Street Studios two months later for six succint, impressively diverse dialogs.





Phil Zampino's Top 22 for 2015

Which started as an attempt to make a top 10, but there were too many releases to allow such a small list! These are presented (mostly) in release order, so the position in the list does not suggest that any one release is "better" than any other. What it does represent are albums that made it out of my play pile and into my home for repeated listens and sharing with friends & family. I can't begin to tell you how difficult it was to compile this list with so many excellent releases to choose from!

Cecil Taylor- Garden 1st Set - (Hatology)

Reissue and 2015 remaster of Cecil Taylor's superb live set at Grosser Saal Volkshaus, in Basel, Switzerland in 1981, performing solo over three extended improvisations, presented for the first time in the original concert sequence.


Cecil Taylor- Garden 2nd Set - (Hatology)

The second set of Cecil Taylor's superb live set at Grosser Saal Volkshaus, in Basel, Switzerland in 1981, performing solo over five improvisations, presented for the first time in the original concert sequence.


Matthew Shipp - To Duke (RogueArt)

Pianist Matthew Shipp's trio with Whit Dickey on drums and Michael Bisio on bass, take on Duke's Ellington's classic compositions, adding free elements and unexpected angles without losing the melodic charm of these classic jazz standards; recommended.


Coclea - Coclea (Shhpuma)

Clean Feed's side label Shhpuma presents a solo release from multi-instrumentalist Guilherme Goncalves (Gala Drop), dreamy and informed guitar-driven music borrowing from kosmische musik, Edgar Froese, or Loren Connors, in gorgeously paced lush instrumental music.


Steve Coleman - Synovial Joints (Pi Recordings)

Composer and alto saxophonist Steve Coleman in a superb modern jazz album, written by applying characteristics of human synovial joints to compositional process, and using "camouflage orchestration" to orchestrate players into the fore-, middle- and background.


Henry Threadgill - In For A Penny, In For A Pound (Pi Recordings)

Henry Threadgill's new epic work in four movements written specifically to feature each of the musicians in Zooid: "Ceroepic" for Elliott Kavee (drums), "Dosepic" for Christopher Hoffman (cello), "Tresepic" for Jose Davila (trombone & tuba), and "Unoepic" for Liberty Ellman (guitar).


Schlippenbach / Parker / Edwards / Prevost - 3 Nights at Cafe Oto (Matchless)

Presenting 3 CDs, a DVD, and a solid 80-page book of images and text, capturing 3 nights at Cafe Oto from the trio of Evan Parker (tenor sax), John Edwards (double bass), and Eddie Prevost (drums), joined one night by Alexander v. Schlippenbach, and another night by Christof Thewes.


Stepmother - Calvary Greetings (Megaphone / Knock 'Em Dead)

Bringing together members from RIO-oriented bands like Vril, AA Kismet, The Work, Hat Shoes, Hail, 5uus, Present, & Thinking Plague, Stepmother presents a strange conglomerate of styles in short songs with twisted elements, strange intent, and superb playing.


John Butcher & Andy Moor - Experiments With a Leaf (Unsounds)

Since working together in Thermal, saxophonist John Butcher and The Ex guitarist Andy Moor have collaborated in live performance, here recording in a cathedral in Berne, Switzerland in 2013, using its natural reverb to augment their impeccably paced and inspired dialog.


Peter Evans / Tim Dahl / Mike Pride - Pulverize The Sound (Relative Pitch)

The trio of trumpeter Peter Evans, electric bassist Tim Dahl, and drummer/percussionist Mike Pride have played together since 2010, crossing the boundaries of improvisation, composition and rock in dynamic genre-defying music intended to be played loud.


The Renga Ensemble: Falzone / Vandermark / Jackson / Rothenberg / Stein / Goldberg - The Room Is (Allos Musica)

Chicago clarinetist James Falzone leads a sextet of reeds with Ken Vandermark, Ben Goldberg, Keefe Jackson, Ned Rothenberg, & Jason Stein in a set of 14 intelligent compositions joining minimalism, classical inferences and jazz with asymmetrical parts using both structure and freedom.


Fred Frith / Evan Parker - Hello, I Must Be Going (Victo)

Two masters who rarely play together--guitarist Fred Frith and saxophonist Evan Parker--performing together as a duo at the 30th Musique Actuelle Festival in Victoriaville, Canada for an amazing exchange of ideas and intensely subtle dialog.


Chris Dingman - The Subliminal and the Sublime (Inner Arts)

A sublime five-part suite commissioned by Chamber Music America, performed by Loren Stillman (sax), Fabian Almazan (piano), Ryan Ferreira (guitar), Linda Oh (bass), and Justin Brown drums), exploring the subliminal patterns hidden below apparent reality.


Evan Parker / Joe Morris / Nate Wooley - Ninth Square (Clean Feed)

The extraordinary trio of three masterful players from different generations who have broken with convention while playing within free forms--Evan Parker on sax; Joe Morris on guitar; and Nate Wooley on trumpet--performing live at Firehouse 12 in Connecticut, 2014.


Daniel Levin Quartet - Friction (Clean Feed)

Cellist Daniel Levin Quartet leads his quartet with Nate Wooley on trumpet, Matt Moran on vibes, and Torbjorn Zetterberg on bass, in open-minded modern compositions that blend jazz, chamber, and experimental improvisation of reserved and riveting character.


Raphael Roginski - Plays John Coltrane and Langsont Hughes (Bolt)

Solo guitar from Raphael Roginski, interpreting works from jazz giant John Coltrane, 8 compositions reworked in stunningly beautiful ways, with two works accompanied by text from Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, as sung by Natalia Przybysz.


Joe McPhee / Paal Nilssen-Love - Candy (PNL)

Working together since 2000, and performing as a duo since 2007, this solid 7 CD box set presents free improvising saxophone and pocket trumpet legend Joe McPhee with Europe's most amazing drummer, Paal Nilssen-Love, in live sets from 2007-2014 recorded around the world.


Tatsuya Nakatani & Michel Doneda - Duo (Nakatani-Kobo)

The long-running duo of US-based Japanese percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani and French saxophonist Michel Doneda in an album merging superb technical skills and creative approaches in an almost telepathic dialog of surprising twists and turns.


Paolo Angeli - S'U (Recommended Records)

Sardinian improviser Paolo Angeli in his 8th release on ReR, peforming solo on his augmented Sardinian guitar equipped with motors, pedals, individual string mic'ing, and extra appendages, along side incredible technical skill and a brilliant sense of pacing - highly recommended!


Casti / Martusciello - Chamber Rites (Die Schachtel)

Italian experimental composer Fabrizio Casti meets Elio Martusciello (Taxonomy, Blast 4tet, Ossatura), pairing prepared piano with electroacoustic sound environments for a piece based on sharing emotions, on audio-visual exchange, and on the practice of radical improvisation.


Nate Wooley - (Dance To)

The Early Music (Clean Feed)

Nate Wooley assembled his outstanding quintet of Josh Sinton on bass clarinet, Matt Moran on vibs, Eivind Opsvik on bass and Harris Eisenstadt on drums to present a non-ironic take on the early music of a trumpeter who inspired Wooley at an early age - Wynton Marsalis.


Fred Frith - Field Days (The Amanda Loops)

(Fred Records/ ReR)

Works for dance constructed by guitarist/composer Fred Frith as accompaniment to Amanda Miller's choreography for Nederland Dans Theater in 2011, revisited and revised by Frith into these beautiful pieces, with help from William Wynant, Lotte Anker, Karla Kihlstedt Arditti, &c.




Carl Kruger's Top 20 for 2015

Ensemble Volta - Les Nuages De Magellan. Works By Tristan Murail (Recommended Records)

ReR's 3rd collection featuring the ondes Martenot, an early electronic musical instrument invented in 1928 by cellist Maurice Martenot; this volume, performed by the 4 piece L'Ensemble Volta + Antoine Alerinie is dedicated to Spectralist composer Tristan Murail.


Joe Morris - Solos - Bimhuis (Relative Pitch)

Live recordings from guitarist Joe Morris, performing solo at Bimhuis in Amsterdam in two Octobers from 2013 to 2014, showing remarkable technical and creative skills while captivating his audience with accessible progressions and story-telling; masterful!


Oren Ambarchi - Live Knots (Pan)

Two live realizations of "Knots", a frenetic and absorbing work of free improv over a compositional framework, from Ambarchi's album "Audience of One", here in a duo performance by Ambarchi and Talia at Tokyo's SuperDeluxe; and with the Eyvind Kang-led Sinfonietta Cracovia.


Ferreyra, Beatriz: GRM Works (Recollection GRM)

Electronic composer Beatriz Ferreyra was a pioneer alongside Pierre Schaeffer, developing the famous Music Theory of the Sounding Object in the 50s, and continued to compose with Bernard Baschet and his Structures Sonores, holding residencies at Dartmouth College.


Eugene Chadbourne - Music Of My Youth | Volume One (Chadula)

A combination of live and studio recordings of songs from guitarist Eugene Chadbourne's younger days, assisted by Schroeder on drums, plus variously Jan Fitschen, Bella Nugent, Ekkehard Rossle, Molly Chadbourne, Sylvia Oelkrug, and Olivier Polard.


Skuggorna Och Ljuset / Magnus Granberg: Would Fall From The Sky, Would Wither And Die (Another Timbre)

A new composition by clarinetist and composer Magnus Granberg, the leader of the highly acclaimed ensemble Skogen, this time with a new, smaller group that includes percussionist Erik Carlsson, performing his beautiful, melancholic music.


Phillips, Simon James : Blage 3 (Mikroton Recordings)

A reduction of composer Simon James Phillips' 5 hour improvisation performed with Tony Buck (drums), Werner Dafeldecker (bass), BJ Nilsen (electronics), Liz Allbee (trumpet), Arthur Rother (guitar) & Simon James Phillips (piano) exploring time, perception and place.


Majkowski, Mike: Neighbouring Objects (Astral Spirits)

Double bassist Mike Majkowski in his 4th solo album, two long works using variation from repetition to create an album of rich extended bass sonics through the use of bowing, processing, and the mysterious addition of accordion, bass guitar, percussion, and piano.


Chuck Bettis - Pixel Bleed (Living Myth)

New York improvisor and electronic artist Chuck Bettis in an exploration of decay and repetition, performed live using Max/Msp with no overdubs or sequencers, using simple pop melody progressions and superimposing them over the cut-up techniques of musique concrete.


Tom Prehn Quartet - Axiom (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Pianist Tom Prehn's quartet with Frits Krogh on tenor sax, Poul Ehlers on bass, and Finn Slumstrup on bass, superb European free jazz recorded in 1963 in Copenhagen but never formally released, here remastered and issued with an unreleased track from 1966.


Sharrock, Linda: No Is No (Don't Fuck Around With Your Women) (Improvising Beings)

Two extended and frenetic works of improvisation with free vocals from Linda Sharock, in a sextet including Itaru Oki on trumpet, Mario Rechter on reeds & voilin, Eric Zinman on piano, Makoto Sato on drums and Yoram Rosilio on bass; demanding, complex and cathartic jazz!


Kolberg, Kare - Attitudes (Bolt)

Kare Kolberg was a pioneer of electroacoustic music in Norway, having written the first Norwegian work for computers in 1973; this CD presents works from 1969-2003 written for the Polish Radio Experimentral Studio, blending and expanding on concepts of concrete music.


Tatsuya Nakatani (Nakatani-Kobo)

Compositions on fourteen gongs performed and recorded by Tatsuya Nakatani during the winters of 2014 and 2015, 6 untitled works of powerful tones evoked from these large instruments using bows and mallets, each slowly unfolding and enveloping the listener.


The Necks - Vertigo (Northern Spy)

The Necks 18th album finds the trio of drummer/percussionist Tony Buck, bassist Lloyd Swanton and pianist/keyboardist Chris Abrahams in a vertiginous 44 minute dark excursion punctuated by cliff hanging moments through homemade instruments and unusual textures.


Delbecq, Benoit 3 - Ink (Clean Feed)

Miles Perkin takes the late bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel's place in pianist Benoit Delbecq's trio with Emile Biavenda on drums and percussion, in an inventive and lyrical album balancing structure versus improvisational freedom in engaging ways.


Kowald, Peter / Damon Smith - Mirror, Broken No Dust (Balance Point Acoustics)

Recorded in 2001 at Gallery 2310 in Oakland, California, young Bay Area double bassist Damon Smith met German free improvising master Peter Kowald for two sets of lively, explorative and technically superb improvisations: "Broken Mirrors" and "Reflections".


Frank Rosaly - Malo (Utech)

Chicago drummer Frank Rosaly in a five track suite of sinister percussion and ambiguous space, using an acoustic drum set, contact microphones, oscillators, effects pedals and analog synths, mining jazz, Afro-Cuban, and non-idiomatic grooves using unconventional techniques.


Game Of Patience - Trial And Error (Herbal International)

Recordings from the CHOPPA Experimental Music Festival in Singapore, 2015, and the New Combo Jazz Club, Fukuoka Japan in 2014, from the free improvising sometimes ea-improvising trio of Yong Yandsen (sax), Darren Moore (drums) and Brian O'Reilly (contrabass & electronics).


Premature Burial - The Conjuring (New Atlantis)

Taking their name from an Edgar Allen Poe story and the title a reference to James Wan's 2013 film, the trio of Peter Evans on piccolo trumpet, Matt Nelson on saxophone & effects, and Dan Peck on tuba & effects, recorded in a church to add ambience to their sinister and superb improv.


Guthrie, Will: Sacree Onsession (iDeal)

Ames Room drummer Will Guthrie in two extended works combining pulse and rthymic ideas with melodic and pitch based textures: "Timelapse" recorded using the resonance of the Chapelle Saint Jean in Mulhouse, and "Pacemaker" a multi layered and multi dimensional piece.


Van Hove / Jacquemyn / Smith - Burns Longer (Balance Point Acoustics)

European Free improvising legend Fred Van Hove performing on piano and accordion with two bassists--fellow Belgian Peter Jacquemyn, and West Coast bassist Damon Smith--for an album of dizzying flights and growling bass turning convention on its side in sensational ways.



Best Sellers in This Category:

Alcorn, Susan: Soledad

McPhee / Saft / Morris / Downs: Ticonderoga

AMM: Spanish Fighters

Brotzmann / van Hove / Bennink: 1971

Schlippenbach / Parker / Edwards / Prevost: 3 Nights at Cafe Oto

Evans, Peter / Tim Dahl / Mike Pride: Pulverize The Sound

Roberts, Matana : Always

Feldman, Morton played by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas: Two Pianos And Other Pieces 1953-1969 [2 CDs

Wooley, Nate (w/ Ingrid Laubrock, Sylvie Courvoisier & Matt Moran): Battle Pieces

Threadgill, Henry & Zooid: In for a Penny, In for a Pound [2 CDs]

Frith, Fred / Evan Parker: Hello, I Must Be Going

Morris, Joe : Solos - Bimhuis

Lightcap, Chris Bigmouth: Epicenter

Nordstrom / Johansson / Schlippenbach: Stockholm Connection [3 CDs]

Eskelin, Ellery: Solo Live At Snugs

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