Happy Record Store Day, 2024! This week was focused on preparing for Record Store Day sales, partnering with both New Braxton House and 577 Records for some amazing discounts, and preparing the Squidco website for site-wide discounts. As has been true for the last few years, RSD releases haven't been very compelling for the music that we sell, so instead we're discounting all new albums in the store, and offer a 50% discount on more than 60 albums, including those on 577 & New Braxton House. Our Record Store Day sales are online, we are not open for Record Store Day but I will be visiting our local record stores here in Wilmington, NC, to celebrate the day.

Speaking with a collecting friend yesterday, we reminisced about the wealth of record store and other stores — department store, drug stores, discount stores, &c. — that once carried albums. I recalled walking 30 blocks in New York City and stopping at more than a dozen stores along the way to find incredible gems for my collection. I recalled a close friend in the 1980s who had a circuit of record stores that he would make twice a week, looking for new albums and chatting with the store employees and other collecting friends. When I lived in both Syracuse & Albany, NY, every Saturday I would finish my household chores then drive to several record stores in the Syracuse University and downtown area to see what was new. And every few months I would drive up to 6 hours to shop in NYC on a Sunday for the unique music I could find nowhere else.

Record Stores were an integral part of all of our lives then, part of the social fabric, places where I personally met some of my longest lasting friendships. With the cautious return of vinyl records to the cultural eye, Record Store Day is a time to do more than reminisce: it's a time to ensure that the cultural, physical art objects that are record albums remain a part of that fabric. I hope that our readers and customers will take advantage of the discounts and sales Squidco offers this weekend — even online stores like ours and the artists & labels we represent depend on sales and promotions to support the creation of the incredible music we're all interested in. But be sure to take the time out Saturday to visit your local brick & mortar record store, chat with fellow customers, employees and store owners, and most importantly: pick up some new music to celebrate the day!

Anthony Braxton / New Braxton House / Trillium Series Overview:

As we added the recent 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 box set from Anthony Braxton's New Braxton House label to Squidco's catlaog, I've reflected on the series of albums the legendary saxophonist and composer has released over the last several years.

The lineage of boxes starts with the GTM (Syntax) 2017 box, a 12-CD box of his Ghost Trance Music (GTM) compositional system. Drawing from a set of roughly 150 pieces written between 1995 and 2006 developed to allow improvisers more control of their input and affect on the overall performance. The box was performed with his Tri-Centric Vocal Ensemble for a mix of sung, spoken, and non-verbal utterances. The previous release of GTM was from 2003 that combined vocals with electronics and acoustic instrumentation. The average listener will find the music unusual, but repeated listens draws one into a truly unique sonic world.

Following GTM (Syntax) 2017 is Quartet (Standards) 2020, a completely different and seemingly more conventional album of jazz standards, both from popular tunes like "I Get a Kick Out of You" or "Prelude to a Kiss" or jazz instrumental's like Dave Brubeck's "The Duke" or Thelonious Monk's "Evidence". Many of those pieces dramatically extend the original numbers ("Kiss" weighs in at 10:43, "Kick" at 22:02 !) The ensemble here is small but virtuosic - Anthony Braxton himself, Alexander Hawkins on piano, Neil Charles on bass and Stephen Davis on drums.

The contrast between these two boxes couldn't be sharper, the Standards box recalling his 2018 11-CD box set, Sextet (Parker) 1993, exploring the work of Charlie Parker in more traditional ways. GTM (Syntax) 2017 recalls his Trillium box sets, a system of composition that starts in the 1990s.

What follows is the most recent of Braxton's boxes and compositional systems: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022. Presented in 10 CDs from two trios, The Lorraine Music system incorporates graphic notation, traditional notation, and Braxton's interactive Diamond Curtain Wall Music system, which works with interactive electronics. The new box continues his integration of musical systems through unique compositional forms and pathways to freedom for improvising participants.

Before GTM and Lorraine, Braxton developed a series of compositions exploring his Trillium series, starting with the 2006 album Anthony Braxton With The Creative Jazz Orchestra, which includes "Composition No. 126 Trillium-Dialogues M".

This week in anticipation of the New Braxton House box sets, CDs & DVD going on sale I spent a significant amount of time listening to Anthony Braxton's music. In particular, I listened to the entire Trillium E box, along with some precursor compositions. Trillium E is an unusual but fascinating contemporary work, an opera of unusual components and topics. It's not difficult to follow the narrative, though I would not say that on this iteration of listening I would consider myself an expert. I enjoy the unusual "discussions" the performers engage in, much of it relating to science fiction and aspects of our society. Thematically I was reminded of Nicole Mitchell science fiction works (I suppose I should say that the other way round) and often stopped my Squidco work to follow the strange discourse. Through it a consistent musical vision comes through over a vast canvas of intriguing musical structures. Braxton set out to expand the abilities of both composer and performer, and the Trillium series is an achievement for both.

I asked the AI box ChatGPT to elucidate on the Trillium series, which was able to provide various aspects to the works that I would not articulate as well. I hate to rely on a robot to talk about art, but in this case I think the formal information about the series is worth reading:

"Anthony Braxton's Trillium series is a significant body of work in contemporary music composed by the American composer and multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton. The Trillium series is characterized by its scale, complexity, and innovative approach to musical composition.

The Trillium series began in the 1990s and has continued to evolve over the years. It encompasses a wide range of compositions, including operas, orchestral pieces, chamber music, and more. Braxton's vision for the Trillium series is expansive, incorporating elements of avant-garde jazz, contemporary classical music, improvisation, and experimental sound.

One of the defining features of the Trillium series is its modular structure. Braxton has developed a system of interconnected musical modules that can be combined and reconfigured in various ways, allowing for a high degree of flexibility and improvisation within the compositions. This modular approach reflects Braxton's interest in exploring new forms of musical organization and expression.

Each installment of the Trillium series is unique, with its own themes, concepts, and sonic explorations. Braxton's compositions often feature complex rhythms, intricate harmonic structures, and unconventional instrumentation, challenging both performers and listeners to engage with music in new and unexpected ways.

Overall, the Trillium series represents a groundbreaking contribution to contemporary music, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of composition, performance, and sonic experimentation. It stands as a testament to Braxton's innovative spirit and his ongoing commitment to exploring the frontiers of musical expression.

The modular structure of Anthony Braxton's Trillium series is a key aspect of his compositional approach, allowing for a high degree of flexibility, improvisation, and reconfiguration within the music. Here's a closer look at how the modular structure works:

Musical Modules: Braxton has created a vast library of musical modules, which are self-contained musical fragments or cells. These modules can be as short as a few measures or as long as entire sections of music. Each module is characterized by its own melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic content.

Interconnectedness: The modules within the Trillium series are designed to be interconnected, meaning that they can be combined and recombined in various ways to create new musical sequences and structures. This allows for a virtually limitless number of possible compositions, as Braxton and performers can mix and match modules to create unique musical experiences.

Flexible Form: Unlike traditional compositions with fixed forms and structures, the Trillium series embraces a more fluid and open-ended approach to form. The modular structure allows for non-linear progression, with the music unfolding in unpredictable ways based on the choices of the performers and the composer.

Improvisational Elements: While the Trillium series is composed, it also incorporates elements of improvisation, particularly in how the modules are combined and interpreted during performance. Performers are encouraged to engage with the music creatively, responding to each other and to the musical material in the moment.

Conducting and Cueing: Braxton often uses conducting techniques and cueing systems to guide performers through the modular compositions. This may involve visual cues, verbal instructions, or other methods of signaling transitions between modules and shaping the overall direction of the music.

Overall, the modular structure of the Trillium series offers a dynamic and interactive approach to composition and performance, blurring the lines between composition and improvisation and inviting both performers and listeners to actively participate in the musical experience. It's a reflection of Braxton's experimental spirit and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in contemporary music.

The performance history of Anthony Braxton's Trillium series is multifaceted and spans several decades. Here are some key points in its performance history:

Premieres: The Trillium series has been premiered and performed in various venues and contexts around the world. The premieres of different installments of the series have taken place at festivals, concert halls, and other performance spaces, showcasing Braxton's work to diverse audiences.

Ensemble Performances: Many performances of the Trillium series involve large ensembles of musicians, including orchestras, jazz bands, chamber ensembles, and experimental music groups. These performances often feature a mix of professional musicians and students, reflecting Braxton's commitment to education and collaboration.

Solo Performances: Braxton himself has performed solo renditions of pieces from the Trillium series, demonstrating his mastery of multiple instruments and his unique approach to improvisation and composition. These solo performances offer a more intimate and personal exploration of Braxton's music.

Recording Releases: Some installments of the Trillium series have been recorded and released commercially, allowing listeners to experience Braxton's music outside of live performances. These recordings capture the energy and creativity of Braxton's compositions and performances, making them accessible to a wider audience.

Interdisciplinary Collaborations: In addition to musical performances, the Trillium series has inspired collaborations with artists from other disciplines, including dancers, visual artists, and poets. These interdisciplinary performances explore connections between music and other forms of expression, enriching the overall experience for audiences.

Educational Settings: Braxton's music has been performed in educational settings such as universities and conservatories, where students have the opportunity to study and perform his compositions. These performances provide valuable learning experiences and help to preserve and promote Braxton's musical legacy.

Overall, the performance history of Anthony Braxton's Trillium series reflects its versatility and adaptability to different contexts and settings. From large ensemble concerts to intimate solo performances, the Trillium series continues to captivate audiences with its innovative approach to music-making.

Within the Trillium series, different compositions may resonate more strongly with certain audiences or performers based on personal preferences, musical backgrounds, and the specific themes explored in each installment. However, it's challenging to pinpoint a single "fan favorite" across the entire series due to its expansive and diverse nature.

That said, some compositions within the Trillium series have garnered particular attention and acclaim for their innovative approaches to composition, performance, and sonic exploration. For example, "Trillium E" and "Trillium R: Shala Fears for the Poor" are often cited as significant works within the series, featuring expansive musical landscapes, intricate structures, and compelling thematic content.

Additionally, certain performances or recordings of specific pieces within the Trillium series may become favorites among fans due to memorable interpretations, standout solos, or other noteworthy aspects of the performance.

Ultimately, the appeal of the Trillium series lies in its rich and varied musical tapestry, offering something for fans of contemporary jazz, experimental music, avant-garde composition, and beyond. Each installment of the series presents its own unique journey through Braxton's musical imagination, inviting listeners to explore new sonic territories and discover their own favorites along the way."

Braxton, Anthony: 12 Duets (DCWM) 2012 [12 CD Box Set] (New Braxton House)

Newly Distributed in 2021: A 12-CD set presenting Braxton in dialogue with three distinctive duet partners: violinist Erica Dicker, vocalist Kyoko Kitamura and bassoonist Katherine Young, recorded in the summer of 2012 over two sessions with each player, a remarkable and expansive set of innovative and creative improvisation.

Braxton, Anthony: GTM (Syntax) 2017 [12 CD BOX SET] (New Braxton House)

A 12-hour collection over 12 CDs of composer Anthony Braxton's Ghost Trance Music (GTM), a compositional system he developed with his superlative Tri-Centric Vocal Ensemble, GTM allowing the ensemble to generate a performance in real time in a mix of sung, spoken, and non-verbal utterances, with unpredictable and surprising results that reveal fascinating layers with each listen.

Braxton, Anthony: Trillium J [4 CDs + Blu Ray] (New Braxton House)

Newly Distributed in 2021: A multimedia box set of Anthony Braxton's opera work "Trillium J", containing live performance video on Blu-ray disc of a 2014 performance at Roulette in NY, and studio recording on 4-CD set, with 12 vocalists, 12 instrumental soloists and a full orchestra.

Braxton, Anthony : Quintet (Tristano) 2014 [7 CDs] (New Braxton House)

Newly Distributed in 2021: Composer and jazz master Anthony Braxton performing on piano in a septet with saxophonists Jackson Moore and Andre Vida, bassist Eivind Opsvik and drummer Mike Szekely, exploring the compositions of Lennie Tristano plus peers Billy Bauer, Connie Crothers, Warne Marsh, Sal Mosca, &c.

Braxton, Anthony & Taylor Ho Bynum: Duo (Amherst) 2010 [DVD] (New Braxton House)

Newly Distributed in 2021: Limited edition DVD plus audio files of two extended sets bringing saxophonist Anthony Braxton and cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum together live at Bezanson Recital Hall in Amherst, MA in 2010, performing compositions by both artists.

Braxton, Anthony and the Tri-Centric Orchestra: Trillium E [4 CDs] (New Braxton House)

Newly Distributed in 2021: Trillium E is the first-ever studio recording of an Anthony Braxton opera, a deluxe 4-disc set of this surreal and witty installment in Braxton's ongoing Trillium cycle, and includes a booklet with libretto, photos, and critical essays.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

April 18, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Alan Shorter - Mephistopheles To Orgasm — Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by Andrey Henkin.

April 15, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Niels Lynn Lokkegaard / Quatuor Bozzini - Colliding Bubbles (Surface Tension and Release) (Important Records) by Jeph Jerman.

Much of this week was spent preparing for the next wave of purchases, and personally for me, distracted by events here in Wilmington. Those included the annual Azalea Festival, and my participation in a March with the Filipino American Association of the Lower Cape Fear, a warm and wonderful group. I also attended a few Azalea events gratis my cat Miso, who "won" the Pet Royalty contest, raising money for the Paws4People organization.

Given all the local activities, it's a bit of a miracle that we got our mailing list out this week, but we somehow managed, fueled by some excellent records, particularly the latest Euphorium release, Fucking Ballads by the trio of Oliver Schwerdt, Barry Guy & Gunter Baby Sommer; the latest Remote Viewers album, Inside the Blizzard / Triva; the latest album from the trio JAKAL (aka J@K@L) of Fred Lonberg-Holm, Keefe Jackson & Julian Kirshner; and the latest Ethnic Heritage Ensemble album, Open Me, A Higher Consciousness Of Sound And Spirit, which includes a unique cover of "Kind of Blue".

Schwerdt, Oliver / Barry Guy / Baby Sommer: Fucking Ballads (Euphorium)

An enthusiastic and energetically powerful trio meeting between three masters--Oliver Schwerdt on grand piano & percussion, Barry Guy on double bass and Baby Sommer on drums & percussion--performing live in 2021 at naTo, in Leipzig for two extended improvisations of remarkable communication, incredible virtuosity, but most importantly, incredible and compelling creative drive!

JAKAL (Fred Lonberg-Holm / Keefe Jackson / Julian Kirshner): Peroration (Amalgam)

Formerly known as J@K@L, this Chicago trio has explored hard hitting improvisation since 2014, the band name an amalgamation of the performer's names--Keefe Jackson on tenor & sopranino saxophone & tube, Julian Kirshner on drums and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, tenor guitar and electronics--in a dynamic and exciting 2022 concert at Elastic Arts, in Chicago.

Remote Viewers, The: Inside The Blizzard / Trivia (Remote Viewers)

UK Composer David Pett's Remote Viewers present two large works: "Inside the Blizzard" in five parts of configurations from solo to quintet; and "Trivia", a quintet work in eight parts; solid, compelling work of forceful confidence from members Adrian Northover, Sue Lynch, Caroline Krabbel & Petts on sax, John Edwards on bass, Hutch Demouilpied on trumpet and Rosa Theodora on piano.

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Open Me, A Higher Consciousness Of Sound And Spirit (Spiritmuse Records)

Celebrating 50 years, percussionist Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble as the trio of El'Zabar, Corey Wilkes (trumpet) and Alex Harding (bar. sax), joined on tracks by James Sanders (violin) and Ishmael Ali (cello), reinterpret classics including "Great Black Music", "Ornette" and Aretha Franklin's "Compared to What", along with Miles' "All Blues" and McCoy Tyner's "Passion Dance".

Jackals, Frogs, and Fred Lonberg-Holm:

This week we added the latest album from the Chicago improvising trio JAKAL, formerly known as J@K@L (possibly changed because the name drove the internet nuts with all those "@" symbols). JAKAL is the trio of Keefe Jackson on saxophone, Julian Kirshner on drums and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, tenor guitar and electronics. The new album is an exciting example of live, energetic free improvisation taking unexpected twists and turns.

I appreciate the work of all three members of the trio, but for many years I've been focused on the projects that Fred Lonberg-Holm has been involved in. After Tom Cora he is perhaps my favorite cellist, though Okkyung Lee makes a second close; and honestly there are a lot of great cellists involved with improvised music - like the saxophone, much of the cello's range is very much in line with the human voice, particularly baritone and tenor ranges. Lonberg-Holm extends his playing with electronics, and on many projects like Stirrup, Vox Arcana and Fast Citizens, he also plays tenor guitar. I had to look up the latter, not being a guitarist: A tenor guitar is a type of guitar that is slightly smaller than a standard acoustic guitar and typically has four strings instead of six. It is tuned in fifths, like the viola or mandolin, rather than in fourths like the traditional guitar tuning.

But back to Lonberg-Holm, who was born in Delaware in 1962 (making him a year younger than I) Lonberg-Holm has forged a diverse and adventurous career that spans multiple genres, including avant-garde jazz, experimental rock, and contemporary classical music. He initially trained as a classical cellist, studying at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and later at the Yale School of Music. However, he quickly became drawn to the world of experimental and improvised music, finding inspiration in the works of avant-garde composers and performers. I found myself reading interviews with him this week, particularly a intersting discussion of his work at Perfect Sound Forever, and at JazzBluesNews. Both interviews explained to me why I find his work so interesting, with his own background interest and history in contemporary, rock and improvised music. He also studied with both Morton Feldman and Anthony Braxton, an unusual combination that clearly opened a world of possibilities to him.

I personally like the breadth of his work, which I've heard in more than 120 albums that we've carried that he's played in or led. That set includes work with some of free improv's most famous and diverse players, including Peter Brötzmann, John Butcher, Dave Rempis (in Ballister), Weasel Waltes, Guillermo Gregorio, Joe McPhee, Mats Gustafsson, Axel Dörner, Mars Williams, Jeb Bishop, Jim O'Rourke, Ernesto Rodrigues, Nate Wooley, Dave Rempis, Hamid Drake, &c. &c. &c.

The list of his collaborators is enormous, making me think that if I only listened to albums with Fred Lonberg-Holm I would be listening to a major facet of the international improv scene. To this I would add in a few quirky and wonderful albums, particularly his Corbett vs. Dempsey album, Bow Hard At The Frog, where Lonberg-Holm took his cello into the Florida Everglades along with soundscape artist and field recordist Gustavo Matamoros, seeking out night creatures, particularly vocalizing frogs, to form into compositions of "outdoor interspecies improvisation". With that kind of open mind and adventurousness I think the intrepid listener can see why Lonberg-Holm is amongst Squidco's most favorite and fascinating artists.

JAKAL (Fred Lonberg-Holm / Keefe Jackson / Julian Kirshner): Peroration (Amalgam)

Formerly known as J@K@L, this Chicago trio has explored hard hitting improvisation since 2014, the band name an amalgamation of the performer's names--Keefe Jackson on tenor & sopranino saxophone & tube, Julian Kirshner on drums and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, tenor guitar and electronics--in a dynamic and exciting 2022 concert at Elastic Arts, in Chicago.

Rodrigues / Lonberg-Holm / Hencleeday / Oliveira: Uncommon Statement (Creative Sources)

Two unique string players--Lisbon's Ernesto Rodrigues on viola and Chicago's Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello--with pianist Andre Hencleeday and percussionist Jose Oliveira, in an exhilarating concert of dynamic free improvisation captured live in 2023 at Lisboa Incomum in Lisbon, presented as two "Statements", an apt description of their confident and declarative interplay.

Perelman, Ivo / Nate Wooley / Mat Moran / Matt Maneri / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Joe Morris: Seven Skies Orchestra [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A rare setting for tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman in a larger ensemble: an exemplary sextet with trumpeter Nate Wooley and vibraphonist Matt Moran over a string section of Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Joe Morris on bass and Mat Maneri on viola, recording a ten-part work sans drums or piano, allowing fascinating new orchestral possibilities performed with utmost creative mastery.

Ballister (Rempis / Lonberg-Holm / Nilssen-Love): Smash And Grab (Aerophonic)

"Smash", "Even More Smashing" and "Grab" sums up the intense energy that the Ballister trio brought to their 2022 performance at Elastic Arts in Chicago as part of the Catalytic Sound Festival, impelled by Paul Nilssen-Love's powerful drumming and Fred Lonberg-Holm's demanding cello work, with Dave Rempis roaring on alto, tenor and baritone saxophones; wow!

Brotzmann, Peter / Heather Leigh / Fred Lonberg-Holm: Naked Nudes (Trost Records)

Part of Peter Brötzmann's 80th birthday concerts in his hometown of Wuppertal, the saxophonist assembled a trio from his typically duo partner, pedal steel guitarist Heather Leigh (Charalambides, Dream/Aktion Unit) and Chicago cellist and electronic improviser Fred Lonberg-Holm, performing the extended title track at INSEL | Kultur im ADA, along with two succinct improvisations.

Malcolm Goldstein / Fred Lonberg-Holm: Missa Amissa [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)

Bringing to ears a 2003 encounter in Chicago, IL between legendary violin improviser, conceptualist and writer Malcolm Goldstein and exploratory cello improviser Fred Lonberg-Holm, through two extended dialogs weaving their strings around each other and finding unusual intersections and unions, from rapid action to introspective beauty; unsettling and inspired.

Rempis / Harnik / Lonberg-Holm / Daisy: Earscratcher (Aerophonic)

Formed in 2019, the quartet of Dave Rempis on alto sax, Elisabeth Harnik on piano, Fred Lonberg Holm on cello and Tim Daisy on drums celebrate Elisabeth Harnik's 50th birthday in 2020, originally planned as part of a European tour that year but prevented by pandemic, instead recording this well-balanced and often unbridled 2022 concert at Alte Gerberei, St. Johan in Tirol, Austria.

Reid, Tomeka / Fred Lonberg-Holm: Eight Pieces for Two Cellos [VINYL] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Two Chicago improvising cellists--Tomeka Reid & Fred Lonberg-Holm--explore the repertoire for cello music in jazz, presenting works by Fred Katz ("Pluck It"), Sam Jones ("In Walked Ray"), Ron Carter ("Rally") and Harry Babsin ("Monti-Cello"), adding 3 new, original works by Fred Lonberg-Holm and a piece by Tomeka Reid paying homage to bassist Charles Mingus & violinist Billy Bang.

Chicago Plan, The (Swell / Ullmann / Lonberg-Holm / Zerang): For New Zealand (Not Two)

Featuring compositions from both trombonist Steve Swell and tenor saxophonist & bass clarinetist Gebhard Ulmann, the second album from The Chicago Plan with cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and drummer Michael Zerang is captured in the studio in Augsburg, Germany for six exceptional modern jazz recordings from a profoundly masterful and experienced transatlantic band.

Lee, Charmaine / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Gabby Fluke-Mogul / Joanna Mattrey / Weston Olencki: Live in Accord [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)

Four configurations of far-reaching free improv at Notice Recordings's 2021 event in Accord, NY: a solo performance by Charmain Lee on voice & electronics; a duo between Lee and Weston Olnecki on synths & trombone; a trio from Gabby Fluke-Mogul on violin, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and Joanna Mattrey on viola; a duo between Lonberg-Holm and Olencki.

M (feat. Ben Stapp / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Marco Colonna / Steve Swell): Broken Songs (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A set of blues songs of a personal nature, concepts for a broken yet hopeful age, written and sung by improvising guitarist Marcin "M" Olak (Gadt/Osborne/Zakrocki/Olak, Agusti Fernandez) performed and expanded by a set of stellar improvisers: Ben Stapp on tuba, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Marco Colonna on flute and Steve Swell on trombone.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

April 11, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Oliver Schwerdt/Barry Guy/Baby Sommer -Fucking Ballads [CD] (Euphorium)
JAKAL (Fred Lonberg-Holm/Keefe Jackson/Julian Kirshner) -Peroration [CD] (Amalgam)
The Remote Viewers -Inside The Blizzard/Trivia [CDR] (Remote Viewers)
Teiku (Harlow/Taylor/Shahid/Formanek/Leafar) -Teiku [CDR] (577 Records)
Jorge Nuno -Labirinto [CD] (Phonogram Unit)
Bruno Duplant/Rutger Zuydervelt -Edge Of Oblivion [CD] (Machinefabriek)
Felix Profos/Peter Conradin Zumthor -Grund [CD] (Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Leap Of Faith -Emergent Spacetime [CDR] (Evil Clown)
Expanse -Reach [CDR] (Evil Clown)

April 11, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Scott Clark - Dawn & Dusk (Out of Your Head Records) by Paul Serralheiro.

April 9, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble -Open Me, A Higher Consciousness Of Sound And Spirit [CD] (Spiritmuse Records)
Simon Hanes -Tsons of Tsunami [CD] (Tzadik)
Joel Futterman -Perspicacity [CD] (Soul City Sounds)
Kimmel.Ali.Harris (Jeff Kimmel/Ishmael Ali/Bill Harris) -Flora Oblique [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Amalgam)
Anthony Donofrio -These Calm Words [CD] (Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Eva-Maria Houben (Kei Kondo/Takahiro Kuroda) -His Master's Voice/Aus Den Fliegenden Blattern Eines Fahrenden Waldhornisten/Lose Verbunden [CD] (Ftarri Clasical)
Eva-Maria Houben (Takahiro Kuroda/Kei Kondo) -Echo Fantasy II [CD] (Ftarri Clasical)
Rutger Zuydervelt -Kites (music for a performance by Roshanak Morrowatian) [CD] (Machinefabriek)
Michel Banabila/Stijn Huwels/Cok Van Vuuren -One Moment In Time [CASSETTE] (Tapu Records)
Simulacrum -Mimesis [CDR] (Evil Clown)

April 8, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Lance Austin Olsen and Bruno Duplant - Coincidence (Ftaari) by Nick Ostrum.

This is a short work for me, as today (Friday, April 5) starts the Wilmington, NC celebration of the Azalea Festival. I am walking with a float for the local Filippino American Organization, and attending some of the local, colorful events. We also received tickets for today's Garden Party, as one of our handsome cats, Miso, won the Pet Royalty Contest, raising money for the Paws4People organization, helping to get assistance dogs to those who need them. Many thanks to our friends and family who helped raise money for this good cause; Miso would knight you all if he could only hold a sword...

All that has put a rush into the week, which had an exceptional inflow of new releases and a few surprises. For Squidco, the biggest surprise came from New Braxton House / Tri-Centric Foundation. As readers of this blog know, we've been fulfilling the orders for the new 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 box set fundraiser, and then orders for sales on their own site. Typically we haven't been allowed to sell the new box sets from their fundraisers, but this week we received notice that we can list and sell the box ourselves, directly to our retail and wholesale customers!

Braxton, Anthony: 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (New Braxton House)

Documenting six live performances with Anthony Braxton's Lorraine Trio featuring trumpeter Susana Santos Silva, accordionist/vocalist Adam Matlock, and Anthony Braxton, plus four studio recordings featuring Braxton, saxophonist James Fei, and bassists Zach Rowden and Carl Testa, in a solid box set of 10 CDs in five gatefold wallets with a 28 page booklet of notes by Anthony Braxton.

For those interested in previous Braxton box sets, we will be offering all instock Braxton Boxes, including the fascinating Trillium series, at 50% off during the upcoming April 20th Record Store Day weekend.

The other exciting addition to our catalog came from John Butcher's Weight of Wax label. We carried WOW in the past, but the last release was in 2013, the long out of print trio of Butcher, John Edwards and Gino Robair, On Air. This new album is a work presented at the 2021 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival for 14 improvisers. The score, which includes graphical elements, directs smaller groupings based on Butcher's anticipation of how various players would work together, selecting unusual configurations for unexpected and really fascinating results. It's great to see the label back after such a long break!

Butcher, John + 13: Fluid Fixations (Weight of Wax)

Commissioned for the 2021 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, John Butcher's fantastic work for 14 improvisers of unique approach employs what Butcher refers to as "psychological orchestration"--imagining how each performer might respond to particular ideas & their sonic company--the score, which includes photographic imagery, directing specific solos, duos & small groupings.

Another exciting addition to our catalog came from the duo of Portuguese saxophonists Bruno Parrinha and João Gato. I recently explored the work of Parrinha in a blog entry, which I republish here, expanded with this new album (and also correcting for a missing abstract on the VINE LEAF release from the original publication. I was aware of Gato's work primarily through the Creative Sources ea-improv ensemble Suspensão, but hadn't focused closely on his work. The wonderful pacing and merging of two Portuguese alto saxophonists of two generations on the Phonogram Unit label hit the spot to my ears, further cementing my enthusiasm for Parrinha and generating admiration for the younger Gato.

The Divarications of Bruno Parrinha [REPUBLISHED]:

I was pleased to see saxophonist Bruno Parrinha show up in the latest set of Clean Feed releases as a leader under the moniker Vine Leaf, a trio with electric guitarist Luís Lopes and drummer Joõo Valinho. The album presents two tracks recorded in the great performance space SMUP in Paredes, PT, and the third in the studio in Lisbon. Parrinha is amongst the most interesting of Portugal's saxophonists, involved in some of the great Creative Sources ensembles including Diceros, Ensemble MIA, IKB, Isotope Ensemble, L'Ensemble Instable, Octopus, Suspensão, and Variable Geometry Orchestra; on Clean Feed he's been part of bands including Luis Lopes Abyss Mirrors, Lisbon Freedom Unit, and as a side-man for Sei Miguel. I like Parrinha's patient and articulate approach to his soloing, with a warm tone and lucid expression. Below I list a few albums, aside from the new album with Vine Leaf.

Gato, Joao / Bruno Parrinha: Two (Phonogram Unit)

Two Portuguese saxophonists of different generations both playing on alto sax--Bruno Parrinha, an established and extraordinary player involved with many projects on Clean Feed and Creative Sources, and João Gato, leader of Apophenia Quartet--present 11 improvisations recorded in the studio, their voices intertwining amid masterful technique and creative impulse.

Parrinha, Bruno / VINE LEAF (Parrinha / Lopes / Valinho): Tales of Sense (Clean Feed)

Named for the translation of alto saxophonist Bruno Parrinha's last name into English--"Vine Leaf"--the trio of frequent working partners Luís Lopes on electric guitar and João Valinho on drums are heard in two recordings at SMUP, in Parede, PT and one studio recording in Lisbon, for sophisticated collective improvisation that indeed flows like a beautifully intricate vine.

LFU (Lisbon Freedom Unit) : Praise Of Our Folly (Clean Feed)

Without a leader, this 9 piece collective ensemble includes members of Red Trio (Rodrigo Pinheiro, Hernaani Faustino and Gabriel Ferrandini), Garden (Jose Bruno Parrinha, Ricardo Jacinto, Luis Lopes), the duo Eitr (Pedro Sousa and Pedro Lopes), 2/3 of the Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio (Amado, Ferrandini) and half of the Luis Lopes Humanization 4tet (Lopes and Amado).

Rodrigues, Ernesto / Guilherme Rodrigues / Bruno Parrinha / Luis Lopes / Vasco Trilla: { Lithos } (Creative Sources)

Recording in the studio in Lisbon, Portugal, the free improvising lowercase/subtle momentum quintet of Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Guilherme Rodrigues on cello, Bruno Parrinha on bass clarinet, Luis Lopes on electric guitar, and Vasco Trilla on percussion, demonstrate intense control and remarkable concentration through the five parts of "{ Lithos }".

Variable Geometry Orchestra: Mare Tranquillitatis (Creative Sources)

A dynamic and exciting concert captured during the 2018 CreativeFest XII of a conduction by Ernesto Rodrigues leading an ensemble of 28 free improvisors performing on a mix of traditional acoustic & modern electronic instruments, plus a toy piano, with powerful wind & string sections, as Rodrigues directs the musicians into both passionate and peaceful sections.

Suspensao: Sfumato (Creative Sources)

A substantial live work from the 2019 CreativeFest XIII at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon from the improvising ensemble Sfumato lead by violist Ernesto Rodrigues, fulfilling the title of the album in great tension and suspense as the 11 members improvise, generating waves of activity between concentrated and meditative moments, an incredible example of power and restraint.

Rodrigues / Rodrigues / Almeida / Hencleeday / Parrinha / Parrinha / Santos / Valinho: Spiegel II (Creative Sources)

The concept of a spiegel, or mirror, is explored by this perceptively patient electroacoustic octet led by violist Ernesto Rodrigues, each of the 3 tracks an evolution of the first recorded improvisation, the 2nd "Spiegel" layering and reacting to the first recording, and the 3rd to the previous two, ultimately reflecting a conversation of 24 virtual musicians.

IKB: Limosa Limosa (Creative Sources)

IKB, a ten-piece reductionist electroacoustic ensemble of strings, reeds, guitar, computer, percussion, piano, drums & objects, continues their exploration of exotic animal species with this 2020 live performance at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon, Portugal, detailing the long-billed shore bird Limosa through intricate, restrained and remarkable expression.

Parrinha / Moimeme / Santos: A Silent Play In The Shadow Of Power (Creative Sources)

The trio of Bruno Parrinha on bass clarinet & alto sax, Abdul Moimeme on prepared electric guitar & objects, and Carlos Santos on electronics & objects performed this confrontational improvisation at the 2020 Small Formats Materials Festival, weaving acoustic and electronic expression with assertive confidence, affirming reductionist approaches as commanding statements.

IKB: Titanus Giganteus (Creative Sources)

Post-pandemic, the electroacoustic IKB ensemble returned to the stage in 2021 at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon with some of Portugal's finest improvisers performing under the direction of violist Ernetso Rodrigues, to express in sound the large rainforest beetle Titanus Giganteus, represented in an extended collective improvisation of restraint fueled by masterful and creative skill.

Lisbon String Trio & Bruno Parrinha: Dada (Creative Sources)

Lisbon String Trio of Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Miguel Mira on cello and Alvaro Rosso on double bass continue their series adding a fourth player to their unique form of string improvisation, here with reeidst Bruno Parrinha on alto clarinetist for an extended expedition into highly articulate playing as they explore the dada rejection of logic, reason, and aestheticism.

Isotope Ensemble: Uranium (Creative Sources)

Continuing their exploration of isotopes, here focusing on the unstable element Uranium, the Portuguese Isotope Ensemble led by violist Ernesto Rodrigues presents two stunningly detailed concert performances from the 2021 CSFest XV at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon, with some of Europe's leading improvisers taking on U92 in both "Electroacoustic" and "Acoustic" properties.

Rodrigues, Ernesto / Carla Santana / Emedio Buchinho / Bruno Parrinha: Distilling Silence (Creative Sources)

An immersive album of understated but incredibly detailed free improvisation from the quartet of Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Bruno Parrinha on bass clarinet, Emidio Buchinho on electric guitar and Carla Santana on electronics, performing live at Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema, in Amadora, Portugal for a four part concentration on silence through sound.

Lopes, Luis Abyss Mirrors: Echoisms (Clean Feed)

Citing references including Sun Ra, electric Miles, Ornette, Wadada Leo Smith, Stockhausen & Gabriel Prokofiev, guitarist Luis Lopes's Abyss Mirrors brings together artists drawing on European & Brazilian performers from Clean Feed, Shhpuma and Creative Sources for these evolving and often ecstatic collective, experimental improvisations; unpredictably edgy and exciting!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

April 4, 2024: New @ Squidco:
John Butcher + 13 -Fluid Fixations [CD] (Weight of Wax)
Phantom Orchard (Ikue Mori/Zeena Parkins) -Hit Parade of Tears [CD] (Tzadik)
Sean Lennon Ono -Asterisms [VINYL] (Tzadik)
Chorale Joker/Ensemble SuperMusique -Demantibule•es [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Josh Berman/Eli Wallace/Ishmael Ali/Bill Harris -An-Ill Fitting Garment [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Amalgam)
IKZ (Chris Dammann/Kevin Davis/John Niekrasz/Toby Summerfield) -I Saw The Cryptic Problem Of My Generation Destroyed [CD] (Amalgam)
Joao Gato/Bruno Parrinha -Two [CD] (Phonogram Unit)
Danya Pilchen -Two Songs. Anne, Germaine, Koen, Seamus, Danya [CD] (Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Paul Newland -Things That Happen Again [CD] (Another Timbre)
Michel Banabila -The Unreal Realm [CD] (Tapu Records)
Rotem Geffen -The Night Is The Night [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Rotem Geffen -The Night Is The Night [VINYL] (thanatosis produktion)
Directives -Glimmer [CDR] (Aubjects)

April 3, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Blum / David Murray / Chad Taylor - The Recursive Tree (Relative Pitch) by Massimo Ricci.

April 1, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Anthony Braxton -10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 [BOX SET] (New Braxton House)
Mars Williams/Katinka Kleijn/Rob Kassinger -Two Or Three [CD] (Amalgam)
Hevleticus (Samuel Blaser/Daniel Humair/Heiri Kanzig) -Our Way [CD] (Blaser Music)
Christof Migone/Alexandre St-Onge -undoundone [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)

March 30, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Albert Ayler - More Lost Performances Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd.) by John Eyles.

This week we returned to "normal" after our Spring Sale, which means spending or jam-packed days adding new titles to our catalog, researching artists and making connections between releases. After the break — if you can call processing many orders a break — I was happily surprised at the number of great albums we readied for this week's mailing list. In fact, there were 10 "Squidco Picks" in the lot, along with some albums that I didn't think were as essential, but which personally resonated with me. So below are 5 albums from those picks that I was specifically excited about.

Meanwhile we've been placing orders this week for the latest Tzadik releases, particularly the Phantom Orchard album (it's been too long since the last!), two new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut — a Cecil Taylor Unit archive release and Marion Brown's Three For Shepp and Gesprachsfetzen "revisited". John Butcher is bring back his label Weight of Wax with an incredible ensemble work titled Fluid Fixations that should arrive soon; Euphorium's latest is a trio with Oliver Schwerdt, Barry Guy & Baby Sommer titled Fucking Ballads (!); new titles from Rutger Zuydervelt's Machinefabriek project are making their way to us; and a new Ethnic Heritage Ensemble album is on the way. To complete the purchases, five new Clean Feed titles are coming to us in the next couple of weeks: a Rob Mazurek album, a new Van Huffel, the lastes TGB, the Liba Villavecchia Trio + Luis Vicente, and the Caveira quartet (Gomes / Sousa / Abras / Ferrandini). It's looking to be a bright and intersting spring!

Last update: we just received word that we will be carrying the new Anthony Braxton box set, 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022. From the Tri-Centric Foundation fundraiser:

"This year, we are releasing Braxton's 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 Limited Edition Box Set! This marks the first major box set release of Anthony Braxton's Lorraine Music system. The box set includes a significant collection of one of Braxton's recent live trios and a special studio quartet with two basses and two saxophones. For these performances, Braxton works with the ensembles to produce a sequence of activities from the primary composition and including tertiary compositions. The Lorraine Music system incorporates graphic notation, traditional notation, and Braxton's interactive Diamond Curtain Wall Music system. With design by Yeşim Tosuner and distinctive liner notes by Anthony Braxton himself, this box set continues in the aesthetic tradition that New Braxton House has developed over the last 7 years."

Look for the box set to be available to Squidco customers starting on Tuesday of next week.

Philz Top 5 for March 29th:

1) Ensemble SuperMusique: Musiques Emeraude. I had a tough call between the first and second places in my sublist of "picks", as you'll see when you get to the 2nd entry. However, I started Squidco with a goal of bringing more albums for labels like Montreal's Ambiances Magnetiques into the US, and I'm still as excited by the label's releases as I was 20 years ago.

Ensemble Supermusique is one of my favorite large improvising ensembles, which is saying a lot as there are so many great large ensembles in the contemporary music scene. What distinguishes Ensemble Supermusique to me is their interest in merging genres, much the way the Downtown NY scene of the 80's and 90's forged, and doing so with a sense of humor and incredible technical skills. The core players include personal favorites like Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, and Danielle Palardy, with players from the Montreal collective including Jean Derome, Michel F Cote, Bernard Falaise, Lori Freedman... the list is too long to reproduce here, but check out our listing to see how wildly representative of their scene this album represents. The album starts literally with some insanity in the first track, "It's Insane", and continues on to demonstrate the breadth and depth of interest the ensemble has shown over the last 40 years. Don't miss it!

Ensemble SuperMusique : Musiques Emeraude (Ambiances Magnetiques)

An overview of Montreal's Ensemble Supermusique celebrating their 40th anniversary, drawing on works from founders Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, and Danielle Palardy Roger and their projects including Wondeur Brass, Les Poules, Justine, &c., realized by 40 instrumentalists in 8 groups of 3 to 8 players; masterful sophistication with a sense of humor and wonder — exceptionnelle!

Ensemble SuperMusique: Le fil d'Ariane (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Featuring works premiered at the ESM concert "Zigzague and Colore" in November 2022 in Montreal at Escape Orange - Edifice Wilder - Espace Danse, this exceptional concert of Montreal's premiere improvising Ensemble SuperMusique presents the works of three female composers--Elizabeth Millar, Laura Kavanaugh, and Danielle Palardy Roger--through a variety of graphic scores.

Hetu, Joane / Ensemble SuperMusique: Monnomest (Ambiances Jazz)

A fascinating work dedicated to improvising cellist Remy Belanger de Beauport written by Montreal composer Joane Hétu and performed by the large Ensemble SuperMusique with Jean Derome, Lori Freedman, Scott Thomson, Diane Labrosse, Danielle Palardy Roger, Pierre Tanguay, &c., commissioned and performed for the Ensemble's 40th anniversary and expanded for this studio edition.

Ensemble SuperMusique: Commutation (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Ensemble Supermusique, Montreal's premiere open-minded improvising ensemble, here led by saxophonist & vocalist Joane Hetu and conducted by percussionist Danielle Palardy Roger, present a live concert of graphic scores dating back to 1920, with works from Fred Frith (Stone, Brick, Glass, Wood, Wire), Luigi Russolo, Maxime Daigneault, Emilie Girard-Charest & Anestis Logothetis.

Ensemble SuperMusique: Sonne l'image (Ambiances Magnetiques)

The collective ensemble Supermusique featuring key performers from Montréal's musique actuelle scene, including Jean Derome, Isaiah Ceccarelli, Joane Hetu, Danielle Palardy, &c. perform "Sounding the Image", three animated scores composed through the creation of moving images and rendered live in a remarkable concert at Amphiteatre de Gesu, in Montreal in 2019.

2) Peter Evan's Being & Becoming: Ars Memoria. This could easily have led as #1 in my list, and it's only the seniority of Ensemble Supermusique that made my decision. That said, both have had equal playtime at my desk this week. There's no doubt that my admiration of Evan's playing, and the configuration of this group (I'm a sucker for the vibraphone) kept this album in mind from the start. More Is More, Peter Evan's label, also made download codes available for both formats, CD & LP, which is the right concession for the LP edition as the title track is absent from the vinyl edition, and the track "Nowhere" is split between sides A & B on the vinyl.

All comparison aside, the music itself is what's noteworthy here. Having followed Evans as a brilliant player with an experimental bent and great abilities to expand the sound of the trumpet, this album brings together many of the elements that I admire about his playing and composing. The music, the 2nd release from the Being & Becoming band is clearly in the contemporary jazz genre with a New York flavor, but also incorporates experimental moments, throws in outside technique effortlessly, and at moments carries a level of sophistication that feels both symphonic and warmly experimental. It's an achievement for any quartet. The album is wonderfully balanced, warm and compelling, technically jaw dropping, a thoroughly modern album and will no doubt make it to my top lists of 2024.

Evans, Peter Being & Becoming (Evans / Ross / Jozwiak / Ode): Ars Memoria [VINYL 180gm + DOWNLOAD] (More Is More)

The second album from New York trumpeter Peter Evan's band Being and Becoming stretches out his concepts in five extended works that dovetails superb contemporary jazz — integrating extended techniques and solid vibraphone work — with beautifully rich and explorative passages, masterfully performed with Joel Ross (vibes), Nick Jozwiak (bass) and Michael Shekwoaga (drums).

Evans, Peter (w/ Ross / Jozwiak / Harris): Being & Becoming [VINYL] (More Is More)

A dynamic 1st release from trumpeter Peter Evans' group Being and Becoming, featuring improvisers from a younger generation of creative musicians--Joel Ross on vibes, Nick Joziwak on bass, and Savannah Harris on drums--the album featuring new compositions from Evans, moving between notated chamber music textures, free improvisations, deep grooves and telepathic ensemble playing.

3) We've been carrying the Chicago Aerophonic label since its inception, and the same with Boston's Driff Records. Saxophonist and concert organizer Dave Rempis heads Aerophonics, and pianist Pandelis Karayorgis runs Driff. In 2023 Karayorgis was in Chicago and the two took advantage of the opportunity to perform together on the Elastic Arts stage. Joining them is another label leader, drummer Bill Harris of Amalgam, a young and exciting label forging its own unique interests in improv and related musics; and bassist Jakob Heinemann, who we know from his solo release on Kashe Editions, and the trio with Jim Baker & Steve Hun on Clean Feed.

This particular concert was dynamic, exciting, inventive and worthy of remembrance. Rempis explains that its rare for Aerophonic to put out one-off collaborations, focusing instead on recurring bands, but this concert recording was clearly an exception. Sharing the music between labels was an equitable solution, and we listeners of free jazz of this extraordinary calibre are rewarded the benefit of that decision. My hope is that this is more than a one-off, as the swapping of ideas and the energy of this band demands more!

Rempis / Karayorgis / Heinemann / Harris: Truss (Driff Records & Aerophonics)

Three label leaders come together for this extraordinary 2023 concert at Elastic Arts in Chicago--Aerophonic's Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; Driff Records' Pandelis Karayorgis on piano; Amalgam Records' Bill Harris on drums--along with bassist Jakob Heinmann, this exceptional free jazz performance cementing the bond between Boston and Chicago with a hope for more!

Baker, Jim / Steve Hunt / Jakob Heinemann: Horizon Scanners (Clean Feed)

Rooted in an approach to the piano trio attributed to Bill Evan's non-hierarchical improvisation, the trio of long-standing collaborators Jim Baker on piano and Steve Hunt on drums & percussion, with younger generation double bassist Jakob Heinemann, bring equal voice to their highly interactive conversations in a mix of live and studio performances.

Heinemann, Jakob: Opacity (Kashe Editions)

The debut as a leader for Chicago double bassist and composer Jakob Heinemann, in a series of peacefully sophisticate, through-composed compositions of acoustic orchestration with subtle field recording & object accents from Heinemann, each piece leaving room for improvisation, performed in a quartet with Ishmael Ali on cello, Jeff Kimmel on clarinet and Molly Jones on flutes.

Bishop / Karayorgis / Smith: Duals [3 CDs] (Driff Records)

Three albums of three duos between three frequent Boston collaborators and improvisers -- Jeb Bishop on trombone, Pandelis Karayorgis on piano and Damon Smith on double bass -- each CD respectively a combination of trombone & bass, piano & bass and piano & trombone, each recorded during the last year of Jeb Bishop's residency in Boston between 2016-2022.

4) Changing gears and genres, a beautiful contemporary composed album comes from the pen of Paul Paccione and the rendering of London's Apartment House. Written 40 years prior, Paccione, who started life and his career in New York City under the influence of Cage & Feldman, revisits four works, updating them for these recordings. He explains that these four were part of a set of seven linked compositions, all of which are deceptively minimalist but rich in detail and movement. I was vaguely familiar with Paccione's work from his 2010 release on New World Records, Our Beauties Are Not Ours, and this new album cements my interest. The interview that we include in our listing is a fascinating narrative of a path to developing Paccione's style and interests in composition, from a young man interested in rock guitar to a profoundly capable composer.

Paccione, Paul: Distant Musics (Another Timbre)

Influenced by the New York School of composers (Cage, Feldman, &c.), composer Paul Paccione revisits and revises five of his compositions written 40 years prior, performed by a 10-piece configuration of London's Apartment House; beautifully contemplative pieces linked together through common threads, the momentum of individual moments absorbed by the presence of the larger work.

Paccione, Paul: Our Beauties Are Not Ours - Works for Voices and Instruments (New World Records)

Paul Paccione's compositions balance a love of "abstract" sound combinations with a vivid sense of lyricism, here in 6 works from 1993 to 2007.

5) The last album in heavy rotation comes from the duo of pianist Reinhold Friedl and guitarist Martin Siewert. Classified in our "experimental/electronic" category, the work contains elements of improvised and contemporary forms, and was worked into the final three recordings in the studio, drawing from several days of recordings. As someone who creates studio compositions from improvised music I am absolutely impressed with the pacing, subtlety and richness of their work. The pieces are unhurried but interesting from the start, building in intensity that is never histrionic, releasing like a long sigh and taking up the breath again. Friedl's playing is reserved, placing notes perfectly into the fabrics that Siewert creates, and the sense of space and ambiance around them creates a closeness for the listener that seemingly places them in the same room with the performers. There is no exact definition for the journey they place us on, but there's no doubt you've covered a great deal of terrain when the album quietly closes on a few notes and a light sheen of harmonic interference.

Friedl / Siewert: Lichtung (KARLRECORDS)

Zeitkratzer director and pianist Reinhold Friedl meets with Martin Siewert (Radian, Fake the Facts, Dry Thrust) for three improvised explorations on piano, guitar and electronics, through the course of powerful transitions building from deep introspection into prickly, bellicose interaction, yielding to a brooding finale of subtle electronics and punctuation; profound.

Dry Thrust (Georg Graewe / Martin Siewert / Dieter Kern): The Less You Sleep (Trost Records)

The trio of German pianist/composer Georg Graewe, guitarist Martin Siewert (Radian, Trapist, Also), and drummer Dieter Kern (DEK Trio, Bulbul, Fuckhead) bring together diverse attitudes in free improv from avant jazz to ea-/experimental approaches and bristling rock forms, sharing a unique collective voice with an oddly implied sense of humor and disconcertingly ingenious skill.

Gustafsson, Mats / Wendy Gondeln / Wolfgang Voigt / Martin Siewert: The Shithole Country & Boogie Band (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

A unique album blurring acoustic recordings from saxophonist Mats Gustafsson with the electronic machinations and rhythms of Wendy Gondeln, aka Albert Oehlen, a German experimental electronic artist, the two inviting Martin Siewert for additional guitar on two tracks, and Wolfgang Voight to remix two tracks; funky, unpredictable, amusing, and seductively tantalizing.

Schlothauer, Burkhard : Harmonies And Structures (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

When the Zeitkratzer Ensemble was asked to perform a late ensemble work by John Cage, director Reinhold Friedl turned to composer Burkhard Schlothauer, who reworked one of Cage's Number Pieces to create this rich piece using Cage's methods; plus a composition for the dance piece "Bewegte Bauhausbilder"; and an octet commissioned for the Klangzeit-Festival Time Is On My Side.

P.O.P. [Psychology Of Perception]: Ikebana (FMR)

Fascinating sound and drone music from this interesting German ensemble led by Reinhold Friedl, "ikebana" takes its name from the tradition of Japanese flower arranging which dates back to the 7th century, with 8 tracks named as such: Shoka, Rikka, Nigeria and Morimono.

Limited Libraries and Surrendering to the Stream:

This week I read an interesting article on the online news site The Guardian titled The film fans who refuse to surrender to streaming: 'One day you'll barter bread for our DVDs'. While focused on video media — movies, tv shows, &c — it struck a nerve. Collectors of physical media have decreased over the years, pressing sizes have shrunk, and even a (very) few of my oldest collector friends have gone digital.

This reminded me of the introduction of CDs, long before streaming was available. "Digital" then meant compact discs, along with picture discs and some odd formats like Sony's Minidiscs. Many new adherents re-bought their collection in digital format, which was understandable as the ease of playback was superior, and the sonic quality (after 1st generation machines) removed pop, crackle & noise, along with turntable rumble, footsteps in old rooms, &c &c. Oddly enough an argument about longevity at the time was that vinyl would outlive CDs, and that CD owners would one day wish that they had a vinyl copy of their album, which would likely play 100's of years into the future, albeit with crackle.

Watching vinyl return, albeit for many, for sentimental reason, has had a certain ironic satisfaction... I remember seeing boxes of LPs left out on the street in the 80s and 90s, garage sales and online listings of vinyl collections stating that the consumer had switched to CDs and were leaving vinyl behind. CDs have proven to be persistent in the modern age, and vinyl has had its comeback, though Squidco's experience is that the compact disc is still the serious collector's preference. Cassettes have had a surprising comeback, though most come with a digital download for convenience, but the format shows again an interest in holding the art object an artist or group developed to accompany their music.

As an adjunct to the cautionary tale that the Guardian article published, the music community felt a ripple of fear when Bandcamp was recently purchased, and there still is a lingering sense of danger that the new management may try to monetize or limit accessibility in unforeseen ways. The idea of one's collection being held hostage to another company, or of a streaming service fading away and its users losing access to their libraries, is a valid concern. In fact, in recent history at least two streaming services have cheated their customers of their libraries: Rdio went bankrupt in 2015, and their subscribers lost access to their libraries; and Grooveshark closed due to copyright challenges, leaving their customers stranded. All of that sounds a bit apocalyptic for the music collector, and if your library has been downloaded then barring a storage crash without backup the average collector is probably fine. Still, in my mind, streamers take their chances with the services they provide, and their ability or desire to continue paying a monthly fee to access their music.

With pressing sizes shrinking for physical media the global availability of those few copies pressed increases in value. In my mind we're bringing musical art objects closer to the paradigm of the visual arts and physical media, where a tiny number of copies of a painting or print are available and, inevitably in the case of great art, highly desirable. I've noted to myself that the major labels, who always despised the used market, must love the world of streaming and it's lack of resale, where bits can't be re-sold and many listeners are essentially leasing the music they listen to. This all while physical media has access to a better marketplace in Discogs.com than Goldmine once provided, allowing the search or sale of limited albums and maintaining the value of a collection.

There seems no doubt that, as digital streaming becomes more prevalent the physical release of new albums will create challenges to finding specific titles in the future, with many albums simply unavailable in physical format and potentially lost forever as streaming and download services shift in the future. To me that's a set of observations that will keep me collecting and maintaining CDs, LPs, Cassettes, DVDs, USB drives, &c.: tangible art objects that become scarcer with each passing year. I myself will not surrender to the stream.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 28, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Rempis/Karayorgis/Heinemann/Harris -Truss [CD] (Driff Records)
Ensemble SuperMusique -Musiques Emeraude [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Paul Paccione -Distant Musics [CD] (Another Timbre)
Birgit Ulher/Carol Genetti/Eric Leonardson -Horizontal Shift [CD] (Amalgam)
Ivo Perelman (Fowler/Workman/Cyrille) -Embracing the Unknown [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Gregorio/Smith/Bryerton -The Cold Arrow [CD] (Balance Point Acoustics)
Andre Duchesne -Ch'val [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Leap of Faith -Resonance Energy [CD] (Evil Clown)
Neurodivergent -Cosmic Collisions [CD] (Evil Clown)

March 27, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Naegelen / Gaillard / Arnaud-Cremon / Maisonneuve - Cartographie de rythmes #2 - Cardiaque (Umlaut Records) by Brian Olewnick.

March 26, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Peter Evans Being & Becoming (Evans/ Ross/Jozwiak/Ode) -Ars Memoria [CD] (More Is More)
Peter Evans Being & Becoming (Evans/ Ross/Jozwiak/Ode) -Ars Memoria [VINYL 180gm] (More Is More)
Ivo Perelman (Fowler/Workman/Cyrille) -Embracing the Unknown [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Gregorio/Smith/Bryerton -The Cold Arrow [CD] (Balance Point Acoustics)
Andre Duchesne -Ch'val [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Bill Harris -MACRODOSE [CD] (Amalgam)
Dante Boon (Beuger/Boon/Elina/Holtkamp/Schuppe/Van der Ster) -Duos [CD] (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

March 25, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Chad Fowler / George Cartright / Chris Parker / Kelley Hurt / Luke Stewart / Steve Hirsh / ZA - Miserere (Mahakala Music) by Nick Ostrum.

Here in the middle of the coast our colors are blooming, pollen is falling from the pines, and the weather is warming. It's Spring! So what better time than to share some great music at better than average prices? This weekend we're offering a discount of 10% on all new items in the store, or 15% if you pick up 5 ore more. Sales weeks like this give us a breather from our typical publishing schedule, cleaning up work that might have been dangling over us or working on special projects. And it gives our customers a chance to pick up albums they might have been on the fence about, and helps us to bring in sales that fuel our next set of purchases.

All that means that our publishing schedule was very light this week, and there will be no "proper" mailing list. We have been working on a number of purchases though, especially new titles on Another Timbre, Euphorium, RogueArt, and ACT Music. Once we're through filling the Spring Sale orders, and finished ogling the beautiful colors outside our windows, we'll have a number of new releases that we'll catch you up on next week. But for now have a good look through our catalog and pick up some new music to accompany your own lighter, brighter season!

Springing into Sprung Music:

While thinking about the season I noticed that the new trio album on Chicago's Amalgam label, Horizontal Shift, included Eric Leonardson on springboard. We know Leonardson from his performances on Evil Clown bands Axioms, Expanse, and Leap of Faith. The other players are the great German lowercase improvising trumpeter Birgit Ulher, and vocalist Carol Genetti; all play objects, with Uhler playing radio, speaker and Leondardo also adding electronics.

The springboard in particular is a self-built instrument that does indeed include springs, along with a number of other sound and percussive generators. I've included a YouTube video from Leondarson that demonstrated the instrument in a solo performance - a video is worth a thousand words with this unusual sonic creature.

This coincidental spring-fueled addition to our catalog at springtime set me thinking about other albums that might include springs in their instrumentation. In a search of our database I found 69 active albums that included springs or this same springboard. On a whimsical, spring-sical moment I decided to list them for you, making a very unusual collection of albums from outside thinkers, improvisers and composers. I trimmed the list to about 18 albums, each unique, impressive, possibly idiosyncratic, and absolutely springy.

Auris + Gino (Robair / Leonardson / Miller / Preissing): Rub (Public Eyesore)

The Electroacoustic improv trio of Eric Leonardson (springboard & electronics), Julia E. Miller (guitar & electronics), and Christopher Preissing (flute & electronics), present 3 collective improvisations and 3 duos between Auris members and percussionist Gino Robair.

Axioms: Abstract Intensions (Evil Clown)

Arranged around the core of bassist Albey onBass and poet Jane SpokenWord, who were a part of Cecil Taylor's final trio, this spoken word, drummer-less ensemble from the Boston-based Axiom collective is a live quartet performance with David Peck on reeds, winds, percussion & electronics, and Glynic Lomon on cello and aquasonic, in an extended, eclectic and electric discourse.

Cammisa, Edoardo: io_u,E (Sublime Retreat)

Understated and enigmatic, the work of Northern Italian sound artist Edoardo Cammisa, aka Banished Pills, presents a very short work on decay, and then two expanded sound works composed from synthesisers, spring reverb, microphones, field recordings, no-input mixing, organ & sampler; the environments are murky but with movement, and engaging in their dark evening ambiance.

Derome, Jean: Solo Souffles (Ambiances Magnetiques)

The remarkably creative flutist & saxophonist Jean Derome often incorporates unusual instruments into his improvisations and compositions, including bird calls, harps, kalimbas, sirens, flower plastic wrappings, bells, &c &c.... on this album Derome focuses on those unique instruments and noise makers through 23 surprising pieces illustrating his incredible collection.

+DOG+ / Bastard Noise : Desecration Tales [VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

Two long-standing experimental sound projects join together as Legendary Bastard Noise, aka Eric Wood and +DOG+, aka Steve Davis, combine for two extended and well-paced works of dark sonics and electronics, the first piece "Misery Milestone" a haunting and desolate soundscape with disruptive punctuation; the 2nd "Beneficiary: Earth" adds agonizing voice to a work of global arpeggiation and destruction.

Expanse: Swathe (Evil Clown)

After receiving interest in joining the Evil Clown collective from Count Robot and DNA Girl (Deb Angelosanto), and in parallel from guitarist Tim Mungenast, collective director David Peck scheduled a session for this 7th Expanse album, adding drummer Michael Knoblach to complete this quintet configuration of the band's electric-oriented approach to space and restraint.

Ichiyanagi, Toshi with Eye Music: Sapporo (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

Written in 1963 for up to 15 peformers plus a conductor who may also make sound, Japanese composer and Fluxus artist Toshi Ichiyanagi's score has 16 pages marked with combinations of lines, dots and letters indicating duration, number of events, and moments of restraint, each player using a different page, with certain options of switching pages with another player during performance.

Leap Of Faith: The Origin Of Mass (Evil Clown)

The second album of collective free improvisation from Leap of Faith expanded by Chinese musicians, from the core duo of multi-reedist David Peck and cellist Glynis Lomon, here with Chinese improviser, Boston-based Beijing guzheng player Jiaxin Wan, alongside trumpeter Bob Moores, for two exotic improvisations of patiently evolving global elements.

Leap Of Faith: Taxonomic Dilemma (Evil Clown)

Looking to configure The Leap of Faith ensemble with a 3-horn front line, Boston wind & reed player and Evil Clown label leader David Peck recruited John Fugarino to perform on trumpet, slide trumpet & trombone, and surprisingly, Japanese pianist Keiichi Hashimoto, who also performs on trumpet, cornet & flugelhorn, with cellist Gylnis Lomon filling out the band for this dynamic, extended set.

Leap of Faith: Quest for Uncertainty (Evil Clown)

Joining the Boston free improvising duo of David Peck on clarinets, saxophones, clarinets & flutes, and Glynis Lomon on cello, aquasonic & voice--the core duo of Leap of Faith Orchestra--are Bonnie Kane on tenor sax, flute & electronics, and John Loggia on drums and percussion, capturing the extended title track and a brief, "possible outcome" as a summation.

Metal Chaos Ensemble: Project Wildfire (Evil Clown)

A working project of the Boston-based Evil Clown collective, Metal Chaos Ensemble explores chaotic rhythms on metallic instruments, in this live-streamed performance from 2022 as a quintet with strong jazz influences, from David Peck on reeds and percussion, Bob Moores on trumpet & keys, Michael Caglianone on sax, Albey onBass on bass, and Steve Niemitz on drums & percussion.

Moses, Ra Kalam Bob / Damon Smith Duo: Purecircle (Balance Point Acoustics)

A superb, inventive duo collusion between percussionist Ra Kalam Bob Moses and double bassist Damon Smith, continuing their collaborations that started with "Astral Plain Crash" with Vinny Golia, Henry Kaiser & Weasel Walter, here in concentrated form, recording and layer in the studio for 14 diverse dialogs using advanced techniques on drums, gongs, spring drums and double bass.

Perturbations: Deviations Of A System (Evil Clown)

Leveraging the real time signal processing of Evil Clown house engineer Joel Simches, this project from the Boston free improving collective centers around reedist & multi-instrumentalist David Peck and Simches, who provides the "perturbations" of each player through his processing, making him the 4th in this quartet with bassist Albey onBass and reedist Michael Caglianone.

Simulacrum: Mechatronics (Evil Clown)

This ensemble features 3 core Evil Clown members--David Peck on reeds, winds, percussion & electronics; Eric Woods on analog synth; and Bob Moores on space trumpet, guitar & electronics--with guests Michael Caglianone on reeds & percussion, Robin Amos on electric zither and keyboards; Faruq Hassan on samplers & keys; Albey OnBass on bass; and Michael Knoblach on military devices.

Turbulence Orchestra: Trapped In A Whorl (Evil Clown)

Turbulence is the extended horn section for the Boston collective Leap of Faith Orchestra, along with guests on other instruments, here in a large ensemble performance with Bonnie Kane (sax), Dennis Livingston (flute & winds), John Fugarino, Bob Moores & Eric Dahlman (trumpets), Duane Reed (double bell euphonium), with the rhythm section of John Loggia (drums) and Scott Samenfeld (bass).

Ulher, Birgit / Carol Genetti / Eric Leonardson: Horizontal Shift (Amalgam)

An international electroacoustic improvising trio of German trumpet player Birgit Ulher, also on radio, speaker & objects, and two Chicago outside improvisers--Carol Genetti on voice & objects, and Eric Leonardson on his unique self-built instrument the springboard, objects & electronics-- heard in a live performance at Elastic Arts, in Chicago, Illinois in 2018.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 20, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Joane Hetu/Ensemble SuperMusique -Monnomest [CD] (Ambiances Jazz)
Joelle Leandre/Pascal Contet -Miniatures [CD] (Trost Records)
Chad Fowler/Shanyse Strickland/Sana Nagano/Melanie Dyer/Ken Filiano/Anders Griffen -Birdsong [CD] (Mahakala Music)
Hal Russell NRG Ensemble -The Hal Russell Story [CD] (ECM Records)
Ernesto Rodrigues/Dirk Serries/Joao Madeira/Jose Oliveira -Dripping [CD] (Creative Sources)
Friedl/Siewert -Lichtung [CD] (KARLRECORDS)
Niels Lokkegaard Lyhne/Quatuor Bozzini -Colliding Bubbles [CD] (Important Records)
Merzbow -Cafe OTO [2 CDs] (Cold Spring Records)

March 18, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Tani Tabbal Quartet - Intentional (Mahakala Music) by Ken Waxman.

A relatively brief entry this week as staff vacation time for the start of spring pushed us slightly back in schedule. That didn't stop us from getting the mailing list out, and filling our Just In Stock Section section with 24 new albums that we'll be working on in the coming week, from labels including Mahakala, Ambiances Magnetiques, Edition Wandelweiser, Amalgam, Trost, Cold Spring Records, Important Records, KARLRECORDS, and Balance Point Acoustics. All of the aforementioned are in stock and ready to ship now.

The rest of this entry is a bit of self-promotion for my own new album: CHANGES TO blind: Volume Eight: Before Birth to Expiration (Squidco Records), of interest to listeners of experimental sound.

Where to Find a Squid Off Hours:

When I'm not running our record store and distribution service you can often find me in my music studio working on sound art under my project name CHANGES TO blind. I started composing music in the early 1980's, inspired by the DIY tape and 'zine culture. The "group" name is a give-away for the era, when abstract band names were more of the norm than taking one's own name. In fact, my "band" was a fictional trio, somewhat inspired by the then-opaque configuration of The Residents. My group was described as Mortimer DeSquid (keyboards), Heraldo DeSquid (percussion) and Phil Zampino (voice, treatments, &c). At the time I was writing and singing electronic songs, which included plundered elements from records and field recordings.

By the 90s the songs stopped, Mortimer and Heraldo "quit" the band, and the experimentation and composition using the studio took over. After moving myself and Squidco to Wilmington, NC I fell in with other adventurous experimenters and began performing live regularly, developing systems to create layers of sound from unusual electronic sources, and drawing on a collection of thousands of samples that I had modified and mutilated in the studio.

Squidco takes up most of my time, but this month I finally completed the production on my 8th volume, collecting what I hope are the most interesting of my work over the last eight years. Many of the pieces started as live improvisations recorded to multi-track and then augmented and manipulated in the studio. Others, like the title track "Before Birth to Expiration" are studio compositions from the start, larger works that were developed over months.

I list three albums below, the latest; the 7th volume which summarizes a number of years of work; and a very early project with Chester Hawkins when he was still known as Blue Sausage Infant (another very 80's project name). For those who prefer their music in bits, the new and 7th album can also be purchased on Bandcamp.

CHANGES TO blind: Volume Eight: Before Birth to Expiration (Squidco Records)

The eighth album from the long-running CHANGES TO blind project of Phil Zampino, eight works drawing on compositions & improvisations, acoustic & synthetic instruments, field recordings & samples, with guests Levi Erik providing field recordings & voice and Wilmington, NC's 910 Noise Members of Carl Kruger, subterrene, John Bishop, Authorless and Ryan Lewis.

CHANGES TO blind: evolvensume (Squidco Records)

Collecting works from 2010-2017, Squidco's own Phil Zampino presents 10 tracks of electroacoustic composition sourced from studio work, live improvisation, field recordings, plunderphonics, and other indescribable approaches, a diverse set of recordings sharing a similar foreboding aesthetic and curious sonic desire.

CHANGES TO blind + Blue Sausage Infant: (Intangible Arts)

Blue Sausage Infant and CHANGES TO blind met in 1992 for these improvised studio recordings, and to perform CTb's sonic tour of a house live at Troy, NY's Last Exit.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 14, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Charles Mingus -Presents Charles Mingus To Pre Bird, Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Franz Koglmann -Near Blue - A Taste of Melancholy [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Nikolaus Gerszewski -3 Works For Strings, Giusto Chamber Orchestra [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Void Patrol (Sharp/Stetson/Martin/MacDonald) -Live @ Victo [CD] (Victo)
Federico Ughi (w/Leo Genovese/Brandon Lopez) -Infinite Cosmos Calling You You You, Vol. 1 [CDR] (577 Records)
Federico Ughi (w/Leo Genovese/Brandon Lopez) -Infinite Cosmos Calling You You You, Vol. 1 [VINYL] (577 Records)
Sven-Ake Johansson/Alexander Von Schlippenbach -uber Ursache und Wirkung der Meinungsverschiedenheiten beim Turmbau zu Babel [VINYL 2 LPs & PAL DVD] (Trost Records)
Musicworks -#147 Winter 2024 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)
Witches & Devils (Williams/Vandermark/Lonberg-Holm) -At the Empty Bottle [CD] (Knitting Factory Works)
Simulacrum -Mechatronics [CDR] (Evil Clown)

March 13, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Steve Swell - For Rhina P. Espaillat (Relative Pitch) by Massimo Ricci.

March 12, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Peter Brotzmann / Paal Nilssen-Love -Chicken Shit Bingo [CD] (Trost Records)
Peter Brotzmann / Paal Nilssen-Love -Chicken Shit Bingo [VINYL] (Trost Records)
Jean Derome -La Chaleur De La Pensee [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Giuseppe Doronzo / Andy Moor / Frank Rosaly -Futuro Ancestrale [CD] (Clean Feed)
Norbert Pfammatter / Florestan Berset / Francesco Losavio -A Vol D'Oiseau [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
CHANGES TO blind -Volume Eight: Before Birth to Expiration [CD] (Squidco Records)
Marc Baron / Mark Vernon -post-chance [CD] (erstwhile)
Elliot Sharp -Arbor [CD] (zOaR Records)
Hall Russell / Mars Wiliams -EFTSOONS [VINYL] (NESSA)
Leap of Faith -Quest for Uncertainty [CDR] (Evil Clown)

March 12, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Germaine Sijstermans / Koen Nutters / Reinier van Houdt - Circles, Reeds, and Memories (Elsewhere) by Jeph Jerman.

March 11, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Francois Carrier Ensemble - Openness (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) by John Eyles.

We're finishing up a rather packed week here, as new releases came in the door and we started the fulfillment process for Anthony Braxton's latest box set, 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 (more below). We also placed orders for the latest erstwhile release; a uniquely developed duo between Marc Baron & Mark Vernon, a duo between Peter Brötzmann & Paal Nilssen-Love on CD & LP; a great set of albums on Chicago's Amalgam label; the latest Balance Point Acoustic; and the excellent live performance at the Victo Festival and released on the Victo label from Void Patrol (Elliott Sharp / Colin Stetson / Billy Martin & Payton MacDonald). The lastest Edition Wandelweisers are also on their way to us, as are the three latest ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd — Charles Mingus Revisited; Nikolaus Gerszewski; and Franz Koglmann. Many of these will appear on our site next week, along with some other releases unmentioned, and some vital restocks. Heading into the spring we're looking at some great new music to accompany some brighter, warmer weather!

Anthony Braxton's 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 Box:

Anthony Braxton's latest box set is now shipping, and the only source for this album is the Tri-Centric Foundation's Fund Raising Campaign, "Tri-Centric Archive: Celebrating 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022".

The Tri-Centric Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which supports the work and legacy of American composer and musician Anthony Braxton. Squidco provides the fulfillment service for the perks of their fundraisers, with options for the box set itself, a tote bag, and an autographed score bundle. While we can't sell any of these to you ourselves, you will receive our attention, professional shipping and sincere care if you donate to this campaign.

For those curious, the Lorraine box contains live trio recordings with Anthony Braxton, saxophones, Adam Matlock, accordion and voice, and Susana Santos Silva, trumpet; and a studio quartet with Braxton and James Fei on saxophones, and Zach Rowden and Carl Testa on bass. Here's the description from the fundraiser site:

"This year, we are releasing Braxton's 10 Comp (Lorraine) 2022 Limited Edition Box Set! This marks the first major box set release of Anthony Braxton's Lorraine Music system. The box set includes a significant collection of one of Braxton's recent live trios and a special studio quartet with two basses and two saxophones. For these performances, Braxton works with the ensembles to produce a sequence of activities from the primary composition and including tertiary compositions. The Lorraine Music system incorporates graphic notation, traditional notation, and Braxton's interactive Diamond Curtain Wall Music system. With design by Yeşim Tosuner and distinctive liner notes by Anthony Braxton himself, this box set continues in the aesthetic tradition that New Braxton House has developed over the last 7 years."

Joana Sá Body of Work

I continue to be impressed with the work from Lisbon pianist, composer and experimental artist Joana Sá. Her work bridges many disciplines, keeping an ear to making interesting hybrids of captivating sound. This week I found myself returning to her new Clean Feed release, A Body As Listening. The work in three parts merges her virtuosic piano playing with resonance, preparations, electronics, and fragments of previous recordings. Turned into a virtual ensemble, Sa's work takes listeners on a unique journey into acoustic piano and experimental elements. Further, there's a narrative website — a body as listening — RESONANT CARTOGRAPHY OF MUSIC (IM)MATERIALITIES), starting with an inspired tongue-in-cheek take on cookie policies that leads to a "Resonant Navigation System", an interactive sound system.

Sa is involved with a number of interesting projects, which I list below. As her work matures so does the sophistication of her concepts, and this latest album is a great example of her broad vision of sound.

Sa, Joana: A Body as Listening (Clean Feed)

The concluding opus of a trilogy that began with "Through This Looking Glass" and followed with "In Praise Of Disorder", Portuguese pianist Joana Sa merges acoustic piano with well-balanced electronics and resonance, using preparations and fragments of previous recordings to create a uniquely expressive solo performance: forceful, fragile, and captivatingly fascinating.

Sa, Joana: Elogio Da Desordem (In Praise of Disorder) (Shhpuma)

Composer, pianist and multi-instrumentals Joana Sa gives voice to texts by Goncalo M. Tavares as read by Rosinda Costa, where the text organizes the thoughts that filter the multiple, disorderly, eccentric, voluble mind described in Tavares' work.

Power Trio (Raon / Sa / Martins): Di Lontan (Clean Feed)

Guitarist Luis Jose Martins and pianist Joana Sa, known from their Shhpuma release "Almost a Song" and a release on Creative Sources, join again with harpist Eduardo Raon, with two Shhpuma releases, for a delicately complex, effervescent, and sometimes turbulent release.

Yannatou, Savina / Joana Sa: Ways of Not Seeing (Clean Feed)

A gorgeous and sinuous album of piano and voice from Portuguese pianist Joana Sá, using preparations and props to accompany the incredibly illustrative voice of Greek vocalist Savina Yannatou, whose profound skills create a sense of mystery and narrative that surpasses language and intent, creating something uniquely fragile yet fiercely alluring.

Turbamulta (Raon / Sa / Ferreira / Martins / Aroso): Turbamulta (Clean Feed)

With orchestration of harp, daxophone, idiophones, piano, cello, guitar, percussion, sampling & electronics, the Portuguese quintet Turbamulta (roughly translates to "rowdy mob", though clearly a very sophisticated mob) was born from the band Powertrio of Eduardo Raon, Joana Sa and Luis Martins, expanded to blend compositional, EA and improv approaches into something unique and beautiful.

Rodrigues, Ernesto / Joana Sa / Luisa Goncalves / Carlos Santos: Melt (Creative Sources)

Bringing together Lisbon artists active in contemporary classical, electroacoustic soundscape and improvisation, the quartet of Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Joana Sa on soprano saxophone, Luisa Goncalves on piano and Carlos Santos on electronics delicately "Melt" or merge these elements in a subtle and absorbing concert captured live at Lisboa Incomun.

Suspensao: Spur (Creative Sources)

The seventh album from Creative Sources' detailed electroacoustic improvising group Suspensão led by violist Ernesto Rodrigues, recording at SMUP in Parede, Portugal in 2022 with Joana Sa on soprano sax, Nuno Torres on alto sax, Luisa Goncalves on piano, Joao Madeira on double bass, Carlos Santos on synthesizer and Jose Oliveira on percussion.

IKB: Titanus Giganteus (Creative Sources)

Post-pandemic, the electroacoustic IKB ensemble returned to the stage in 2021 at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon with some of Portugal's finest improvisers performing under the direction of violist Ernetso Rodrigues, to express in sound the large rainforest beetle Titanus Giganteus, represented in an extended collective improvisation of restraint fueled by masterful and creative skill.

IKB: Hippocampus Guttulatus (Creative Sources)

The large IKB electroacoustic ensemble of diverse orchestration led by violist Ernesto Rodrigues, where each release is characterized by an animal, here with the long-snouted seahorse in an extended improvisation recorded at CreativeFest XIII at O'Culto da Ajuda, Lisbon, 2019, building to undulating cycles of intense interaction of absolutely precise control.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

March 7, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Ivo Perelman/Mark Helias/Tom Rainey -Truth Seeker [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Scheen Jazzorkester & Cortex -Frameworks - Music by Thomas Johansson [CD] (Clean Feed)
Joana Sa -A Body as Listening [CD] (Clean Feed)
Scratching Fork (Malinowski/Rychlicki/Zadruzynski) -Scratching Fork II [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Zakrocki/Garbowski/Gradziuk -Ballads And Blues [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Elliott Sharp -The Collapsed Wave [CD] (zOaR Records)
Tragic Assembly + Tatsuya Nakatani -Live at the Artscenter [CD] (Soul City Sounds)
Miharu Ogura -Ogura Plays Ogura [CD] (thanatosis produktion)
Henrik Olsson/Aviva Endean -Split Series Vol. 2 [CD] (FRIM Records)

March 7, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Jurg Frey (Reinier Van Houdt) - Lieues D'Ombres (Elsewhere) by Massimo Ricci.

March 5, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Wadada Smith Leo/Joe Morris -Earth's Frequencies [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Marc Sanders -Wildlife [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Ensemble SuperMusique -Le fil d'Ariane [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Susanna Hood Trio -unPacked [CD] (Ambiances Magnetiques)
Quatuor Bozzini -Jurg Frey: String Quartet No. 4 [CD] (Collection QB)
Jim Baker/Steve Hunt/Jakob Heinemann -Horizon Scanners [CD] (Clean Feed)
Jonas Cambien -Maca Conu [CD] (Clean Feed)
Rebeka Zajc Rusjan -Prelude [CD] (Clean Feed)
Rodrigues/Parrinha/Madeira -Into the Wood [CD] (Creative Sources)
Bozek/Takahashi -SADOIL [CD] (Creative Sources)

March 6, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Bruno Duplant & Seth Nehil - The Memory Of Things (Sublime Retreat) by Jeph Jerman.

March 4, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Kim Dae Hwan and Choi Sun Bae - Korean Fantasy (No Business) by Nick Ostrum/

Much of this week was spent listening to the excellent new set of Clean Feed albums, particularly the new Friends & Neighbors album, Circles, a brilliant and exciting album of modern creative jazz - my pick of the week. As I listened to Circles I found comparisons between two of my other most important projects: Fire! and Angles. We also caught up with zOaR, particularly Elliott Sharp's SysOrk string ensemble album Occam's Machete. In an email exchange with Sharp he explains: Play it quietly and it's tranquil ambience; play it loud and you're in the middle of a thunderstorm! Personally I played it LOUD, and found the deep tapestry of sound — like the slicing of so many blades swirling and intersecting — exhiliarating!

Another great additions to our catalog came on the RogueArt label from the PNY Quintet, bringing French flutist Michel Edelin together in France with New York luminaries, Steve Swell on trombone and Rob Brown on sax. As an enthusiast of violist Szilard Mezei, I was captivated by this two extended live concert in Hungary, released on Poland's Not Two label; his remarkable ability to maintain a level of energy and momentum through his sets is staggering. On the more lyrical side, the first piano trio volume from Eva Novoa on 577 Records with Drew Gress and Devon Gray is elegantly lovely, tinged with electronics from Gress, making me look forward to Volume 2. On the abstract side, the latest release from Eric La Casa's Swarming label, Parking, is a fascinating investigation into, of all spaces, parking garages in Paris and Melbourne, a composition rendered from free improvisations inside those garages by saxophonist Jean-Luc Guionnet and violinist Dan Warburton.

Friends & Neighbors (Roligheten / Johansson / Gronberg / Strom / Ostvang): Circles (Clean Feed)

An exuberant album of modern jazz from the Norwegian quintet of Andre Roligheten on tenor saxophone, Thomas Johansson on trumpet, Oscar Gronberg on piano, Jon Rune Strom on double bass and Tollef Ostvang on drums & percussion, their 6th full album of lyrically rich, energetic free jazz taking the 60's & 70s New Thing movement into new modern directions; excellent!

Elliott Sharp: SysOrk: Occam's Machete (zOaR Records)

Assembling a world-class ensemble of 24 string players drawing from the Quartets JACK, Sirius, Flux, and Bergamot, here performing as SysOrk, Elliott Sharp's large-scale algorithmic composition provides simple instructions to the participants, creating a seething sonic tapestry of shifting, swirling tones and acoustic drones, exceptionally immersive and detailed.

PNY Quintet (Swell / Brown / Edelin / Giron / Betsch): Over The Wall (RogueArt)

While NY trombonist Steve Swell and alto saxophonist Rob Brown were in Paris, flutist Michel Edelin, who has recorded and performed with Swell over more than a decade, organized this session with Paris-based American ex-pats, drummer John Betsch and bassist Peter Giron, recording three Swell compositions, two by Brown, one from Edelin and four collective improvisations; magnifique!

Mezei, Szilard: Always The Same (Not Two)

In September of 2002, Szilard Mezei performed a series of 5 consecutive, unaccompanied solo concerts in Hungary improvising on viola, this album presenting two of these captivating and magnificent performances, balancing impressive technique with his ability to captivate through stunning passages of exquisite lyricism and thematic development, an incredible achievement.

Novoa, Eva: Novoa / Gress / Gray Trio Vol.1 [VINYL] (577 Records)

Spanish pianist Eva Novoa leads the trio of Drew Gress on bass and Devon Gray on drums in her second 577 album, and the first of two volumes with this trio, in a solid and lyrical traditional piano trio album of melodic themes, masterly trio interplay, swinging touches and strong grooves, augmented at times with a subtle electronic tapestry of modular synthesis provided by Gress.

Guionnet / La Casa / Samartzis / Warburton: Parking (Collection Paris) (Swarming)

Two improvisations by saxophonist Jean-Luc Guionnet & violinist Dan Warburton recorded in Paris & Melbourne parking garages 14 years apart, registering the behavior and characteristics of environmental and instrumental sound within these unique spaces, edited by Eric La Casa and Philip Samartzis as a 4-channel master by synchronizing two sets of independent stereo recordings.

More Life on Mars:

Since my update on November 30, 2023 about in-stock albums for Mars Williams, we have added a number of new albums and extended our collection of previous releases. A number of additions to our catalog will be sold to the benefit of Mars' family in an arrangement we have made with Chicago's Aerophonics Records, restocking the Ayler Xmas albums and Boneshaker's Fake Music, with a few more to come. Other new additions to Mars' legacy comes from Corbett vs. Dempsey, who have released an archive of three live recordings from NRG Ensemble, the group William's carried forward after Hal Russell's passing, an excellent and energetic duo with Hamid Drake from 1996, and a 2012 trio with bassist Darin Gray and drummer Chris Corsano.

Here's the full set of what we have in stock currently. And here's hoping that more gems emerge from William's exception life as a musician and leader!

Chicago Reed Quartet (Mazzarella / Rempis / Williams / Vandermark): Western Automatic (Aerophonic)

Four generations of Chicago saxophonists--Dave Rempis, Ken Vandermark, Mars Williams, and Nick Mazzarella--come together in an interactive saxophone quartet with each player providing 2 compositions of well-developed, powerful, engaging free and lyrical jazz.

Boneshaker (Mars Williams / Paal Nilssen-Love / Kent Kessler): Unusual Words (Soul What Records)

A CD intended to sell at concerts from Mars Williams' own Soul What Records label, a studio recording in 2012 from the powerhouse trio of Chicago multi-reedist Mars Williams, in-demand Norwegian drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love, and Chicago bassist Kent Kessler, running the gamut from furious blowing to introspective interaction.

Boneshaker: Thinking Out Loud [VINYL-DAMAGED] (Trost Records)

The third album from this international trio of powerful improvisers--Norwegian drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love, Chicago bassist Kent Kessler, and Chicago/NY saxophonist Mars William-- in four odysseys that take the listener from introspective playing to out and out blowing, using technique to serve their incredible dialog.

Williams, Mars / Vasco Trilla: Spiracle (Not Two)

A truly unique duo album of sax and drums from Chicago reedist Mars Williams and Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla, using their immense technical skills to pivot reflective and meditative playing around exuberant free jazz spirit, maintaining a sense of journey and sonic introspection through unusual and extended technique; a beautifully balanced album.

Williams, Mars / Hamid Drake: I Know You Are But What Am I? (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

The second of three archival albums from late saxophonist Mars Williams' vaults, this 1996 recording is a rare duet with Chicago drummer Hamid Drake, and is also one of the first concerts of the Empty Bottle Jazz and Improvised Music series, a diverse set of four improvisations marked by energetic enthusiasm, doubling of reeds, and wild playing from both.

NRG Ensemble (directed by Mars Williams): Hold That Thought (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

The 1st of three archival albums from saxophonist Mars Williams' vaults, this 1996 concert in Utrecht with the NRG Ensemble--the band that Williams' carried forward after Hal Russell's passing in 1992--in an unrestrained concert of original material from Williams and fellow saxophonist Ken Vandermark, with Kent Kessler on bass, Steve Hunt on drums, and Brian Sandstrom on bass, guitar & trumpet.

Boneshaker (Williams / Nilssen-Love / Kessler): Fake Music (Soul What Records)

Masterful, fervent free jazz from trans-Atlantic trio of Mars Williams on saxophones, Kent Kessler on bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, captured live at Elastic Arts, in Chicago in 2017 for three impressive collective improvisations of intense energy, articulate and extended expression, and ecstatic improvisation in an exceptional and cohesive concert.

Williams / Gray / Corsano: Elastic (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

The 3rd of three archival albums from saxophonist Mars Williams' vaults, in an impressive 2012 concert of collective improvisation that brings forward both lyrical and interactive free playing from the masterful trio of Mars Williams on reeds & toys, Darin Gray on bass and Chris Corsano on drums, originally released in part digitally and here expanded to both sets from the evening.

Williams, Mars presents (w/ Berman / Lonberg-Holm / Baker / Kessler / Sandstrom / Hunt): An Ayler Xmas: The Music of Albert Ayler & Songs of Christmas (Soul What Records)

Chicago saxophonist Mars Williams directs his Albert Ayler tribute band, Witches and Devils, to merge Ayler-esque compositions with Christmas songs, performed by Josh Berman (cornet) Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), Jim Baker (keys, viola), Kent Kessler (bass), Brian Sandstrom (bass, guitar, trumpet); an unexpected and welcome present for your free jazz festivities!

Williams, Mars presents : An Ayler Xmas Volume 2 (ESP)

After releasing "An Ayler Xmas: The Music of Albert Ayler & Songs of Christmas" on Chicago saxophonist Mars Williams' Soul What? Label, ESP approached him for a 2nd volume, resulting in this joyful and quirky holiday record with contributions from Josh Berman, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Kent Kessler, Jeb Bishop, Christof Kurzmann, Didi Kern, Thomas Berghammer, Steve Hunt, Jim Baker and Hermann Stangassinger.

Williams, Mars Presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol.5 (Astral Spirits / Soul What Records)

This year's An Ayler Xmas is the 5th in the series from saxophonist Mars Williams, mashing holiday classics with works by saxophonist Albert Ayler, with the amazing sextet of Josh Berman on cornet, Jim Baker on piano, viola & Arp Synth, Brian Sandstrom on bass, guitar & trumpet, Steve Hunt on drums, Peter Maunu on violin and Kent Kessler or Krzysztof Pabian on bass.

Williams, Mars Presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4: Chicago vs. NYC [VINYL] (Astral Spirits / Soul What Records)

This year's An Ayler Xmas, the 4th in the series from saxophonist Mars Williams, expands to a double CD with recordings from two bands: Josh Berman, Jim Baker, Kent Kessler, Brian Sandstrom & Steve Hunt (Chicago); and Steve Swell, Hilliard Greene, Chris Corsano, Nels Cline & Fred Lonberg-Holm (NYC); in incredible free jazz mashups and bash-ups of Holiday favorites.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 29, 2024: New @ Squidco:
PNY Quintet (Swell/Brown/Edelin/Giron/Betsch) -Over The Wall [CD] (RogueArt)
Friends & Neighbors (Roligheten/Johansson/Gronberg/Strom/Ostvang) -Circles [CD] (Clean Feed)
Old Mountain (feat Tony Malaby) -Another State of Rhythm [CD] (Clean Feed)
The Easter Quartet (Weissenfels/Filliano/Grassi/Capp) -Light End [CD] (Not Two)
Szilard Mezei -Always The Same [CD] (Not Two)
Elliott Sharp -SysOrk: Occam's Machete [CD] (zOaR Records)
Mars Williams/Hamid Drake -I Know You Are But What Am I? [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
NRG Ensemble (directed by Mars Williams) -Hold That Thought [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Williams/Gray/Corsano -Elastic [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

February 29, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Hans Koch & Christine Abdelnour - FFlair (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd.) by Jeph Jerman.

February 28, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Alcorn, Susan / Septeto del Sur - Canto (Relative Pitch) by Brian Olewnick.

February 27, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Eva Novoa -Novoa/Gress/Gray Trio Vol.1 [VINYL] (577 Records)
Eva Novoa -Novoa/Gress/Gray Trio Vol.1 [CDR] (577 Records)
dis/con/sent (Petzold/Rodrigues/Rodrigues/Bauer) -Munchen [CD] (Creative Sources)
Dorner/Rodrigues/Kim/Flinn -Chess Music [CD] (Creative Sources)
Variable Geometry Orchestra -There's Always Someone Who Says No [CD] (Creative Sources)
Taylor/Serries -Obsidian [CD] (Creative Sources)
Rodrigues/Parrinha/Flak/Levine -Quadruple Quadrature Questions [CD] (Creative Sources)
Rodrigues/Lonberg-Holm/Hencleeday/Oliveira -Uncommon Statement [CD] (Creative Sources)
Guionnet/La Casa/Samartzis/Warburton -Parking (Collection Paris) [CD] (Swarming)

February 26, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Butcher - The Very Fabric (Hitorri) by Brian Olewnick.

This week I had the joy of a shoulder injury, of course on my dominant right side; if you read last week's entry you'll surmise that my pain was from moving a tremendous number of boxes to the vinyl show we participated in last weekend. So age is balanced with the pleasure of that show, spreading the wealth of great music to interesting and interested customers! The pain briefly delayed a number of projects as I took time to rest, let a cortisone shot mellow into my shoulder, and I actually took the time to listen to my body for a change.

I also listened to a lot of great music while healing, starting with the 10 new Creative Sources albums that arrived, including some exquisite chamber-oriented free jazz in two string quartets from dis/con/sent, a great lowercase improv quartet with Axel Dorner, and albums with personal favorite CS improvisers including Bruno Parrinham, João Madeira, Flak, Dirk Serries, Benedict Taylor, and the latest Variable Geometry Orchestra release.

While not everything is on the site yet, we did receive the latest from Not Two — The Easter Quartet album, and Szilard Mezei — plus much-needed restocks including the recent Williams, Mars / Vasco Trilla duo. We also caught up with Intakt, this week's mailing list including four new albums, particularly Ingrid Laubrock's fantastic Monochromes and Sylvie Courvousier's sublime Chimaera with Wadada Leo Smith & Nate Wooley (destined to be in my top lists for 2024), Anna Webber's investigation into just intonation (balanced by the more "modern" equal temperament); and James Brandon Lewis' exemplary Transfiguration, reminding me of his relationship and influence by Coltrane (read his essay in the NY Times article 5 Minutes That Will Make You Love John Coltrane to see his influence and enthusiasm for 'Trane).

I also took the time out to watch the fantastic DVD from the reissue of the Cassiber box (more below), which I fault myself for having never viewed when the box originally came out. >Up next are Listen! Foundation albums, Ambiances Magnetiques' latest, plus Blaser Music, Umlaut, and Elliot Sharp's zOaR label, particularly the Occam's Machete album, and a long list of other releases you can see on our Upcoming Releases page.

Rock in Opposition:

Over the last few months we took on a few significant albums in our "Rock in Opposition" category, which is typically a category that's slow to fill in our catalog. R.I.O. is a vague term that came out of a 1978 festival in Britain hosted by Henry Cow. The bands who performed shared a sort of aesthetic and definitely sophistication, but with dissimilar results in their band sounds. The "manifesto" presented at the original festival speaks more of band's taking control of their destiny, the self-distribution of their music, a clarion call that has had a great influence for many artists over the decades, freeing them from the hegemony of major labels.

Over the years the term has been stretched (and tortured) to fit many descriptions of musical approaches, to the point where I couldn't really tell you if a modern band fits into the aesthetic or intention of the 70's RIO bands. As you'll see below, I recently characterized the Discus band, Eclectic Maybe Band, as RIO when I cataloged it, and Discus' other band, Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere, fits the mold. I also characterized the Bay Area collective band directed by percussionist Moe! Staiano, Surplus 1980, intp the RIO category, and finding Fred Frith among the participants strengthens the characterization; but I'm not certain I would argue the point in a debate.

All that said, there are some certainties with R.I.O. and its extensions, with bands like News from Babel or Art Bears fitting snugly inside. I further extend the work of Fred Frith into the mold, regardless of how far-ranging his work is. But to my point, two box set reissues and a double LP brought forth this poorly structured treatise on RIO.

First is Chris Cutler: Compositions And Collaborations 1972-2022: In A Box. Cutler is the loudest voice in the formation of the RIO concept, not surprising given his articulate ability to explain the challenges of creating art, and his follow-through in creating the label Recommended Records and the associated distribution service. Over 10 CDs and an audio DVD, this box set shows the wealth of Cutler's inquisitive projects and his incredible collaborations. In particular, CDs 4 & 5 contain material that fits squarely in the RIO concept, including Henry Cow, Art Bears, Duck & Cover, Aksak Maboul, The Work, and notably, Cassiber.

To the second; according to Wikipedia, Cassiber took their name from a Slavic slang word for a note or message smuggled out of prison. Given the band's socially conscious attitude, and Cutler's sublabel Points East that brought music out from behind the iron curtain before Perestroika, this makes perfect sense. In 2013 Cutler's Recommended Records issued the Cassiber box — 6 CDs, 1 DVD and a Book — which went out of print far too quickly. The box included the core albums from the band — Man or Monkey; Beauty in the Beast; Perfect Worlds; A Face We All Know — along with unreleased live material and a DVD of 3 live concerts.

I was and remain a Cassiber fan, one of the most unique 80s bands that bridged rock, experimental and improvised forms with demanding and thought-provoking lyrical content. Originally meeting in 1977 around the, sadly undocumented, "So-Called Left-Radical Brass Band", guitarist and vocalist Christop Anders and saxophonist Alfred Harth continued on to release a fantastic pre-Cassiber album titled Es herrscht Uhu im Land which included composer/keyboardist Heiner Goebbels. Harth & Goebbels had a then-current duo, so they enlisted Anders and Chris Cutler's monumental drumming skills to fill out the band, originally titled "Kassiber", transformed to Cassiber by the time they released their first album Man or Monkey.

The rest is history, now encapsulated in this essential box set. For me, the strongest appeal of the box comes from both the additional material on CD, which includes collaborations with Duck & Cover and Casssix, and three live concerts. Of the concerts, 18 Deutsches Jazz Festival, Frankfurt Am Main, October 1982 is professionally recorded and best shows the power of the band, invoking the energy of, say, Einstürzende Neubauten, inside their unique approach to improvised transformations between songs. It's also fun to watch a younger Chris Cutler as a kind of bad-boy rocker using a wealth of tools and toys to support the music; Christoph Anders with hammer in hand banging on a set of wrenches and a metal sheet makes a great moment as well!

Last, Fred Frith's double LP release Guitar Solos/Fifty is a gift to fans of the original album or the guitarist. Frith explains that the original album, which was released in 1974 as a complement to Virgin Records signing Henry Cow (a marriage definitely not made in heaven), was intended to be a promotion for both Frith and the band, as Virgin thought that solo guitar albums were "cool". In this case Virgin must have been startled at what they got, as Frith explains: "I gave myself two weeks in which I would try to completely redefine for myself what I thought a guitar could do." That reinvention is a remarkable album of inventive, creative, definitely non-Rock guitar solos as most thought of the rock guitar in 1974.

The album has stood the test of time and sounds as exciting to my ears as it must have in 1974 (I didn't encounter the album until many years later in the 1990s). For this reissue the German Week-End Records label asked Frith to create a complement to the album using a similar setup to the original. The results bring 50 years of experience to his still incredibly inventive approach to the guitar, a unique voice to the instrument played like no other guitarist, but an influence on a tremendous number of players over the last 50.

Cutler, Chris: Compositions And Collaborations 1972-2022: In A Box [10 CD / DVD / BOOKLET BOX SET] (Recommended Records)

An amazing collection and reflection on the work of percussionist, composer and connector Chris Cutler of Henry Cow fame and founder of the highly influential Recommended Records label and distribution service, through 10 CDs, 1 DVD and two books of documentation, artwork, photographs, published and unpublished texts in a sturdy box, with over five hours of unreleased materials.

Eclectic Maybe Band: Bars Without Measures (Discus)

Creating structured works from real time improvisations, Guy Seger's (Univers Zero) large ensemble of absolutely impressive players breaks down to smaller grouping to record the layers of each piece, which Seger then uses as raw material for each finished piece, as elements of rock, jazz, composed, and experimental forms merge into accomplished and engaging compositions.

Frith, Fred: Guitar Solos/Fifty [VINYL 2 LPs] (Week-End Records)

While still a member of Henry Cow, guitarist Fred Frith released his first solo album simply titled Guitar Solos in 1974, a remarkable album of expression through preparations, treatments and effects; 50 years later Frith expands on that album with new compositions using a similar setup as the original, paired in this 2-LP release with the remastered original album.

Surplus 1980: Illusion of Consistency [VINYL + CD + DOWNLOAD] (Surplus Industries)

Composed using an "exquisite corpse" method during the pandemic, where each player provided a partially complete track with instructions to expand their concept, enlisting an incredible set of musicians across the US & Europe, directed by Moe! Staiano, including Jesse Quattro, Fred Frith, Carla Kihlstedt, GW Sok, Amy X Neuburg, Darren Johnston, &c &c.

Cassiber: The Cassiber Box redux [6 CDs, 1 DVD and Book] (Recommended Records)

Reissuing the 2013 box set of the 1980s UK/Euro improvising rock band Cassiber, including their 4 remastered studio albums + 2 additional CDs, a 2 hour DVD, and a 32-page color book, revealing an amazing band merging experimental rock, fringe jazz, punk, pop, plunderphonics, improvisation, & musique concrete with an energetic and complex form of studio composition - superb!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 22, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Sylvie Courvoisier (feat. Wadada Leo Smith/Christian Fennesz/Nate Wooley/Drew Gress/Kenny Wollesen) -Chimaera [2 CDs] (Intakt)
James Lewis Brandon Quartet -Transfiguration [CD] (Intakt)
Ingrid Laubrock (w/ Jon Irabagon/Zeena Parkins/Tom Rainey) -Monochromes [CD] (Intakt)
Anna Webber (O'Farrill/Roberts/Stemeseder/Mok) -Shimmer Wince [CD] (Intakt)
Ches Smith -Laugh Ash [CD] (Pyroclastic Records)
Catherine Sikora/Susan Alcorn -Filament [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Extra -Spiral/Athletics [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
L'eclipse Nue -Degradation Bliss [VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

February 22, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Florian Stoffner / John Butcher / Chris Corsano - Braids (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd.) by Ken Waxman.

February 20, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Fred Frith -Guitar Solos/Fifty [VINYL 2 LPs] (Week-End Records)
Phil Durrant/Daniel Thompson -Live/Studio [CD] (Bead)
Impetus Group (Serries/Webster/Verbruggen/Verhoeven/Jackson)) -Density Dots [CD] (Klanggalerie)
Cassiber -The Cassiber Box redux [6 CDs, 1 DVD and Book] (Recommended Records)
Surplus 1980 -Illusion of Consistency [VINYL + CD + DOWNLOAD] (Surplus Industries)
Keiji Haino/Jim O'Rourke/Oren Ambarchi -With Pats On The Head, Just One Too Few Is Evil, One Too Many Is Good That's All It Is [VINYL 3 LPs] (Black Truffle)
Djll/Perkins -Kinda [CD] (Artifact Recordings)
Robert Cahen -La nef des fous [VINYL] (Recollection GRM)
Horacio Vaggione -Schall/Rechant [VINYL] (Recollection GRM)

February 19, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Joëlle Léandre & Paul Lovens - Off Course! (Fou Records) by Jeph Jerman.

A brief entry this week, and early, as we prepare for a vinyl record show here in Wilmington this weekend. Most of the week has been absorbed by purchasing, preparing for the next big wave of additions to our catalog, and it's a pretty exciting list! Below I add the complement to last week's upcoming list, repeating the Ambiances Magnetiques as we added to more new albums to that list. We still managed to finish cataloging on 18 new albums, and launch the sale detailed in the next section.

For those who read the blog regularly, the other task occupying our time this week is our Winter Hat Sale, authorized by ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. This sale puts 90 (!) albums on sale at the ridiculously low prices of $6.95 for single CDs, $7.95 for 2-CD sets. This is the lowest price they've ever allowed us to set, and the list of albums is absolutely impressive. For those curious about artists on the label, this is a great opportunity to check them out, and to help the label recoup for the next round of new releases on ezz-thetics assertive release schedule. Some of the albums are limited in stock, so it's worth a long look and a deep listen while the sale is active. The sale starts on February 15 and runs for one week through Thursday, February 22.

Ordered & Upcoming:

Derome, Jean: L Chaleur De La Pensee (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Quatuor Bozzini: Jurg Frey: String Quartet No. 4 (Collection QB)

Ensemble SuperMusique : Musiques Emeraude (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Joane Hetu / Ensemble SuperMusique: Monnomest (Ambiances Jazz)

Andre Duchesne: Ch'val (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Christof Migone, Alexandre St-Onge / Undo: undoundone (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Ensemble SuperMusique: Le fil d'Ariane (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Chorale Joker, Ensemble SuperMusique: Demantibule·es (Ambiances Magnetiques)



Rodrigues / Parrinha / Flak / Levine: Quadruple Quadrature Questions (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues / Torres / Santos: Impulses and Signals (Creative Sources)

Schindler / Eriksson / Engl / Neuser: ImproX #1_Sound Poems to the Risk (Creative Sources)

Feichtmair / Kolibri / Krist / Novotny / Proll / Winter / Winter: Adschi (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues / Rodrigues: Intenso como o Mar (Creative Sources)

Loris Binot / Violaine Gestalder (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues / Lonberg-Holm / Hencleeday / Oliveira: Uncommon Statement (Creative Sources)

Dorner / Rodrigues / Kim / Flinn: Chess Music (Creative Sources)

Petzold / Rodrigues / Rodrigues / Bauer: Munchen (Creative Sources)

Quintans / Rogers / Lopez: Future Folk (Creative Sources)

Variable Geometry Orchestra: There's Always Someone Who Says No (Creative Sources)

Rodrigues / Parrinha / Madeira: Into the Wood (Creative Sources)

Bozek / Takahashi: SADOIL (Creative Sources)

Taylor / Serries: Obsidian (Creative Sources)



The Easter Quartet (Weissenfels / Filliano / Grassi / Capp): Light Ende (Not Two)

Szilard Mezei: Always The Same (Not Two)



Impetus Group (Dirk Serries): Density Dots (Klanggalerie)

Cassiber: The Cassiber Box ReduCD / DVD BOX SET] (Recommended Records)



FRITH, FRED: Guitar Solos/Fifty [VINYL 2 LPs] (Week-End Records)

HAINO, KEIJI/JIM O'ROURKE/OREN AMBARCHI: With Pats On The Head, Just One Too Few Is Evil, One Too Many Is Good That's All It Is [VINYL 3 LPs] (Black Truffle)

Cahen, Robert: La nef des fous [VINYL] (Recollection GRM)

Vaggione, Horacio: Schall / Rechant [VINYL] (Recollection GRM)



Hevleticus (Samuel Blaser / Daniel Humair / Heiri Kanzig): Our Way Blaser Music/Blaser Music

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 15, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Fully Celebrated Orchestra (Hobbs/Bynum/Ayers/Gray/Shanko) -Sob Story [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Reid/Edwards/Coudoux - [CD] (Relative Pitch)
Isabelle Duthoit/Franz Hautzinger -Dans le Morvan [CD] (Relative Pitch)
[ism] (Pat Thomas/Joel Grip/Aontonin Gerbal) -Maua [CDR] (577 Records)
Frank Denyer/Octandre Ensemble -Screens [CD] (Another Timbre)
Martin Arnold -Flax [CD] (Another Timbre)
Star City Survivor -Wilderness [CD] (Soul City Sounds)
Tamarisk (Carter/Menestres/Weathers) -House of the People, Property is Theft [CD] (Editions Glomar)
Paquet X Landry -Planter du sel [CD] (Tour de Bras)

February 15, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Giovanni Di Domenico / Silvia Tarozzi / Emmanuel Holterbach - L'Occhio Del Vedere (Elsewhere) by Thomas Mellish.

February 13, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Bill Evans Trio - At The Village Vanguard 1961 Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records, Ltd.) by John Eyles.

February 13, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Terton (Belogenis/Dunn/Sawyer) -Outer, Inner, Secret [CD] (Tzadik)
Nate Wooley -Moths [CD] (Editions Verde)
DUOT & ZARM Ensemble (Cirera/Prats/Zingaro/Alves/Mitzlaff/Rosso) -DUOT with Strings [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Vuoto Bersagli (Carlo Mascolo/Giacomo Mongelli/Pino Montecalvo) -Vuoto Bersagli [CD] (FMR)
Andrew Bazzicalupo -The Ball I Threw Has Not Yet Reached The Ground [CD] (Tour de Bras)
Hollow Deck -Over East [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tripticks Tapes)
Tom Djll -Thistle [CD] (Soul On Rice)
+DOG+ -To Share Forever With You [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
T. Mikawa x Victoria Shen -Personality Chrysler [CDR] (Love Earth Music)

February 12, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: John Butcher / Eddie Prevost - High Laver Levitations Vol 1: Unearthed (Matchless Records) by Brian Olewnick.

This week was dedicated to catching up with purchases for new releases, of which there are a great number. There are still a good number of labels that we're setting up, and next week should have another report on upcoming titles. For now, I've listed what is already ordered and on the way, which you can see in the Ordered & Upcoming section below. In a nutshell, we have new releases coming from Another Timbre, Swarming, Corbett vs. Dempsey, Aural Terrains, Clean Feed, Relative Pitch, Pyroclastics, Soul City Sounds, and Ambiances Magnetiques. As each set arrives they'll go first into our Just In Stock Section as they await full cataloging.

The rest of the week was spent moving a large number of boxes around the office and planning for Wilmington Record Show on February 17, where we'll be offering some special prices on selected vinyl albums from our catalog, along with plenty of surprises and albums not listed on our website. If you're in the North Carolina coastal area you should make a point of coming by, the show has a great number of vendors, is located at an excellent local brewery, with food trucks and djs; plus the weather is forecast to be in the 70's!

Mats & Hidros

This week I finished the cataloging on Mats Gustafsson's latest in his Hidros series, Hidros 9. Each of the albums in the progression have been more fascinating than the previous, which is saying a lot, as Hidros 1 starts the series with a startlingly original album of conducted improvisation.

I took the time out to make sense of the series, which started in 1997 when Gustafsson formed his Nu Ensemble, or more properly, Nu-Ensemblen, with a work for nine improvisers, tape and conductor. Commissioned by The Swedish Broadcasting Corporation P2, this started in motion a set of morphing concepts and ensemble structures to interpret Gustafsson's evolving concepts. It's not clear if the title of the series derives from the Greek mythological create Hydra,a mythical serpent with many heads, but it's an apt description of the diversity expressed in each performance.

Each Hidros is developed with a specific configuration of performers, and Gustafsson has access to some of the finest improvisers and contemporary performers. Check the participants of the first Hidros as a prime example:

Axel Dörner - trumpet
Gunter Christmann - cello, trombone
Per-Ake Holmlander - tuba, cimbasso, aluminium tube
Mats Gustafsson - soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones, fluteophone, French flageolet, conducting
Fredrik Ljungkvist - tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinet
Fred Longberg-Holm - cello
Sten Sandell - piano, prepared piano, pipe organ
Barry Guy - bass
Raymond Strid - drums

At the time the comparison was made to the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, and it's an easy stretch to see Gustafsson expanding the working band Gush with Sten Sandell and Raymond Strid into a similar organization, particularly finding Barry Guy among the ensemble players.

Hidros 2 is the least documented of the series, first presented in 1999 and presented as a graphic score at his 2019 for a performance at Trondheim of a new work titled Hidros o.T.; I personally would be fascinated to hear a recording of Hidro 2, but to my knowledge there are no recordings of that work.

In contrast, Hidros 3, dedicated to Patti Smith, is well documented, recorded live October 9th, 2000 at Ystads Konstmuseum during Kulturbro 2000 and performed with Sonic Youth in a 9-part work for voice, processed voice, and contrabass sax. The guitar-heavy version is unique to the series, and Kim Gordon's voice adds an unusual character to the concept.

Hidros 4 happens the next year, performed live at Culturen, Västeräs, Schweden, May 10, 2001 with another exceptional electroacoustic version of the ensemble. Returning are Axel Dörner and Per-Ake Holmlander, the complement brining stellar improvisers including Carlos Zingaro, Thomas Lehn, Paul Lovens, Daunik Lazro and Wilber de Joode. This album is available as a digital-only release on Trost, and is well worth adding to the collection; I hope one day it, as with Hidros 2, will be released on CD, or in a box set collecting all the Hidros series.

Mats Gustafsson - saxophone
Axel Dörner - trumpet
Sebi Tremontana - trombone
Per-Ake Holmlander - tuba
Daunik Lazro - saxophon
David Stackenäs - guitar
Thomas Lehn - live electronics
Carlos Zingaro - violin
Wilber de Joode - bass
Paul Lovens - drums

Hidros 5 is a bit of a mystery, performed in 2004 in a concert at Blæst, Gustafsson with the Trondheim Improvisation Ensemble in a performance of three works by Gustafsson: "PLUGS" (2000), "Hidros 5" (2003) and "Bird Notes" (2002/03). Again there appears to be no recording of this entry in the series, or explanation for why Nu Ensemble is replaced with the Trondheim Improvisation Ensemble, which was a then-new ensemble that may have been represented by as many as 30 musicians.

Hidros 6 takes the subtitle Knockin' in another large ensemble of 13 players, including Joe McPhee, Paal Nilssen-Love, Peter Evans and Dieb13. This version was recorded i2013 at Manggha, Krakow, and exists on CD, as 2 LPs and in a complete 5-CD version.

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten-Bass
Jon Rune Strøm-Bass
Christer Bothén-Bass Clarinet, Guimbri
Paal Nilssen-Love-Drums
Mats Gustafsson (tracks: A to D)
Agustí Fernández-Piano, Organ
Mats Gustafsson-Saxophone [Slide Sax], Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Bass Saxophone [Bass Sax], Electronics, Piano [Piano Mate], Conductor [Conduction], Composer
Joe McPhee-Trumpet [Pocket Trumpet], Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Organ [Space Organ]
Peter Evans-Trumpet [Trumpets]
Per-Åke Holmlander-Tuba
Dieb13-Turntables
Kjell Nordeson-Vibraphone [Vibes], Drums, Idiophone [Flexatone], Glockenspiel
Stine Janvin Motland-Vocals

Hidros 7, subtitled Zap and dedicated to Frank Zappa, completed a set of performances In Stockholm, Poznan, Krakow, Warsaw And Wels Unlimited in 2016, first premiered in Sardinia. There doesn't seem to be a recorded version, but there is a YouTube video of the Wels Unlimited version in Austria:

From the video, the lineup was:

Mats Gustafsson-slide and baritone sax, conductor
Mariam Wallentin-voice
Anders Nyqvist-trumpets
Joe McPhee-trumpet, alto sax and space organ
Agustí Fernández-piano and organ
Kjell Nordeson-vibraphon
dieb13-turntables
Per Äke Holmlander-tuba
Jon Rune Strøm-bass
lngebrigt Håker Flaten-electric bass
Paal Nilssen-Love-drums

Hidros 8, subtitled Heal, was recorded in 2016 at DE Studio, in Antwerp, Belgium, on November 23rd, 2016, but not released on record until 2022 on Trost Records. Here the lineup was:

Anna Hogberg-alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
Mats Gustafsson-baritone saxophone, conduction
Susana Santos Silva-trumpet
Per Ake Holmlander-tuba
Hedvig Mollestad-guitar
Dieb13-turntables
Christof Kurzmann-lloopp, voice
Massimo Pupillo-bass
Gert-Jan Prins-drums, electronics
Ivar Loe Bjornstad-drums

A long break ensues until 2022, with Hidros 9, Mirrors, recorded at the Avant Art Festival, in Warsaw, Poland, on October 1st, 2022. Another large ensemble and very rich with electronics, this recording has Gustafsson only in the conduction role, but ably made up for by saxophonist Colin Stetson, and adding improvising rock guitarist Hedvig Mollestad to the mix.

Anders Nyqvist-trumpets
Colin Stetson-amplified bass saxophone
Hedvig Mollestad-guitar
Per-Ake Holmlander-tuba
Jerome Noetinger-revox tape machines
Dieb13-turntables
Mats Gustafsson-conductor
Eira Bjornstad Foss-violin
Matilda Rolfsson-bass drum
Lars Ove Fossheim-guitar
Michael F. Duch-bass
Ovind Engen-cello
Kyrre Laastad-drums, electronics
Nicolas Leirtro-bass
Daniel Formo-organ, prepared piano
Ida Lovli Hidle-accordion
Teoniki Rozynek-violin
Dominika Korzeniecka-bass drum
Szymon Wojcik-guitar, electronics
Rafal Rozalski-bass
Magdalena Bojanowicz-cello
Qba Janicki-drums, electronics
Pawel Romanczuk-bass
Barbara Drazkov-organ, prepared piano
Zbigniew Chojnacki-accordion

No doubt there are twists and turns that I've missed in my research, but I've been thrilled in my investigation as I've explored the evolution of Gustafsson's project. Last week we announced the latest Gush release with Sten Sandell and Raymond Strid, and this week we also added his EE Opus One album with his Ensemble E, another unique approach to unusual improv & contemporary ensembles. Alongside the many renderings of Fire!, his project with Johan Berthling, or The Thing with Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love, Gustafsson continues to be one of the most innovative and fascinating figures of the international improv community. Personally I'm eager for Hidros 10, and everything he releases inbetween!

Gush (Gustafsson / Sandell / Strid): Afro Blue (Trost Records)

Recorded in 1998 but sounding absolutely modern, exuberant and often explosively inspired, this live recording at Jazzclub Fasching in Stockholm brings the then 10-year collaboration of drummer Raymond Strid, pianist Sten Sandel and saxophonist Mats Gustafsson to ecstatic heights, bridging free jazz forms and rendering Coltranes "Afro Blues" with intense passion.

Gustafsson, Mats / Ensemble E: EE Opus One (Trost Records)

Merging contemporary and traditional instruments, including the spilapipa (a fipple flute), hardanger fiddle, the Bilgoraj suka (a vertical fiddle), alongside prepared piano, organ, trumpet, tuba, baritone sax & voice, Mats Gustafsson's ensemble merges folk, experimental forms, improv & free jazz in a conduction shaped by the participants; absolutely unique & fascinating.

Gustafsson, Mats: Hidros 9 Mirrors (Trost Records)

Forming his NU Ensemble in 1997 to merge free-jazz, improv, noise and contemporary forms, Mats Gustafsson presented Hidros One for 9 improvisers, tape & conductor that same year, progressing over 25 years to this 9th conduction of the Hidros concept in his largest ensemble yet: 25 musicians in two 9-piece ensembles plus soloists, captured live at the 2022 Avant Art Festival in Warsaw, Poland.

Ordered & Upcoming:

Martin Arnold: Flax (Another Timbre)

Frank Denyer: Screens Another Timbre/Another Timbre



Jean-Luc Guionnet / Eric La Casa / Philip Samartzis / Dan Warburton: Parking (Collection Paris) (Swarming)



Lisa Cameron & Alex Cunningham: Chasms (Waveform Alphabet)

Tamarisk: House of the People, Property is Theft (Editions Glomar)



Terton (Belogenis / Dunn / Sawyer): Outer, Inner, Secret (Tzadik)



Rebeka Rusjan Zajc: Prelude (Clean Feed)

Old Mountain feat Tony Malaby: Another State of Rhythm (Clean Feed)

Scheen Jazzorkester & Cortex: Frameworks - Music by Thomas Johansson (Clean Feed)

Jonas Cambien: Maca Conu (Clean Feed)

Giuseppe Doronzo / Andy Moor / Frank Rosaly: Futuro Ancestrale (Clean Feed)

Friends & Neighbors: Circles (Clean Feed)

Jim Baker / Steve Hunt / Jakob Heinemann: Horizon Scanners (Clean Feed)

Joana Sa: A Body as Listening (Clean Feed)



Isabelle Duthoit & Franz Hautzinger: Dans le Morvan (Relative Pitch)

Fully Celebrated Orchestra (Hobbs / Bynum / Ayers / Gray / Shanko): Sob Story (Relative Pitch)

Reid / Edwards / Coudoux (Relative Pitch)

Catherine Sikora & Susan Alcorn: Filament (Relative Pitch)



Ches Smith: Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic Records)



Williams, Mars & Hamid Drake: I Know You Are But What Am I? (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

NRG Ensemble (directed by Mars Williams): Hold That Thought (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Williams / Gray / Corsano: Elastic (Corbett vs. Dempsey)



Star City Survivor: Wilderness Soul City Sounds/Soul City Sounds



Derome, Jean: L Chaleur De La Pensee (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Quatuor Bozzini: Jurg Frey: String Quartet No. 4 (Collection QB)

Ensemble SuperMusique : Musiques Emeraude (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Joane Hetu / Ensemble SuperMusique: Monnomest (Ambiances Jazz)

Andre Duchesne: Ch'val (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Christof Migone, Alexandre St-Onge / Undo: undoundone (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 8, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio (Fujii/Sugawa/Takemura) -Jet Black [CD] (Libra)
Kaze (Satoko Fujii/Natsuki Tamura/Christian Pruvost/Peter Orins) -Unwritten [CD] (Circum-Libra/Libra)
Mats Gustafsson -Hidros 9 Mirrors [CD] (Trost Records)
Mats Gustafsson/Ensemble E -EE Opus One [CD] (Trost Records)
Unknown Shore (Joao Pedro Viegas/Silvia Corda/Adriano Orru) w/ Carlos Zingaro & Helena Espvall) -The House Of Memory [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra/Small Unit -Spectral Fiction [CD] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Joel Futterman/Michael Wimberly -Innerpause [CD] (Creation Music)
Camilo Angeles/Joanna Mattrey -Hailstone Temple [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)
Elka Bong -Elektro Locution [VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

February 8, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Yarde / Wright / Wilkinson / Smith / Lynch / Chat - A Company of Others (Matchless Records) by Marc Medwin.

February 6, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Christoph Gallio/Dominic Lash/Mark Sanders -Live At Cafe Oto London [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Bill Evans (w/ LoFaro/Motian) -The Legendary Trio At Birdland 1960 Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Satoko Inoue/Jo Kondo -Presents Jo Kondo's Works for Piano, 2015-2020 [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Goncalo Almeida/Peter Jacquemyn -Encounters [CD] (FMR)
Erik Hove -Solo [CD] (Tour de Bras)
Makoto Kawashima/Mochizuki Harutaka/Michel Henritzi -Chinmoku Wa Ishikure Ni Yadoru Bouryoku [CD] (Trost Records)
Lisa Cameron/Alex Cunningham -Chasms [CD] (Waveform Alphabet)
Daniel Fishkin -Dark Listening [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tripticks Tapes)
Stella Silbert/Nat Baldwin -01.30.22 [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)
Wind Tide (Andrew Weathers/Gretchen Korsmo) -Blue Breaking Brown [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)

February 6, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Ornette Coleman Trio - At The Golden Circle Stockholm Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd.) by John Eyles.

February 5, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Omawi (Warelis / Govaert / De Joode) - Waive (Relative Pitch) by Ken Waxman.

Still catching up after my trip to New York City and the fun and rewarding results of our 21st Anniversary sale, we almost returned to "normal" in adding new albums to our site, setting up new purchases, and chatting with our intelligently informed customers.

In my next entry I'll have more information on our next winter purchase plan, but for now you can see the three recent ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd on our website, several new Trost releases, a set of new Notice Recordings tapes. We also activated the 2nd volume of 577's duo between Zoh Amba and Francisco Mela, caught up with Pi Recording with the superb 3-CD project from drummer/composer Kate Gentile, and marveled at the insane composition from Sunik Kim on Otoroku. Out Of Your Head Records released the vinyl version of drummer Tomas Fujiwara's excellent 2023 album Pith in a trio with cellist Tomeka Reid and vibraphonist Patricia Brennan. And John Zorn's latest Hermetic Organ is a tribute to Terry Riley, performed on the 7,466 pipe Æolian-Skinner organ at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

From the Trost releases, I'm personally impressed with the Gush release by Mats Gustafsson, Sten Sandell & Raymond Strid, Afro Blue, of a concert from 1998 that shows how forward thinking their playing was two decades ago. The title track is the the same as the Coltrane piece, a wonderful rendering of the piece, placed alongside great collective work from the trio. Which is not to denigrate the fantastic Rodrigo Amado album from his The Bridge with Alexander von Schlippenbach, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten and Gerry Hemingway, which include an interpretation of Albert Ayler's "Ghosts".

Also significant is the release of the incredible 4-LP box set from Polweschel (Werner Dafeldecker, Michael Moser, Martin Brandlmayr and Burkhard Beins), along with contributors John Butcher, Klaus Lang, Magda Mayas, Andrea Neumann and Peter Ablinger. This is extremely limited and it was a challenge to get a few copies in stock, so we don't expect them to last long, though we're currently trying to get additional copies in house.

Last but certainly not least, the UK Fataka label returns after many years of silence to release the excellent followup to their Exta album from the trio of John, Butcher, Thomas Lehn & John Tilbury, along with an album from the psychedelic duo of Angharad Davies & Phil Julian.

Armaroli, Sergio / Evan Parker: Dialog (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Recording remotely in a call-and-response, vibraphonist Sergio Armaroli and saxophonist Evan Parker resolved an issue of recording in the same physical space by interleaving recordings of solo improvisations recorded in response to each other's sequential recordings, Armaroli with the 6-part "Two Rooms One Vibraphone" and Parker with the 5-part "Interludes".

Shorter, Alan: Mephistopheles To Orgasm - Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

An exemplary set of explorative hard bop compositions from composer/trumpeter Alan Shorter, first Mephistopheles from Wayne Shorter's The All Seeing Eye in an octet with legends Wayne Shorter, James Spaulding, Freddie Hubbard, Grachan Moncur III, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter & Joe Chambers; and then Alan Shorter's own Orgasm with Gato Barbieri, Charlie Haden, Reggie Johnson, Muhammad Ali & Rashied Ali.

McLean, Jackie: Let Freedom Ring To Destination...Out! - Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Remastering and reissuing two vital Blue Note albums from alto saxophonist Jackie McLean: 1963's Let Freedom Ring in a quartet with Walter Davis (piano), Herbie Lewis (double bass) & Billy Higgins (drums); then 1964's Destination... Out! in a quintet with Grachan Moncur III (trombone), Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), Larry Ridley (double bass) and Roy Haynes (drums).

Zorn, John: The Hermetic Organ Volume 11 - For Terry Riley (Tzadik)

Performing on the 7,466 pipe Æolian-Skinner organ at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, one of the first American classic-style organs and among the largest church organs in the West, John Zorn continues his solo organ series with this tribute to Terry Riley in two extended improvisations, part of his 70th birthday celebration as part of Fred Barnes's concert series.

Gush (Gustafsson / Sandell / Strid): Afro Blue (Trost Records)

Recorded in 1998 but sounding absolutely modern, exuberant and often explosively inspired, this live recording at Jazzclub Fasching in Stockholm brings the then 10-year collaboration of drummer Raymond Strid, pianist Sten Sandel and saxophonist Mats Gustafsson to ecstatic heights, bridging free jazz forms and rendering Coltranes "Afro Blues" with intense passion.

Sakata, Akira / Entasis: Live In Europe 2022 [2 CDs] (Trost Records)

Three live performances in Greece, Italy and Brussels from saxophonist & multi-reedist Akira Sakata and his long-standing duo partner as Entasis — pianist Giovanni di Domenico — and based on location, with Giotis Damianidis on electric guitar, Petros Damianidis on double bass, and Stephanos Chytiris, Balazs Pandi or Aleksandar Skoric on drums.

Bridge, The (Amado / von Schlippenbach / Haker-Flaten / Hemingway): Beyond the Margins (Trost Records)

Assembled by Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado, this stellar quartet bridges nations with German pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, Norwegian double bass player Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, and American drummer Gerry Hemingway, presenting the extended, masterful collective title track, along with two shorter works, particularly revisiting Albert Ayler's "Ghosts".

Gentile, Kate (w/ Mitchell / Casss / Viner): Find Letter X [3 CDs] (Pi Recordings)

Three CDs in a beautifully constructed fold-out cross with liner notes and recording data from NY drummer Kate Gentile, in a set of 41 studio recordings with her working band of Matt Mitchell on piano & keys, Kim Cass on acoustic & electric bass and Jeremy Viner on reeds, each disc exploring a distinct yet connected approach to her fascinating compositions and group interaction.

Fujiwara, Tomas: Pith [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)

Drawing on the same trio heard on his RogueArt release, 7 Poets Trio, Boston-born Brooklyn-based composer and drummer Fujiwara presents a set of six sophisticated works along with one collective improvisation, utilizing the unique orchestration of vibraphonist Patricia Brennan and cellist Tomeka Reid to create a diverse set of highly rewarding recordings.

Kim, Sunik: Potential [VINYL] (Otoroku)

Manipulating orchestral elements via midi composition at physically impossible speeds, LA musician Sunik Kim unleashes two side-long works of synthetic mayhem organized in strangely consumable blocks, with collisions and breath-catching pauses until the commotion drops over the compositional cliff once again; reflecting our current chaotic society? Mayhap.

Polwechsel: Embrace [4 LP BOX SET] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)

The current Polwechsel quartet of Werner Dafeldecker, Michael Moser, Martin Brandlmayr and Burkhard Beins — merging improvisation and contemporary forms for outstandingly paced and conceptualized performance — are joined by luminaries John Butcher, Klaus Lang, Magda Mayas, Andrea Neumann and Peter Ablinger, released in a deluxe 4-LP box set with a 32-page booklet.

Schindler / Zwang Eriksson / Rehling: Ritual Sound Exposures (FMR)

The long-standing duo of German multi-reedist & brass player Udo Schindler and drummer Eric Zwang Eriksson are joined by percussionist Erwin Rehling (HAMMERLING) for the 4-part free and eclectically authoritative improvisatory work "Ritual Sound Exposure", recorded live at the music venue and bookstore BASIS_Klangraum at the Munich Community Arts Center.

Davies, Angharad / Phil Julian: Neutral Red (Fataka)

At the request of Fataka, amplified violinist Angharad Davies and electronic improviser Phil Julian met at Cate OTO in 2014 & 2018, the two exploiting their distinct approaches to free improvisation to perform these evolving works that ebb and flow in almost hallucinatory intensity while exploring the timbral potential of their unique instrumentation.

Butcher, John / Thomas Lehn / John Tilbury: Lights (Fataka)

Recorded for the release concert of their 2013 album Exta, the trio of John Butcher on saxophones, Thomas Lehn on analog synthesizer and John Tilbury on piano captured this extraordinary live concert at Cafe Oto in London, only the second time the group had performed together, recording in two extended sets but segmented into four exceptional and dramatic improvisations.

Mela, Francisco / Zoh Amba: Causa y Efecto, Vol. 2 (577 Records)

The second volume of powerful free playing and intimate conversation bringing together two New York-based improvisers, Cuban native drummer/percussionist Francisco Mela and Tennessee native reed & wind player Zoh Amba, both sharing a mountain region upbringing that brings a uniquely reflective quality to their playing, fortified by the exploratory NY improv scene.

Silber Media Droneuary Compilation 2024:

I'm very proud to have the lead track on Silber Media's Droneuary compilation! My piece, "Airless Mine Collapsed", is a part of series of ambient/minimal works I've been developing for the last 3 years, originally an early part of the series that I updated and expanded for this compilation.

Silber Media has been releasing the Droneuary series for a few years now, and I stand in excellent company of experimental sound artists including Carl Kruger, Electric Bird Noise, Bryce Eiman, and the mastermind behind this and a number of other excellent sound projects, Brian John Mitchell.

The album doesn't include any text information for each piece, but here's what I wrote for the submission:

"Airless Mine Collapsed" is an electroacoustic comprovisation, part of a series of ambient works intended for distracted listening. Seemingly static, the piece unfolds through long non-repeating harmonic structures, inter-frequency beats and acousmatic sources. The intention of the piece is to fill the environment with a subtle presence that shifts discretely over an extended time without drawing attention to itself. Absorb this sonic environment, but do not listen to it.

This piece was developed around a live improvisations using an extended sample set on Farrago, plus a Korg MS2000, a VSS30 sampler, SunVox software, and Looper Pro. Post improv editing adjusted levels and added transition points and concrete references, while the essence of the improvisation is retained.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

February 1, 2024: New @ Squidco:
The Bride (Amado/von Schlippenbach/Haker-Flaten/Hemingway) -Beyond the Margins [CD] (Trost Records)
Akira Sakata/Entasis -Live In Europe 2022 [2 CDs] (Trost Records)
Kate Gentile (w/ Mitchell/Casss/Viner) -Find Letter X [3 CDs] (Pi Recordings)
Angharad Davies/Phil Julian -Neutral Red [CD] (Fataka)
Polwechsel -Embrace [4 LP BOX SET] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)
Francisco Mela/Zoh Amba -Causa y Efecto, Vol. 2 [VINYL] (577 Records)
Francisco Mela/Zoh Amba -Causa y Efecto, Vol. 2 [CDR] (577 Records)
Schindler/Zwang Eriksson/Rehling -Ritual Sound Exposures [CD] (FMR)
Sunik Kim -Potential [VINYL] (Otoroku)
Ryosuke Kiyasu -Dig Up Roots [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)
L'eclipse Nue -Faces From Dreams [CD] (Love Earth Music)

February 1, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Charbin / Prevost - The Cry of a Dove Announcing Rain (Two Afternoon Concerts at Cafe OTO) (Matchless Recordings) by Ken Waxman.

January 30, 2024: New @ Squidco:
John Butcher/Thomas Lehn/John Tilbury -Lights [CD] (Fataka)
Sergio Armaroli/Evan Parker -Dialog [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Jackie McLean -Let Freedom Ring To Destination...Out! - Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Alan Shorter -Mephistopheles To Orgasm - Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
John Zorn -The Hermetic Organ Volume 11 - For Terry Riley [CD] (Tzadik)
Gush (Gustafsson/Sandell/Strid) -Afro Blue [CD] (Trost Records)
Phicus (Fages/Reviriego/Trilla) -Ni [CD] (Tripticks Tapes)
Tomas Fujiwara -Pith [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Modelbau -Inlets [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Jupitter-Larsen, GX -Ross Distracted [VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

January 30, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Jack Wright - What Is What (Relative Pitch) by Massimo Ricci.

January 29, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Fred Anderson Quartet - The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 2 (Corbett vs. Dempsey) by Paul Serralheiro.

As promised, Squidco's catalog additions and The Squid's Ear updates were quiet last week while I traveled to New York City from Friday to Wednesday. I've returned to a large stack of emails, physical mail, new releases and requests, so the next days will be spent catching up and listening to some fascinating new music.

Meanwhile, it's time to celebrate: Squidco turns 21 this week! That means that Squid is a full adult, can drink as much squid ink as it likes, and is ready for the coming decades with a lot of experience under its tentacles and an ongoing sense of love for new music in its various forms!

To celebrate our birthday we're throwing a discount party across the board, starting by putting everything in our catalog on sale from their regular retail prices. We're proud to keep swimming in the oceans of creative music that continue to surprise and impress us, and we're grateful to our wonderful customers who make that possible.

As a retail and distribution service, Squidco has grown considerably over the years, for which I am humbly grateful. We've logged roughly 78,000 shipments over those years, from customer orders, distribution orders, fulfillment, and promotional services. We've watched the dynamic change from large distributors, many of which have fallen away during our existence, to a robust growth of concentrated labels and motivated artists. Squidco has honed its focus from a somewhat generalized store to one extremely interested in improvised music and the various relationships in composed, experimental and rock forms. And we've made connections around much of the globe to bring fascinating music into our catalog.

It's been an exciting 21 years, not without its challenges and frustrations along the way, but with the support of our truly friendly, informed and interesting customers, we've surmounted obstacles, recessions, and pandemic and still maintained a positive attitude about what we sell. In fact, I personally am more enthusiastic about the music we carry and the direction of improvised and music related forms then I was when we started.

Having collected albums seriously since around 1980, I find the state of the music more advanced, more interesting, with a broader vision that incorporates and even slices and dices styles in increasingly unexpected ways. The younger generations of players have a wealth of information to draw on, and they're showing their knowledge in amazing ways. Meanwhile the "middle" generation have come into their own, and the quality of their music continues to lift the bar in extraordinary ways. Our elder statesmen not only refuse to stop, but they continue to impress with the wealth of experience they bring to their playing, writing and concepts. It's an exciting time to be a fan of creative music, so here's to the next 21 years, and the 21 after that!

A few vital comments for this early blog entry, as I will be away for the next week traveling back to my second home of New York City. The lead-up to the trip has had me working ahead to get our mailing list out a day early, and to prepare for our next mailing list when I return. While away Carl will, as usual, take charge of the staff and orders will go out on our usual quick turnaround. However, there will be no updates to the website while I'm away. That won't stop new material from coming in, and we expect to have the new and recent albums from Trost, Fataka, Tzadik, Pi Recording, Another Timbre, and Corbett vs. Dempsey ready to go up on the site shortly after my return.

For those of you who read this blog, you probably know that I've been dropping some blog-only discounts into my writing. This week while away I'm going to share a sale with you that's unadvertised on our site, starting with more than 180 albums on sale at our cost plus $1. The link is here, and feel free to share this with friends - these prices are only offered on our own website: Friends of Squid Sale.

While in NYC I have a number of concerts to catch on my calendar, but the weather in the city as I write this is somewhat frightful, so I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to arrive on schedule. Given the extremely low temperatures I expect to be inside when possible, checking email and the state of The Squid while away, making this stealthy squid available for sonic suggestion. For our readers in the north whatever continent you might be on: Stay safe and Stay warm!

ezz-thetic Complements their Reissues:

Before leaving three new ezz-thetics by Hat, Hut Ltd showed up and we pushed to get them on the website before leaving. Those are listed below, and complement previous releases by similar artists in both the "Revisited" series and in Hat's pursuit of current of masterful modern improvisations.

In a nutshell, the new Jackie McLean reissue Let Freedom Ring To Destination...Out! - Revisited can be paired with the previous McLean revisited release One Step Beyond To New And Old Gospel, Revisited, bringing focus to four albums from the great Blue Note-era saxophonist and composer.

Alan Shorter, trumpeter brother to Wayne Shorter and whose work is lesser known but vital, gets his own revisited album with Mephistopheles To Orgasm - Revisited, in two settings that include brother Wayne; this album can be mated to Marion Brown's Capricorn Moon To Juba Lee (remastered) and with Archie Shepp's Four For Trane To Live At Newport - Revisited, both of which include Alan Shorter as a sideman.

Last and not in any way least, Sergio Armaroli excellent vibraphone work is paired with saxophonist Evan Parker for Dialog, an incredible duo album of modern improvisation. This extends Armaroli's catalog with ezz-thetics to three, joining his other album of duos and trios Prismo and the quartet record I Dream I Was An Earopean.

McLean, Jackie: One Step Beyond To New And Old Gospel, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Pushed on by new approaches to jazz as the be-bop era ended, alto saxophonist and composer Jackie McLean assembled a new quintet including soon-to-be Miles drummer Tony Williams to record One Step Beyond, here remastered and matched with his 1967 quintet album New and Old Gospel that included Ornette Coleman on trumpet and Coleman drummer Billy Higgins; two exceptional albums "revisited".

Shorter, Alan: Mephistopheles To Orgasm - Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

"He was nomadic. The strongest and most lasting thing you can say about Alan is that he was an original, as original as you can get. He didn't want any academic guidelines to equip him to reinvent the wheel. If he saw something like that, he'd go the other way."-Wayne Shorter

Armaroli, Sergio / Evan Parker: Dialog (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

"Dialog: Two Rooms One Vibraphone 1 to 6 and Five Interludes differs, however, from the classical Greek idea of dialectics, that of thesis-antithesis-synthesis, in one respect. There is thesis, from Armaroli, and antithesis, from Parker, but it is a third party, the listener, who provides the synthesis. And there will be as many syntheses, and as much diversity among them, as there are those of us tuning in."-Chris May

Shepp, Archie: Four For Trane To Live At Newport - Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Influenced by and working with John Coltrane, saxophonist and composer Archie Shepp paid tribute to 'Trane with his 1965 Impulse! album Four for Trane, here remastered and joined with tracks from the live album John Coltrane/Archie Shepp: New Thing At Newport, accompanied on each by acclaimed free jazz players including Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai, Reggie Workman, Barre Phillips, Joe Chambers, &c.

Armaroli, Sergio (Armaroli / Minton / Schiaffini / Turner): I Dream I Was An Earopean (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Two percussionists--vibraphonist Sergio Armaroli and drummer/percussionist Roger Turner-- and two brass players--trombonist Giancarlo Schiaffini and trumpeter Phil Minton, who doubles on voice improvisation--are heard in these studio recordings from Udine, Italy for nine "Dreams" that turn introspective slumber into restless visions through profoundly paced playing.

Armaroli, Sergio (w/ Fritz Hauser): Prismo (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

The quartet of Sergio Armaroli (vibraphone), Martina Brodbeck (cello), Francesca Gemmo (piano), and Fritz Hauser (drums & percussion), also heard in free improvisational duos and trios, perform Armaroli's "Structuring the Silence", aiming to extend the performers' improvisational freedom using time and space through broad compositional instructions.

Brown, Marion: Capricorn Moon To Juba Lee (remastered) (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Merging and remastering two essential albums from free jazz saxophonist Marion Brown: his 1966 ESP album "Marion Brown Quartet" with trumpeter Alan Shorter, bassist Reggie Johnson and percussionist Rahied Ali; and his 1967 Fontana album "Juba-Lee" in a septet with Reggie Johnson, drummer Beaver Harris, pianist Dave Burrell, trombonist Grachan Moncur III & saxophonist Bennie Maupin.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

January 18, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Max Eastley / Terry Day / John Butcher - Angles of Enquiry (Confront) by Marc Medwin.

January 17, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Szilard Mezei Flute & Strings Trio -To Whom It May Concern [CD] (FMR)
Anais Tuerlinckx/Jonas Gerigk/Burkhard Beins -Au Crepuscle [CDR] (Confront)
Peter Orins (Orins/Pruvost/Dang/Pym) -Dead Dead Gang [CD] (Tour de Bras/Circum-Disc)
ErikM/vrrrbitch -L'Horizon des Evenements [CD] (Tour de Bras)
Beche ta motte (Falasie/Cote/Gaudet-Asselin) -Sont des Racines [CD] (Tour de Bras)
The Gate -Scum [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tubapede)
Leap Of Faith -The Origin Of Mass [CDR] (Evil Clown)
+DOG+ -The Family Music Book Vol. 4 [2 CDs] (Love Earth Music)

January 16, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Olie Brice/Rachel Musson/Mark Sanders -Immense Blue [CD] (West Hill Records)
Karl Evangelista (feat. Alex Hawkins/Tatsu Aoki/Michael Zerang) -What Else Is There? [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Evelyn Glennie/Szilard Mezei POLAR QUARTET -Capt's Look [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Russ Johnson/Tim Daisy/Max Johnson -Live at the Hungry Brain [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Adam Hopkins -Crickets + Grounded [VINYL 180g] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Pedro Sousa Alves/Rodrigo Pinheiro/Gabriel Ferrandini -Cloud At Rest [CD] (Phonogram Unit)
Michel Doneda/Alexander Frangenheim -Mumaration [CD] (FMR)
Delta Saxophone Quartet -Late Music [CD] (FMR)
Playfield -Magic Heart [CDR] (577 Records)
Kelsey Wilson -A Workmanlike Approach [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Marthasville Fine Audio Recordings)
Juice Machine -Broken And Dilapidated [CDR] (Love Earth Music)
Leap Of Faith -Geodetic Drift [CDR] (Evil Clown)

January 15, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Bill Dixon w/ Archie Shepp, 7-Tette and Orchestra - Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) by Nick Ostrum.

A bit of a breather this week, and the first full non-holiday week of the year, as we added all received albums into our in-stock bins or finished cataloging some really great records for this week's mailing list. It was also a great week of listening with four reissues, three on LP and one CD, alongside some remarkable new albums on FMR, Listen! Foundation, Confront, Euphorium, Clean Feed and Tripticks Tapes. Just this morning I activated an extremely interesting set of new albums on Tour de Bras, Tripticks, and a breakout release for The Gate. Those looking for the new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd. will need to wait a few more days from holiday shipping schedules, but they are on their way and will be followed up soon with three more: Satoko Inoue presents Jo Kondo's Works for Piano; Bill Evans, The Legendary Trio At Birdland 1960; and Christoph Gallio, Dominic Lash & Mark Sanders Live At Cafe Oto London.

Essential Reissues:

I watch the mall stores reissue the same commercial albums over and over again at crazy prices without fully comprehending the appeal. After all, there are many more important free improv and jazz albums that deserve recognition as well, and over the the last year we've received some essential reissues that make my ears smile. This week alone two Evan Parker reissues from original Incus albums have been reissued by Otoroku, and Confront reissued the excellent duo of Derek Bailey and Simon H. Fell. The Parker records are both duos, one with Paul Lytton, and one with George Lewis; on the latter, a pressing error on the original Incus label has been corrected, so this reissue is actually the first time that their improvisations are heard correctly.

Below are 10 recent reissues of albums that should never be out of print, from labels including Black Saint, Ictus, ESP and Black Editions.

Bailey, Derek / Simon H. Fell: At Sound 323 [VINYL 180gm WHITE 2 LPs] (Confront)

The full performance of legendary improvising guitarist Derek Bailey's 2001 exhilarating duo with bassist Simon H. Fell at Sound 323, originally released as a mini-CD and voted record of the year in 2002 by The Wire, then released on CD and now as a deluxe 2 LP set on 180gm White Vinyl.

Parker, Evan / George Lewis: From Saxophone & Trombone [VINYL] (Otoroku)

The first vinyl re-issue of the 1980 duo between UK saxophonist Evan Parker and US trombonist George Lewis, captured live at the Art Workers Guild in London, using the natural resonance of the space and phenomenal technique in an intense set of dialogs showing the mastery of each player and the forceful voice each of them brings to free improvisation.

Parker, Evan / Paul Lytton: Collective Calls (Urban) (Two Microphones) [VINYL] (Otoroku)

A much-needed reissue of saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer/percussionist Paul Lytton's first duo album, recorded in London at the loft of The Standard Essenco in 1972 and originally released on the Incus label, the duo approaching their instruments in fantastic and unusual ways in a dialog far ahead of its time, augmented with recordings and eccentric assemblages.

Art Ensemble of Chicago: Tutankhamun [VINYL] (Org Music)

Reissuing and remastering this exceptional 1969 album from avant-garde jazz pioneers Art Ensemble of Chicago as Lester Bowie (trumpets, horns & bass drum), Joseph Jarman saxophones, reeds, winds keys), Roscoe Mitchell (saxophones, reeds, winds, sirens, bells & whistle), and Malachi Favors (bass, banjo & sitar), adding two bonus tracks: "Tthinitthedalen" Parts 1 & 2.

Takayanagi, Masayuki New Direction Unit: Mass Hysterism in Another Situation [VINYL 2 LPs] (Black Editions)

Furious free improvisation fueled by dual electric guitars from Masayuki Takayanagi, leader of New Direction Unit, and Akira Iijima who provides walls of chaotic feedback, pushed on at high intensity by drummer/percussionist Hiroshi Yamazaki, captured in a 1983 live performance at Kid Ailack Hall in Toyko, remastered and reissued as a double 45RPM 12" gatefold album.

Shipp, Matthew Trio: Circular Temple [VINYL] (ESP-Disk)

Originally released in 1992 on the US Quinton Records label, this trio album by New York improvisers, pianist Matthew Shipp (this being his first CD under his own name), bassist William Parker and drummer Whit Dickey, presents the four-part "Circular Temple" composed by Shipp, leveraging the language of jazz in remarkable ways, particularly the 2nd movement, "Monk's Nightmare".

Rova Saxophone Quartet w/ Andrea Centazzo: The Bay [VINYL] (Ictus)

Having just formed the prior year, the San Francisco Bay Area saxophone quartet Rova of Jon Raskin, Larry Ochs, Andrew Voigt, and Bruce Ackley met with Italian percussionist Andrea Centazzo during his 1978 US tour, recording this exceptional album demonstrating creative approaches to thematic and structural jazz forms, particularly the nearly side-long "Trobar Clus".

Centazzo, Andrea: U.S.A. Concerts [VINYL] (Ictus)

Five concerts from percussionist and Ictus label leader Andrea Centazzo's 1978 US tour, performing in a duo with percussionist Alex Cline; in a trio with LaDonna Smith (violin) and Davey Williams (guitar); and in a quintet with John Zorn (saxophone), Tom Cora (cello), Toshinori Kondo (trumpet), Eugene Chadbourne (guitar) and Polly Bradfield (violin).

Sun Ra And His Arkestra: Saturn XIII [10-inch VINYL] (Presspop)

A collection of Sun Ra recordings from the 1970s to 80s, from a small pressings on Sun Ra's own Saturn label and now public for the first time - "Just Friends" live (alongside an unreleased, intimate living room solo recordings of the same), plus "Under the Spell of Love" from the Just Friends album, and a previously unissued and Sun Ra's only known recording of "Cherokee".

Threadgill, Henry Very Very Circus: Spirit Of Nuff... Nuff [VINYL] (Black Saint)

Reissuing saxophonist, flutist, bandleader & composer Henry Threadgill's 1991 Black Saint album, introducing his then-new band Very Very Circus, uniquely configured with two tubas (Marcus Rojas, Edwin Rodriguez), two guitars (Brandon Ross, Masujaa, aka Hugh Riley), trombone (Curtis Fowlkes), and drums (Gene Lake), with Threadgill himself leading his fascinatingly layered compositions.

Perelman Permutations:

One of the most exciting albums for me personally this week is the Listen! Foundation double CD release by NY saxophonist Ivo Perlman. Many years a fan of his playing, I sometimes think that his album release schedule is a bit aggressive, though I can't fault any of the albums under his name that I've heard, and I certainly can't fault a masterful player for creating an ambitious discography. Since 2004 Squidco has added 84 albums by Perelman to our catalog, most represented on the Leo Records label, but also on ESP-Disk, Not Two, Mahakala Music, Soul City Sounds, Clean Feed and four on Listen! Foundation.

This latest album is one of the largest groups that he's released, typically preferring smaller more intimate settings. The ensemble is a sextet, so it's a bit of a stretch to call it an "Orchestra", though there are plenty of orchestral colors in the tracks. The players bring together some of New York and Chicago's finest players, particularly Nate Wooley (trumpet), Mat Maneri (viola), Fred Lonberg (Holm (cello), Joe Morris (bass), and Matt Moran (vibes). The album is destined to be part of my 2024 Top Lists, and it's been in heavy rotation on my stereo.

Here is the direct link to Seven Skies Orchestra, along with some other titles in stock as I write this. For the moment the Leo Records releases are in limbo as the US distributor for Leo ceased in 2023, but the Mahakala, other Listen! Foundation, ESP, Clean Feed, Soul City Sounds and Not Two albums are still available.

Perelman, Ivo / Nate Wooley / Mat Moran / Matt Maneri / Fred Lonberg-Holm / Joe Morris: Seven Skies Orchestra [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A rare setting for tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman in a larger ensemble: an exemplary sextet with trumpeter Nate Wooley and vibraphonist Matt Moran over a string section of Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Joe Morris on bass and Mat Maneri on viola, recording a ten-part work sans drums or piano, allowing fascinating new orchestral possibilities performed with utmost creative mastery.

Perelman, Ivo / Matthew Shipp / Joe Morris : Shamanism (Mahakala Music)

Adding guitarist Joe Morris to the long-standing collaboration of tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp directs the New York trio into a fascinatingly unique direction, Morris' often pointillistic style bringing out quick responses and conglomerates of ideas, balanced by hauntingly lyrical and suspended moments; an evokative album of spirited improvisation.

Perelman, Ivo / Ray Anderson / Joe Morris / Reggie Nicholson: Molten Gold [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Recording with legendary jazz musicians, trombonist Ray Anderson, drummer Reggie Nicholson and double bassist Joe Morris, tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman's quartet album brings the depth of experience and Ivo Perelman's unstoppable creative drive to these four extended and masterful improvisations, impeccably captured at Brooklyn's ParkWest Studio by Jim Clouse.

Perelman, Ivo / Matthew Shipp: Fruition (ESP-Disk)

An intimate and succinct set of conversations between two long time collaborators and compatible New York improvisers--tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp--recording at Park West Studios for their 18th album as a duo, making innately lyrical and technically creative decisions in a nearly telepathically manner informed by vast experience.

Perelman, Ivo / Tim Berne / James Carter / Tony Malaby: (D)IVO (Mahakala Music)

Led by Ivo Perelman on tenor saxophone, (D)ivo brings four of New York City's finest improvising saxophonists together for an outrageous quartet session, with Tony Malaby on soprano saxophone, Tim Berne on alto saxophone and James Carter on baritone saxophone, their unique styles and masterful skills creating a thrilling and intricate weaving of profound reed expression.

Perelman, Ivo (Duos w/ Burrell / Crispell / Ortiz / Parks / Courvoisie / Fernandez / Taborn / Sanchez / Iyer): Brass And Ivory Tales [9-CD BOX SET] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Referring to the brass saxophone and the piano's ivory keys, Brazilian saxophonist based in New York City Ivo Perelman celebrates his 60th birthday with this 9-CD set of diverse approaches to sax & piano duos, performed with some of world's finest improvising pianists: Dave Burrell, Marilyn Crispell, Aaron Parks, Augusti Fernandez, Craig Taborn, Angelica Sanchez and Vijay Iyer.

Perelman, Ivo / Gordon Grdina / Hamin Honari Trio: The Purity Of Desire (Not Two)

An exotic album of tradition-spanning improvisation from the trio of tenor saxophonist Ivo Perleman, oud player Gordon Grdina and percussionist Hamin Honari on tombak and daf, avoiding any cliches of "world fusion" as the effusive Middle Eastern rhythmic devices propel Perelman and Grdina into joyful flights of ecstatic playing that bridge the East and West.

Perelman, Ivo / Matthew Shipp: Efflorescence Volume 1 [4 CDs] (Leo Records)

"Efflorescence", to reach an optimum stage of development or blossom, as heard through four studio-recorded CDs, expanding on the warm and enduring duo of saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp in beautifully flowing, succinct improvisations with a lyrical inclination, allowing for exploration through the sophisticated support each brings; beautiful.

Perelman, Ivo / Matt Shipp / Michael Bisio / Whitt Dickey: The Edge (Leo Records)

A quartet session led by saxophonist Ivo Perelman, with pianist Matthew Shipp, drummer Whitt Dickey and bassist Michael Bisio performing 9 works penned by Perelman, succinct and superb NY jazz.

Perelman / Shipp / Cosgrove: Live in Carrboro (Soul City Sounds)

The second album release from the trio of New York improvisers Ivo Perelman on tenor saxophone and Matthew Shipp on piano with DC drummer Jeff Cosgrove, captured live in North Carolina at the Carborro ArtsCenter for an extended, nearly hour-long journey of concentrative interplay, articulate soloing and diverse and authoritative dynamics of fervent and reflective moods.

Perelman, Ivo Quartet: Magic Dust [2 CDs] (Mahakala Music)

Four extended collective improvisations of implicit lyricism and transcendent power from Brazilian-born New York-based tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman, recording in the studio with his quartet of frequent collaborator and masterful bassist William Parker, also performing on shakuhachi, along with pianist Christopher Parker and drummer Chad Anderson.

Perelman, Ivo / Matthew Shipp: Oneness [3 CDs] (Leo Records)

A significant release culminating the partnership of saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp, a distillation of their work after 8 duo recordings and dozens of collaborative albums, this 3 CD presents their work together in nearly telepathic terms: sympathetic and intimate without irascibility, a beautiful and introspective reflection of a shared ethic.

Perelman, Ivo / Mat Maneri / Tanya Kalmanovitch: Villa Lobos Suite (Leo Records)

Ivo Perelman pays tribute to Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos through free improvisation, enlisting two violists--Mat Maneri and Tanya Kalmanovitch-for a uniquely orchestrated set of recordings with Perelman emulating and complementing the strings in engaging ways.

Perelman / Levin / Zetterberg: Soulstorm (Clean Feed)

Saxophonist Ivo Perelman in a trio with cellist Daniel Levin and bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg, impressionist and lyrical free playing in a uniquely textured chamber jazz.

Dunston & Downloads:

Another album that had me excited this week is Nick Dunston's Skultura on Tripticks Tapes. Dunston's album blurs the edges of live improvisation and studio transformation and composition, making a hybrid that keeps the listeners on their toes. Not easy to characterize, the works have an acerbic sense of humor that I find embraceable, and his ensemble gathers extraordinary players flexible for the needs of each piece. I mostly know Dunston for his work with Zack Clark, Ches Smith, Dave Douglas or Anna Weber, but we've also carried his Spider Seasons and Atlantic Extraction on Out of Your Head records.

Aside from bringing this excellent new album to the foreground, I wanted to remind our customers who may be concerned about the album being on cassette format, that the album comes with a download code, freeing those from the format. In fact, Squidco carries nearly 200 albums in various physical formats that include download codes for convenience.

Below I list the three Dunston solo albums that we have in stock currently, followed by 9 other albums that we've added recently with download codes. All albums with download codes can be found in our DOWNLOAD CATEGORY.

Dunston, Nick: Skultura [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tripticks Tapes)

Bassist & composer Nick Dunston's Berlin band Skultura creates a uniquely experimental and fascinatingly sculpted approach to free jazz through layers of sound and serious playing punctuated by voice and concrete elements, each piece keeping the listener in anticipation of what might happen next, eased into serious jazz grooves, then whisked away in new directions; not to be missed!

Dunston, Nick: Spider Season (Out Of Your Head Records)

A new trio from NY bassist & composer Nick Dunston, featuring Kalia Vandever on trombone & effects, and Do Yeon Kim on gayageum (a traditional Korean plucked zither), a uniquely orchestrated band performing Dunston's original (and humorously titled) compositions, on some of which each performer uses effects to create sonic environments; a creatively inventive configuration.

Dunston, Nick: Atlantic Extraction (Out Of Your Head Records)

Brooklyn-based composer, bassist, and writer Nick Dunston in his debut album, blending jazz, contemporary, chamber and avant forms, in a uniquely voiced quintet with Louna Dekker on Vargas on flutes & piccolo, Ledah Finck on violin & viola, Tal Yahalom on guitar, and Stephen Boegehold on drums, in a sophisticated album of concisely fascinating compositions.

Roysum, Andres / Christian Meaas Svendsen / Kresten Osgood: Music Improvised on September 23rd, 2021 [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Astral Spirits)

A subset of the Andreas Røysum Ensemble, the trio of Norwegian clarinetist Andreas Roysum on Bb& Bass clarinets, Nakama Label leader Christian Meaas Svendsen on double bass and Danish drummer Kresten Osgood recorded these collective free improvisations on the title's date in an unnamed location, for four assertive dialogs of impressive expression.

McCormick, John Collins : Healthy Alternative To Thinking [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Eh?)

Two sound works from multimedia artist John Collins McCormick (Sky Thing) recorded using a multi-channel, portable sound system that employs up to 8 subwoofers in drum stands, amplifying low frequencies and rattling odds and ends he collected over the years, creating a rolling and controlled cacophony of quick rhythms and unusual asides from objects placed on the subwoofers.

Mattrey, Joanna : Soulcaster [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)

Taking the title from Brandon Sanderson's book series The Stormlight Archive, where a soulcaster is an instrument that transforms one object or life form into another; Joanna Mattrey transforms her viola and a tromba marina, aka a nuns' fiddle, with preparations, objects and unusual approaches through technique, creating a remarkable set of 11 unique and inventive improvisations.

Wood, Dorian / Thor Harris (w/ Carla Bozulich / Jarboe / Patrick Shiroishi / Heather Trost): You Are Clearly In Perversion [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD] (Astral Editions)

A ritualistic narrative work from multidisciplinary artist Dorian Wood and percussionist Thor Harris (Swans), with Carla Bozulich and Jarboe contributing their voices in an ensemble of contemporary and experimental arrangement, alongside guests David Coulter, Heather Trost, Jeremy Barnes, Michael Corwin, Ignacio Carvajal, Andrea Calderon, Elizabeth Warren and Patrick Shiroishi.

MAW (Meadows / Ackerley / Wallace): Live Recordings [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)

Releasing their first studio work in 2020, this album presents the first two live concerts in Brooklyn and Saugerties for the ea-improv trio MAW of Frank Meadows on upright bass, Jessica Ackerley on electric guitar and Eli Wallace on prepared piano & synth, in two 2-part improvisations: the darkly heavy "Mise-en-Place" and the brighter experiments of "Opus 40".

Ewen, Sandy / Jason Nazary: A Beaded Gesture [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Notice Recordings)

Recording at the Chamber of Commerce in Brooklyn in 2021, the duo of Sandy Ewen on prepared guitar and Jason Nazary on drums & percussion take a nearly pugilistic approach to their improvisations, building aggressive sections of intense pummeling, then slipping back to catch their breath before the next round, each filled with curious elements and energetic determination.

Lewis, James Brandon / Red Lily Quintet: For Mahalia, With Love [VINYL 2 LPs] (Tao Forms)

Composer and tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis' exceptional Red Lily Quintet quintet (Kirk Knuffke on cornet; William Parker on bass; Chad Taylor on drums; Christopher Hoffman on cello) pays homage to gospel and jazz singer Mahalia Jackson through a suite of original Lewis compositions, reimagining some of Jackson's best known works; CD & LP issues include a bonus download track.

Eventless Plot: Schemata [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tsss Tapes)

The Thessaloniki trio Vasilis Liolios, Aris Giatas and Yiannis Tsirikoglou, aka Eventless Plot, pays great attention to sonic details through experimental sound and sonic expression, here in a two-part work performed on percussion, analog modular synth, tapes/Revox A-77, field recordings, electromagnetic mic & objects, joined by double bassist Antonis Argyriou for the 2nd part.

Bacci, Chiara / Nicola Lancerotti: Settembre [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tsss Tapes)

Two mysteriously veiled electroacoustic improvisations recorded live at Maison des musiques, in Brussels, Belgium between performers Nicola Lancerotti, an Italian-born double bassist & sound artist, and sound artist Chiara Bacci, using glitch, veiled voices, synthetics and acousmatic sources, packaged in a sparkly green tinted cassette with download code.

Weston, Matt: This Is Broken [VINYL] (7272music)

Two extended works for percussion & electronics from Matt Weston, a curious coupling of resonant interactions that is likely a mysterious mixture of preparation, improvisation and composition, augmented with electronics and modified in the mix through studio manipulation, making for fascinating journeys through enigmatic punctuation and sound.

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

January 11, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Ivo Perelman/Nate Wooley/ Mat Moran/Matt Maneri/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Joe Morris -Seven Skies Orchestra [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
New Old Luten Trio (Petrowsky/Pauer/Lillinger) -Trident Juncture [CD] (Euphorium)
Dunmall/Brackenbury/Brice/Bianco -Prema [CD] (FMR)
Phillip Greenlief/Scott Amendola -Stay with it [CD] (Clean Feed)
Interstellar Nao Quartet (Countryman/Castanon/Cano/Lauber) -Odisea [CD] (FMR)
Bucher/Countryman/Gaerlan -The Cosmic Stream [CD] (FMR)
Joe Fonda (Fonda/Braxton/Bufalino/Dodd/Robertson/Alexiev) -From The Source [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Elisabeth Harnik/Steve Swell -Welcome to the Troposphere [CD] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Frequency Distasters (Beresford/Magaletti/Martino) -Naize [CDR] (Confront)
Dominic Lash/Stale Liavik Solberg -Hey Kye [CDR] (Confront)
+DOG+/Bastard Noise -Desecration Tales [VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

January 10, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Lantskap Logic (Frith / Davis / Greenlief) - Hidden Danger Lets Me In (Clean Feed) by Nick Ostrum.

January 9, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Derek Bailey/Simon H. Fell -At Sound 323 [VINYL 180gm WHITE 2 LPs] (Confront)
Evan Parker/Paul Lytton -Collective Calls (Urban) (Two Microphones) [VINYL] (Otoroku)
Evan Parker/George Lewis -From Saxophone & Trombone [VINYL] (Otoroku)
Mercury (Caloia/Freedman) -Skin [CD] (Clean Feed)
Jose Lencastre/Hernani Faustino/Vasco Furtado -Forces In Motion [CD] (Phonogram Unit)
Felice Furioso/Jorge Nuno/Felipe Zenicola -Sameer [CD] (Phonogram Unit)
Maggie Nicols -Are You Ready? [2 CDs] (Otoroku)
Maggie Nicols -Are You Ready? [VINYL] (Otoroku)
Nick Dunston -Skultura [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD] (Tripticks Tapes)
Awkward Geisha/Eugene Chadbourne -Awkward Geisha/Eugene Chadbourne [7'' VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

January 9, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Allemano / Oberg / Bauer / Fischerlehner - SOG (Creative Sources) by Paul Serralheiro.

January 8, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Paul Dunmall / Olie Brice - The Laughing Stone (Confront) by Marc Medwin.

A short week due to the holiday and a short entry here to update our readers on the (scant) publishing last week, but also the great additions to our catalog that we're currently working on, many of which are in our Just In Stock Section, and a few fully cataloged this week and in our Recently Section.

During the holiday week we received the latest set of FMR releases, 9 new albums including a new Paul Dunmall album (Dunmall / Brackenbury / Brice / Bianco) and two new albums with Rick Countryman, particularly the latest Interstellar Nao Quartet, and a beautiful album of chamber jazz from Serbian violist Szilard Mezei. Three new Confront titles arrived: Frequency Distasters with Steve Beresford, a duo between Dominic Lash & Stale Liavik Solberg, and a trio with Anais Tuerlinckx, Jonas Gerigk, Burkhard Beins. The much-anticipated LP reissue of the originally CD-issued Derek Bailey and Simon H. Fell is arriving separately, expected next week. But if vinyl is what you're looking for, we added the solo Maggie Nicols album on Otoroku (also on CD), plus Otoroku's much-needed reissues of Evan Parker & Paul Lytton's Collective Calls (Urban) (Two Microphones) and the duo of Evan Parker & George Lewis, From Saxophone & Trombone. RogueArt's latest, the fantastic duo between Matthew Shipp and Steve Swell landed, and The Bridge release with Jamie Branch arrived with it. Last but absolutely not least, the latest New Old Luten Trio release on Euphorium was added just yesterday.

Next up are 8 new releases on the Polish label Listen! Foundation, already here and just waiting for us to put the finishing touches on their initial cataloging. Tubapede's latest from The Gate is also on deck waiting for completion. We're also expecting the arrival of three new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd: Jackie McLean: Let Freedom Ring To Destination...Out! - Revisited; Alan Shorter: Mephistopheles To Orgasm - Revisited; and Sergio Armaroli / Evan Parker: Dialog.

I'm currently working on our first winter purchase plan, to begin execution next week, which will include Intakt, Corbett vs. Dempsey, Pi Recordings, Fataka, Surplus Industries, zOaR, Greyfade, erstwhile and Discus titles, to name a few. You should also see the Top 2023 lists make it to our homepage in the coming week. It's a lot of activity to start 2024, and we're very excited here at Squidco to listen to it all, and to share it will all of you.

Now that it's officially 2024, I wish all of our readers a prosperous, happy and peaceful year filled with profoundly amazing music!

Squidco Publishing Roundup:

As always, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

January 4, 2024: New @ Squidco:
Matthew Shipp/Steve Swell -Space Cube Jazz [CD] (RogueArt)
Jamie Branch/Isaiah Collier/Gilles Coronado/Tim Daisy -Stembells [CD] (The Bridge Sessions)
Hannah Marks -Outsider, Outlier [CD] (Out Of Your Head Records)
Fritz Hauser/Pedro Carneiro -Pas de Deux [CD] (Clean Feed)
Bechegas/Rodrigues/Rodrigues -Secrets Under Trees [CD] (Creative Sources)
Kim/Rodrigues/Rodrigues/Cholet -Taedong [CD] (Creative Sources)
Christoph Schiller/Carlo Costa -Spinet and Drums [CD] (Neither/Nor Records)
BEAM SPLITTER + Lonning & Reinertsen -Beauties [CD] (Neither/Nor Records)
Lumpeks -Polonez [CD] (Umlaut Records)
Jakob Heinemann -Opacity [CD] (Kashe Editions)

January 3, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Frode Gjerstad with Matthew Shipp - We Speak (Relative Pitch) by Ken Waxman.