2019 was an outstanding year for new releases, and our customers showed their interest with their orders. I personally find this list to be the most useful reflection of the state of improvised music during the year, as our customers have exceptional and discerning taste in the improvised and compositional music that we specialize in. Squidco displays this list in a democratic, alphabetic form, but here on The Squid's Ear we're listing the albums in sales order, with the first being the most popular album in our catalog during the year.
And what an album! Topographie Parisienne with Derek Bailey, Han Bennink and Evan Parker, reprising material in the vein of Parker's Topography of the Lungs album in a single concert from 1981 was a gift from Fou Records' Jean-Marc Foussat, who recorded it, and is recommended to anyone interested in European and London Free Jazz from three of the real masters, a sort of culmination of their work through the 60s and 70s. The next three albums are also notable as they all hail from the newly re-formed ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd, once again under the inspired leadership of Werner X. Uehlinger. The Jimmy Giuffre 3 and Marion Brown albums were released early in the year, and given a few more months would certainly have been eclipsed by the first of two of the John Coltrane Impressions Graz 1962 volumes, which rapidly climbed to 4th place despite its late-year release, passing by the other ezz-thetics release of note, Albert Ayler Quartets: Spirits To Ghosts Revisited. Philip Thomas' superb take on composer Morton Feldman's piano work in Another Timbre's 5-CD box follows, a set so popular that it has already been re-pressed, rare for a box with such demanding production values.
I'll let the rest of the year speak for itself, noting only that labels with high standards and exceptional musicians deserve their listing here. In alphabetic order, those are: Aerophonic, Another Timbre, Clean Feed, Confront, Corbett vs. Dempsey, ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd, Firehouse 12 Records, FMR, Fou Records, Glacial Erratic, Hatology, Illusions/Mirage, Libra, Magaibutsu, NoBusiness, Not Two, Otoroku, Relative Pitch, RogueArt, Trost Records, Umlaut Records, and Young Americans.
If you're unfamiliar with any of these albums or labels, I highly recommend checking them out — our astute and sophisticated customers recommend them!
![Bailey, Derek / Han Bennink / Evan Parker:Topographie Parisienne [4 CDs] (Fou Records)](http://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/27576.jpg)
Bailey, Derek / Han Bennink / Evan Parker
Topographie Parisienne [4 CDs]
(Fou Records)
Recorded in 1981 by audio engineer and label owner Jean-Marc Foussat, the trio of guitarist Derek Bailey, saxophonist Evan Parker, and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Han Bennink are heard in an amazing evening of performance at 28 rue Dunois, in Paris, France, in duo and trio configurations, exploring material similar to Parker's "Topography of the Lungs"; essential.
Giuffre, Jimmy 3 (w / Bley / Swallow)
Graz Live 1961
(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
After introducing his new trio with pianist Paul Bley and double bassist Steve Swallow in two 1961 albums on Verve, clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre embarked on a tour of Europe, this recently discovered, well-recorded concert in Graf, Austria the perfect example of his unique concepts yielding intensely focused, harmonically challenging, rhythmically abstract, and exquisite chamber jazz.
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.
Coltrane, John Quartet
Impressions Graz 1962
(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Taking his quartet on a European tour in the fall of 1962, Coltrane's band with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on double bass, and Elvin Jones on drums performed in Graz, Austria at Stefaniensaal, the concert beautifully recorded by ORF Steiermark and here released as the first of two volumes, showing both Coltrane's lyrical origins and expanding free inclinations.
Ayler, Albert Quartets
Spirits To Ghosts Revisited (remastered)
(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Three variations of quartet settings from iconoclastic free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler, remastering and combining two Debut Records albums, "Spirits" from 1964 with Norman Howard (trumpet), Sunny Murray (drums), and alternating bass between Henry Grimes & Earle Henderson; and 1965's "Ghosts" on Debut Records with Don Cherry (trumpet), Gary Peacock (bass), and Sunny Murray.
![Feldman, Morton (Philip Thomas):Piano [5 CD BOX SET] (Another Timbre)](http://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/27919.jpg)
Feldman, Morton (Philip Thomas)
Piano [5 CD BOX SET]
(Another Timbre)
Containing the majority of minimalist composer Morton Feldman's compositions for solo piano, 3 CDs of short works and 2 for the magnificent "For Bunita Marcus" and "Triadic Memories", performed by one of the foremost interpreters of Feldman's work, Philip Thomas, and presented in a sturdy 5-CD box set with a 52 page booklet of notes from the performer and artwork.
Koglmann, Franz Septet (w / Clark / Arcari / D'Agaro / Turkovic / Pasztor / Herbert)
Fruits Of Solitude
(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
With a superb septet of improvisers also versed in contemporary music, trumpeter Franz Koglmann presents sophisticated compositions that interject the concept of "solitude" in the three-part title track, alongside Koglmann compositions and Jimmy Giuffre's "Finger Snapper", using striking orchestration of trumpet, sax, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, french horn, cello and double bass.
Angles 9
Beyond Us
(Clean Feed)
Now a distinct edition of saxophonist Martin Kuchen's concept, the Angles 9 ensemble is captured live at the Zomer Jazz Fiets Tour in The Netherlands in 2018, performing Kuchen's embraceable and lyrical compositions, allowing his masterful band--including Magnus Broo, Johan Berthling, Mattias Stahl, &c.--great opportunities for collective playing and profound soloing.
Rivers, Sam / Cecil McBee / Norman Connors
Emanation (Sam Rivers archive sessions. Vol.1)
(NoBusiness)
The NoBusiness label initiates its Sam Rivers Archive Series with this CD of River's Loft-era trio. the leader on tenor & soprano saxophones, flute & Piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Norman Connors on drums, for two sets at a Jazz Workshop residency in Boston in the summer of 1971, a superb concert showing inspired group interaction and River's intense focus.
Lewis, James Brandon (Lewis / Branch / Stewart / Pirog / Crudup III)
An Unruly Manifesto
(Relative Pitch)
New York tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis leads a quintet with Jaimie Branch on trumpet, Luke Stewart on bass, Anthony Pirog on guitar, and Warren Trae Crudup III on drums, in a free jazz album dedicated to Charlie Haden & Ornette Coleman and Surrealism, modern creative music with one foot planted in the 70s and one in the 2010s.
Pavone, Mario Dialect Trio
Philosophy
(Clean Feed)
Three in-demand New York improvisers--Mario Pavone on double bass, Matt Mitchell on piano, and Tyshawn Sorey on drums-- recording in the studio in one of the premiere spaces in the Metropolitan area, Firehouse 12, resulting in this profoundly authoritatve piano trio album, with five Pavone original compositions, two from Annette Peacock, and one collective improv.
Parker, Evan / Kinetics (Anderskove / Melbye / Vestergaard)
Chiasm
(Clean Feed)
Performing live at The Vortex in London and live at the DKDM studio in Copenhagen, legendary UK saxophonist Evan Parker joins Swedish pianist Jacob Anderskov's trio Kinetics with Adam Pultz Melbye on bass and Anders Vestergaard on drums, recording these four masterful improvisations of full-force momentum, concentration, exploration and exultation.
Shipp, Matthew
Invisible Light, Live Sao Paulo
(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Captured live at the 2016 Jazz at the Factory Festival in Sao Paulo, this addition to New York pianist Matthew Shipp's catalog finds the masterful player presenting his own compositions like "Symbol Systems", "Gamma Ray" or "Invisible" light alongside unique takes on "Angel Eyes", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Yesterdays" and "Summertime".
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