Steve Swell (w / Cyrille / Hwang / Bart / Lonberg-Holm / Boston):
The Center Will Hold featuring Andrew Cyrille (Not Two)
An essential asset of the NY Downtown scene since the 70s, trombonist Steve Swell leads and composes for an exemplary and uniquely orchestrated sextet bridging generations: Jason Kao Hwang on violin, viola & electronics, Ariel Bart on harmonica, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello & electronics, Robert Boston on piano & organ, and Andrew Cyrille on drums & percussion. ... Click to View
Threadbare (Jason Stein / Ben Cruz / Emerson Hunton):
Silver Dollar (NoBusiness)
The Chicago trio of Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Ben Cruz on guitar, and Emerson Hunton on drums perform compositions from Cruz & Hunton, informed works of free improvisation that blend style and approach from textural beauty to avant aggressive fury, controlled in quick pivots or enticing in brooding atmospheres, a well-balanced and thoroughly engaging album. ... Click to View
John Zorn feat. the Brian Marsella Trio:
Calculus (Tzadik)
Two major 20-minute long-form compositions scored for piano trio from composer John Zorn, performed by the NY trio of pianist Brian Marsella along with the dynamic rhythm section of Trevor Dunn and Kenny Wollesen, each piece a tour-de-force from rapid runs of technical mastery to passionate moments of instrospection and delicacy, a passionate expedition in the piano trio form. ... Click to View
John Zorn (Medeski / Grohowski / Hollenberg):
Baphomet (Tzadik)
The eight album from John Zorn's Simulacrum ensemble, blurring the lines between improvisation, fusion, exotica, compositional forms, and death-metal organ trio, performed keyboardist John Medeski plus members of heavy rock bands Cleric and Imperial Triumphant--Kenny Grohowski & Matt Hollenberg--in an epic 40 minutes long-form composition. ... Click to View
Spike Orchestra, The:
Splintered Stories (Tzadik)
Sam Eastmond of the Spike Orchestra composed and arranged these works for the 15-piece big band Spike Orchestra, as he examines the power and magic of words through stories, splintered and fragmented through resonance and dissonance, merging influences, styles and instrumental colors over four expansive works yielding inspired moments in orchestration and solos. ... Click to View
Thanos Chrysakis / Chris Cundy:
A Certain Slant Of Light (Aural Terrains)
A 5-part electroacoustic improvisation from the UK duo of electronic and sound artist Thanos Chyrsakis and reedist Chris Cundy, the former using laptop computer, synthesizers, and copicat tape echo to create mesmerizing sheens of sound that circle and complement Cundy's bass clarinet, who also performs on megaphone, voice changer, zither, & objects; entrancing and captivating. ... Click to View
Machinefabriek:
Amalgaam (Zoharum)
Based on a series of improvisations on a very hands-on hardware setup, with an old tone generator, effects pedals, dictaphones, contact mics, etc, Machinefabriek (Rutger Zuydervelt) took these recordings into the studio to compose these four works, 2 brief pieces and the 2-part, intricate "Amalgaam", in an absorbing album of dramatic texture & sound. ... Click to View
Chad Taylor Trio (Feat Brian Settles / Neil Podgurski):
The Daily Biological (Cuneiform)
Merging players from the NY, Philidelphia and Chicago scenes, the trio of drummer Chad Taylor, saxophonist Brian Settles and pianist Neil Podgurski have a history reaching into the 90s in NYC, bringing a confident kinetic energy to their playing, energized by Taylor's powerful rhythmic center and a lyrical bent that makes their music exuberant and intelligent at once. ... Click to View
Frode Gjerstad / John Stevens / Derek Bailey:
Hello Goodbye (Emanem)
Recordings from Stavanger, Norway in 1992 by a trio of legends--Derek Bailey on amplified guitar, John Stevens on percussion and mini trumpet, and Frode Gjerstad on alto saxophone--a trio that only performed three gigs on three consecutive days, this album captured on the last of those performances, a testament to their great compatibility and intent. ... Click to View
Who Trio (Wintsch / Hemingway / Oester):
Strell (Clean Feed)
The collective Who Trio of pianist Michel Witsch, bassist Bänz Oester and drummer Gerry Hemingway take on the music of Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington in eight studio recordings and one live performance, interpreting in a collective fashion rather than straight readings of each work, allowing a unique level of freedom to be applied to these essential jazz compositions. ... Click to View
Martin Kuchen / Landaeus Trio (w/ Lanaeus / Nilsson / Aman):
Mind The Gap Of Silence (Clean Feed)
Saxophonist Martin Küchen (Angles) joins together with the Landaeus Trio of pianist Martin Landaeus, double bassist Johnny Aman, and drummer Cornelia Lisson, augmenting the sophisticated lyricism of the Landaeus piano trio with the surprisingly lyrical voice of Kuchen, as they are recorded in front of a live audience in the Gula Studion in Malmo, Sweden. ... Click to View
Pedro Alves Melo (Johnson / Nunes / Dionisio / Risser / Dresser / Moieme / Alves):
In Igma (Clean Feed)
Constrast from shifts in sound, texture and dynamic in Pedro Melo Alves' commissioned work for the Jazz No Parque Festival, using 3 vocalist (Aubrey Johnson, Beatriz Nunes, & Mariana Dionisio) to layer and interact over a quartet of contemporary and improvised instrumentalists: Eve Risser (piano_, Mark Dresser (bass), Abdul Moimeme (electric guitar), and Alves (drums & percussion). ... Click to View
Lynn Cassiers (w/ der Werf / Vermeulen / Dumoulin / Cabras / Patrman):
Yun (Clean Feed)
Vocalist and electronics artist Lynn Cassier leads the "Yun" project, a sextet including fellow Octurn saxophonist Bo Van der Werf, plus two keyboardists (Erik Vermeulen & Jozef Dumoulin), bassist Manolo Cabras and drummer Marek Patrman, as she rearranges 12 pices from the American Songbook, applying unique electroacoustic harmonic and rhythmic structures. ... Click to View
Rudresh Mahanthappa :
Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
Turning his attention from original compositions to the music of his heroes--Stevie Wonder, Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett, Johnny Cash, John Coltrane & Charlie Parker--saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa turns in an upbeat and exuberant album of standards performed in a trio with bassist Francois Moutin and drummer Rudy Royston. ... Click to View
Rudresh Mahanthappa :
Hero Trio [VINYL] (Whirlwind)
Turning his attention from original compositions to the music of his heroes--Stevie Wonder, Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett, Johnny Cash, John Coltrane & Charlie Parker--saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa turns in an upbeat and exuberant album of standards performed in a trio with bassist Francois Moutin and drummer Rudy Royston. ... Click to View
Pisaura (Michael Pisaro / Zizia):
Asteraceae (Sedimental)
A work composed from field recordings of performances around Los Angeles during the winter of 2018-19, the Pisaura trio of Michael Pisaro, Amber Wolfe Rounds & Jarrod Fowler (Zizia) using astrological charts to determine patterns of composing, performing, recording, and producing music with celestial and terrestrial rhythms; a mysteriously detailed and almost reverent work in sound. ... Click to View
Olivia Block with Chicago Composers Orchestra:
Karren [VINYL w DOWNLOAD] (Sedimental)
A two-movement electroacoustic-orchestral composition from elecroacoustic composer Olivia Block, the first side of the LP using heavily processed field recordings taken from orchestral rehearsals and various public locations, including museums and zoos, the 2nd is a layered orchestral score performed by the Chicago Composers Orchestra recorded over several years. ... Click to View
Jason Kahn :
Lining Out [VINYL] (Hiddenbell Records)
"Lining Out" is taken from a form of hymnody practiced to this day as Gaelic Psalm singing by the Free Churches on the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, interpreted by Swiss improviser Jason Kahn in percussion and voice, uniquely uninhibited unpredictable utterance and song juxtaposing superb expression and dexterity on drums, cymbals, bells and percussion. ... Click to View
Scrambled Harmonies:
Stella Art (Self Released)
The free improvising Amsterdam quintet of Andrius Dereviancenko (tenor saxophone), Henk Zwerver (guitar), Nico Chientaroli (piano and keyboards), Raoul van der Weide (bass, objects and squat box) and Onno Govaert (Tilburg, drums) are heard in this live recording at Zaal100 in 2020 for a quirky and first rate album of wry humor and impressive skill. ... Click to View
Quin Kirchner:
The Shadows and The Light [2 CDs] (Astral Spirits)
Recorded over 2 days in a Chicago studio in configurations from duos to an octet, drummer Quin Kirchner provides the compositions on this double CD for 11 pieces, alongside works by Frank Foster, Phil Cohran, Sun Ra & Carla Bley, presented as a story or a journey of differing styles and forms, made cohesive by Kirchner's remarkable drumming and coherently diverse interests. ... Click to View
Tomeka Reid Quartet:
Old New (Cuneiform)
Drawn from some of New Yorks finest and most active improvisers, cellist Tomeka Reid's string-centric quartet with Mary Halvorson on guitar, Jason Roebke on bass, and Tomas Fujiwara on drums, take Reid's lyrical compositions into ebullient territory, showing the effective power of these versatile string instruments in creative and irresistible modern jazz. ... Click to View
Kaoru Abe :
19770916@Ayler, Sapporo (Doubtmusic)
Recently discovered, unissued solo improvisations from legendary Japanese free jazz alto saxophonist Karou Abe--four extended statements from the full concert recorded in 1970 at the Sapporo jazz cafe "Ayler"--an excellent example of the passionate performances he presented, using extended and unusual technique from assertive mastery to near-silent moments; incomparable. ... Click to View
Adam Caine Quartet, feat Adam Lane / Bob Lanzetti / Billy Mintz:
Transmissions (NoBusiness)
Embracing a wide and diverse stylistic range, from burning modern electric jazz to introspective interplay, NY guitarist Adam Caines' band with fellow guitarist Bob Lanzetti, Adam Lane on acoustic bass, Billy Mintz on drums, and Nick Lyons on alto saxophone, perform with great taste, technical mastery and superb interplay, releasing an extremely well-balanced collection. ... Click to View
Keys & Screws (Thomas Borgmann / Jan Roder / Willi Kellers):
Some More Jazz [VINYL] (NoBusiness)
Two thirds of the free jazz group "Boom Box"--saxophonist Thomas Borgmann and drummer Willi Kellers--and referencing that band's 2011 album titled Jazz, Keys & Screws is rounded out as a trio with double bassist Jan Roder, following the format of "Jazz" with compositions from each player following head/solo format, fueled by each player's extensive experience. ... Click to View
DUX Orchestra (Dave Sewelson / Mats Gustafsson / Susie Ibarra / Will Connell Jr. / Dave Hofstra / Walter "Sweet" Perkins / JC Morrison):
Duck Walks Dog (With Mixed Results) [VINYL] (NoBusiness)
Two thirds of the free jazz group "Boom Box"--saxophonist Thomas Borgmann and drummer Willi Kellers--and referencing that band's 2011 album titled Jazz, Keys & Screws is rounded out as a trio with double bassist Jan Roder, following the format of Jazz with compositions from each player following head/solo format, fueled by each player's extensive experience. ... Click to View
Larry Ochs / Aram Shelton Quartet (w/ Nordeson / Dresser / Walton):
Continental Drift (Clean Feed)
Key artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, composers and bandleaders Larry Ochs on tenor and sopranino saxophones and Aram Shelton on alto saxophone join together with Swedish drummer Kjell Nordeson, joined by either double bassist Mark Dresser or Scott Walton, in an album drawn from two sessions featuring exhiliarating pieces of unique approach from both composers. ... Click to View
Roots Magic (Pololla / De Fabritiis / Tedeschi / Spera):
Take Root Among The Stars (Clean Feed)
Mining the area between the blues and creative jazz with pieces by Charles Tyler, Ornette Coleman, Phil Cohran and Sun Ra, this is the 3rd album from the Italian quartet of Alberto Popolla on clarinets, Errico De Fabritiis on saxophones, Gianfranco Tedeschi on double bass, and Fabrizio Spera on drums & percussion, joined by Eugenio Colombo on flute and Francesco Lo Cascio on vibes. ... Click to View
Cliff Trio (Pandelis Karayorgis / Damon Smith / Eric Rosenthal):
Precipice (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Recording at the Lilypad in Cambridge, MA, the Boston-area trio of pianist Pandelis Karayorgis, bassist Damon Smith, and drummer Eric Rosenthal are captured in concert for an adventurous album of free improvisation, Karayorgis's compositions leading this piano trio of magnificent mastery into buoyantly exciting interaction as they take their listeners to a dizzying precipice edge. ... Click to View
Anton Ponomarev Trio (w/ Per Ole Jorgens / Dmitri Lapshin):
Dodsdromen (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Aggressive "honk-n-skronk" free jazz from the Moscow based trio of alto saxophonist Anton Ponomarev, with Danish drummer Peter Ole Jørgensen (aka P.O. Jorgens known for his work with Peter Brötzmann) and bass guitarist Dmitry Lapshin, in a studio album of eight burning "Circles", demanding skirmishes of fiery imformed collective free jazz. ... Click to View
Magnus Granberg / Skogen:
Let Pass My Weary Guiltless Ghost (Another Timbre)
First performed in November 2019 at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and then at the Splitter Orchester festival in Berlin, this studio recording of Magnus Granberg's delicately complex and exquisitely dream-like composition features his Skogen ensemble, including Granberg, Rhodri Davies, Toshimaru Nakamura, Erik Carlsson, Petter Wastberg, &c. ... Click to View
