Saxophonist Rodrigo Amado in a quartet with 2/3's of Red Trio - bassist Hernani Faustino and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini - and guitarist Manuel Mota adding unusual angles to their exemplary blues-based free improvisation.
The Chicago duo of Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor on cornet, synth, electronics, bamboo flutes drums, mbira, guitar & balaphone, mixings bits of breakbeat and Afropop with jazz, ambient and electronica elements in unmistakable and compelling grooves.
The duo of NY-based pianist Tonino Miano and trumpeter Mirio Cosottini in a "voyage within where the musicians try to abandon preconceived notions of sound and let the past and the present collide to give us clues as to who we are".
Trumpeter Jacques Coursil's in duo with double bassist Alan Silva, frequently using the bow, recorded over two days at La Muse en Circuit, Alfortville, France; intimate and lyrical dialog from two old friends in 3 sessions for the late trumpeter Bill Dixon.
Restoring post-war Chicago jazz saxophonist George Davis' late 40s 78-rpm releases of bop and R&B numbers announced by Davis himself, swinging music rescued from obscurity to expand our knowledge of Chicago bop history.
A Record Store Day Release, a split 7" with Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog (Ribot/Ismaily/Smith) on one side, and Deerfhoof with Marc Ribot on the other side.
The duo of French saxophonist Matthieu Donarier and Dutch pianist/prepared pianist Albert van Veenendaal (I Compani), beautifully paced and inventive dialog between two melodic players who embrace both improvisational and compositional styles.
The second take of Boston area drummer Luther Grays' project Lawnmower with Jim Hobbs on sax, Kaethe Hostetter on violin and Winston Braman on electric bass, excellent jazz with unique instrumentation and a diversity of approaches.
Compiling 3 very limited solo LPs from Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, performing intimate and unusual renditions of the music of Duke Ellington, Albert & Donald Ayler, and the important post-bop baritone player Lars Gullin; liner notes by Robert Crumb.
A solo album from Louisville, KY percussionist and composer Nick Hennies, including "Settle" for vibraphone (3 players) and "Expenditures" for vibraphone & ensemble; extended and immersive works of a hypnotic and psychoacoustic nature.
A 2014 reissue of this 2006 release, adding a complete 10.5 minute version of "Kaleidoscope", and an amazing "Yes Medley", from the trio of drummer Yoshida Tatsuya, bassist Nasuno Mitsuru, and guitarist Kido Natsuki.
Bridging two generations between Chicago and France, "Sisters Where" is an inspired and freely improvised dialog from flutist Nicole Mitchell and double bassist Joelle Leandre, presenting six studio recordings of inventive and lyrical playing.
The quartet of Ken Vandermark on saxes, Christof Kurzmann on electronics, Devin Hoff on bass and Tim Daisy on drums trace women's influence on contemporary art, especially music, painting and photography, through 3 incredible examples of modern jazz.
The quartet of Ken Vandermark on saxes, Christof Kurzmann on electronics, Devin Hoff on bass and Tim Daisy on drums trace women's influence on contemporary art, especially music, painting and photography, through 3 incredible examples of modern jazz.
Australian/Polish double bassist Mike Majkowski, currently based in Berlin, in his 3rd solo release, a 45 RPM LP using tension and momentum alongside unusual techniques and intricate playing, showing concentration and physical power in 2 well-developed works.
An emotional solo concert performed at Chicago's Corbett vs. Dempsey gallery, an ode to Mazurek's mother a few months after her passing, on cornet, flutes, bells, books, maracas, apples, and little electronics, in a touching and beautiful celebration of her life.
The duo of pianist Tonino Miano and trumpeter Brian Groder, both NY based, in a sophisticated jazz duo that borrows from melodic, avant and compositional jazz forms in a strong and compelling dialog.
Three groupings and three large works from Portugese trumpeter Sei Miguel, in bands including Rafael Toral, Erenesto Rodrigues, Nuno Tores, &c., performances of scores that he's written over the past 30 years that have never or have rarely been heard previously.
A companion to the "Sin Gas" release by the duo of saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love in a limted double 7", one track per side with Nilssen-Love playing congas, and Gustafsson on slide and bass saxophones.
Powerful duo playing from frequent collaborators, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love (The Thing, Original Silence, Peter Brotzmann) in two extended studio improvisations of deeply emotional and technically incredible playing.
Powerful duo playing from frequent collaborators, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love (The Thing, Original Silence, Peter Brotzmann) in three extended studio improvisations of deeply emotional and technically incredible playing.
A superb modern jazz release from NY bassist Eric Revis with Chad Taylor (drums), Bill McHenry (sax) and Darius Jones (sax), plus special guest Branford Marsalis on two tracks.
Compositionally-based collective improvisations recorded in the studio in Switzerland from the duo of Ned Rothenberg performing on clarinet, bass clarinte, alto saxophone, and shakuhachi, and Peter A. Schimid on tubax, taragot, bassclarinet, contrabass clarinet.
Fourteen musicians perform drummer Dan Weiss' ambitious compositional project, a through-composed work featuring an ensemble with guitar, horns, voices, harp, piano, organ, bass and percussion, with players including Weiss, Matt Mitchell, Judith Berkson, David Binney, &c. &c.
A series of vignettes inspired by and dedicated to the Saami people living at the top of Fenno-Scandinavian peninsula from Chandra Shukla (Xambuka), in absorbing beats and effects, synthetic sound sculptures and exotic sound.
Using mostly unprocessed electric guitars, the duo of Elliott Sharp and Scott Fields' latest release presents eight dueling guitar works using dynamic, angular tones and textures, from extremely aggressive work to clean avant-jazz with twisted technical intent.
The quartet of Cosottini, Melano, Pisani, Miano (EAQuartet Electroacoustic) in compositions referring to the 4 cardinal map points using graphic scores, games, open readings, &c.
Legendary trumpeter, composer and educator Bill Dixon in a 17 piece orchestra playing original compositions live at the 12th Vision Festival in New York City.
Electric Bird Noise (Brian Lea McKenzie) goes back to his guitar roots for a challenging record built from dissonant chords, which McKenzie refers to as "elevator music for art galleries"; hypnotically jarring music creating a unique sonic tapestry.
Electric Bird Noise artist Brian Lea McKenzie extends his concepts in a new duo with vocalist Claudia Gregory (Exhaust the Fox, Claudia Versus the Queen of Hearts), with a new band name and a compelling set of epic electro-rock songs.
A collection of fifty-five short stories or texts, and fifty-five brief musical works to accompany them, composed by a momentary collective of eighteen musicians including John Butcher, Andy Moor, Yannis Kyriakides, Francisco Lopez, Machinefabriek, Gabriel Paiuk, &c.
The amazing combination of Ex guitarists Terrie Ex and Andy Moor with drummer Paal Nilssen-love and Chicago saxophonist Ken Vandermark in their 5th release, a live album from Italy showing the aggressive and exuberantly determined band in excellent form.
Composer Lucier's score instructs the players to go to an outside environment and record by any means the sound situations of those environments, then in performance re-create, solely by means of your voices, instruments and memory, those outside sound situations.
New York reedist Chris Speed with his sax, bass and drums trio of Chris Tordini and Dave King, in a traditional mode performing original jazz numbers plus pieces by John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, superb modern melodic jazz from 3 excellent players.
Electronics artist Bob Falesch in a duo with saxophonist Jack Wright, both using idiosyncratic approaches to their instruments for unexpected and often startling results, a unique album of unusual electroacoustic improvisation.
An open improvisation between 3 reed player - Bob Rainey on soprano sax, Jack Wright on various saxes, and Matt Ingalls on clarinet, with Tom Djll on trumpet & "whatever", unconventional dialog from four innovative players.
Two cellos (Fred Lonberg-Holm and Bob Marsh) and two saxophones (Bhob Rainey and Jack Wright) in a spirited improvisation session where no player is either soloist nor counterpoint, but instead are equal members in a unique and unusual dialog.
Concert recordings from live performances at Dickenson College in Carlisle, PA in 2009 and again in 2010 from saxophonist Jack Wright and drummer Johan Nystrom, both using extended and unusual techniques in a beautifully paced album of subtle and surprising free improvisation.
Four sessions of music mostly against the Vietnam War - all featuring Steve Lacy and Irene Aebi, in sextet, trio, and quintet with associates including Enrico Rava, Karl Berger, Kent Carter, Richard Tietelbaum, &c.
Three recent sound works by Yannis Kyriakides using source material highlighting specific vocal traditions - Turkish pop music, Cypriot epic song, and Baroque opera - making extensive use of other forms of speech and vocal acts.
Recording the first meeting of vocalist Carol Genetti, amplified snare drummer Jon Mueller, and saxophonist Jack Wright, performing at the Spare Room in Chicago, 2004, for two large, subtle, and rich improvisations in a uniquely voiced dialog.
A masterful fountain of melodic ideas, intriguing rhythms, and exceptional technical skill from the duo of Hamid Drake on drums and frame drum, and Sylvain Kassap on clarinets and chalumeau, recording live at the France Musique at Studio Theatre dÕAlfortville and in the studio.
A live performance at Judson Church in Manhattan as part of the 20th Vision Festival from the NY/France free improvising trio of Joelle Leandre on double bass, Mat Maneri on viola, and Gerald Cleaver on drums and percussion, two tracks of steadily building, incredibly compatible dialog.
Roman philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus named "Clinamen" the unpredictable (in time and space) swerve of atoms falling in the void, which aptly describes the unexpected directions taken in subtle free improvisation from this French trio, led by bassist Louis-Michel Marion, with Jacques Di Donato on clarinet, and Philippe Berger on viola.
A co-production between BeCoq Records and Creative Sources, the quartet of saxophonist Mathhiew Lebrun with 3 guitarists--Leo Rathier, Paul Menard, and Thomas Coquelet--use preparations, feedbacks, glass, cymbals, microswitches, and unusual sax techniques to create unusual sonic environments that ebb and flow in introspective and disquieting ways.
The Swedish duo of percussionist Andreas Pollak and prepared pianist Johan Graden (Adam & Alma) in an album of references and innuendo, clandestine and furtive sounds that evoke great mystery and drama in beautifully shaped sound; evocative music that deceives to emerge from the electronic realm while in actuality coming from all acoustic sources.
Live recordings at LOFT in Cologne, Germany from the trio of George Wissel on prepared saxophone, Achim Tang on doublebass, and Simon Camatta on drums & percussion, performing seven "Movements" that use prodigious technique with reserve and direction, revealing the structure of their work as the pieces build and recede in fascinating ways.
The free improvising quartet of Jack Wright on alto and soprano sax with three electronic artists--Andrea Pensado, Stephanie Lak, and Walter Wright--recording in the studio in Philadelphia PA for two extended pieces of unusual character and dynamic.
The first meetings of Jason Kahn (analog electronic) and Tim Olive (one-string magnetic pickup device) recording in a studio session in Kyoto, 2012 for four eventful and intricately structured works with a distinct developmental momentum.
Acclaimed free improvising saxophonist Jack Wright is joined by his son Ben on double bass for these exceptional duos that balance space and color through extended techniques and an impecable sense of timing.
Free improvising saxophone legend Jack Wright performing solo in April 2006 at the Irtijal Festival in Beirut and at performance space Saladestar in Barcelona a week later, showing his command over the instrument and distinctive approach as an improviser.
Savage noise jazz in a rare 7" from the early 90s by the trio of saxophonists Don Dietrich and Jim Sauter and electric guitarist Donald Miller, two live version of "Coelacanth" recorded a year apart.
A live recording of two extended improvisations at Audio Rebel's Quintavant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from the quartet of Arthur Lacerda on guitar and electronics, electric bassist Felipe Zenicola, guitarist Eduardo Manso, and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love.
Inside the issue: The Ex; Malcom Pointon; Akira Sakata; Collateral Damage Salome Voegelin; Cross Platform Cevdet Erek; Global Ear Rio De Janiero; Bites; Tashi Dorji; Maya Dunietz; Laurence Crane; plus the Wire Tapper CD compilation.
The duo of pianist Tonino Miano and trumpeter Brian Groder, both NY based, in a sophisticated jazz duo that borrows from melodic, avant and compositional jazz forms in a strong and compelling dialog.
Having previously worked together with Joe McPhee and Kent Kessler, this album distills the Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado and NY drummer/percussionist Chris Corsano to a concentrated sax and drum duo of earnest and edgy playing, bending jazz, free and blues idioms to their will with magnificent technique and power, both clearly elated in their meeting.
Recorded live at Silence Sounds in Guelph Canada, the duo of Xavier Charles on clarinet and Eric Normand on electric bass & objects eschew idiom in favor of their unique natural language on their instruments, applying patient development of truly idiosyncratic and fascinating command through a single extended work punctuated in seven diverse passages.
From 2008-16 until drummer Frank Rosaly moved to Amsterdam, alto saxophonist Nick Mazzarella's Trio was an active part of Chicago's creative jazz scene; in early 2018 Rosaly returned for a visit and Mazzarella composed a suite of 6 new pieces to commemorate the trio's tenth anniversary, the exuberant result this excellent concert recorded at Co-Prosperity Sphere!
A beautiful solo set of 12 improvisations, Michael Attias performing on alto sax with his left hand and piano with his right, captured in the natural reverberation of La Maison en Bois in Abeville-La-Riviere, France; surprisingly his 1st solo album, developed over 12 years yet played in under an hour with no retakes, a wonderful nuanced reflection in tone, melody & color.
A beautifully hypnotic album of saxophone, accompanied by Pan-Ney, Shruti Box and Organ, recorded in overdubs by composer/wind player Werner Durand in this 2nd chapter of his trilogy focused on the Pan-Ney, a self-built instrument for repetitive foundations, as Durand draws on elements of nature, mythology, dance, religion, literature and folklore.