West Coast jazz musicians Mears, Tiner, Kikuchi and Johnson in a fiery set of original compositions from shuffle swing to free jazz blowouts, liner notes by Leo Smith.

A mercurial and beautiful record from the trio led by tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, with pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn and bassist Michael Formaneck with a unique, introspective and lovely group sound.

Trumpeter Evan's Quartet with Ricardo Gallo, Tom Blancarte and Kevin Shea at the 2009 Jazz em Agosto Festival brilliantly restructuring jazz standards into collective compositions.

Saxophonist Fefer's NY based trio with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Chad Taylor play an ecstatic and spiritually charged modern jazz style with great drive and expressiveness.

Multiphonic trombonist Fiedler in a trio playing nine original Fiedler compositions.

Extended harmolodic free-jazz following the classic models of Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy using odd time signatures, beats, and quirky turn-arounds.

Frequent collaborators Fields and Schubert on electric guitar and tenor saxophone performing innovative and virtuosic material in ways that sound much larger than a duo setting would imply.

Originally released in 1995 on Field's own Geode label, these compositions for choreographer Li Chiao-Ping use complex rhythms and tonalities in a serial pitch "system of circles".

A live concert of Fields' Quite Large Orchestra (aka Multiple Joyce Orchestra) with Frank Gratkowski, Christina Fuchs, Thomas Lehn, Carl Hubsch, &c. &c. performing modular compositions for improvising chamber group, plus an homage to Merzbow.

Recorded in 1996 and first released by Music and Arts, this is perhaps Scott Fields' most important recording session to date: intricate compositions and superior interplay with his Chicago peers of Hamid Drake, Marilyn Crispell, and Hans Sturm.

Matthew White's collective Fight the Big Bull nonet utilizes the history of jazz in compsitions that refer to Blind Willie Johnson, Charles Mingus, Art Ensemble, &c. &c.

The debut release of bassist Ken Filiano's quartet, Quantum Entanglements, with Michael Attias, Tony Malaby and Michael T.A. Thompson, playing all Filiano original compositions.

The long-running trio of alto saxophonist Jean-Luc Guionnet and drummer Edward Perraud (Hubbub) and bassist Benjamin Duboc in a studio album of intense and expressive free jazz in the Albert Ayler tradition.

Recorded after a tour in Netherlands, Germany & Belgium, Jorrit Djikstra's Flatlands Collective crosses Europe and Chicago with players Jeb Bishop, Jason Roebke, Fred Lonberg-Holm, &c.

Toronto drummer and composer Nick Fraser in a superb trio with saxophonist Tony Malaby and pianist Kris Davis, performing Fraser originals that merge free improvisation, jazz and avant compositional approaches with astonishing solos from all three.

Taking their band name from an Ornette Coleman album, this European quintet presents new compositions in the style of Ornette, Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders and John Carter, ecstatic free jazz with a hard bop foundation, extended with modern technique and experience.

Helen Mirra uses the index of a W.G. Sebald's novel to create a mysterious, intriguing and fascinating audio world, performed by Mirra on printing press and acoustic guitar, and Fred Frith on rainsticks, mbira, charango, music box, voice, shoes and other objects.

Sax, bass clarinet and flutist Nobuyasu Furuya is a free player migrated from Japan to Lisbon, Portugal, here in a trio with bassist Hernani Faustino and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini.

Tierra de Nadie is Colombian pianist Ricardo Gallo's project with bassist Mark Helias, trombonist Ray Anderson, saxophonist Dan Blake, and drummer Satoshi Takeishi and Pheeroan AkLaff.

Classical pianist Joana Gama and live electronic processing artist Luis Fernandes bridge compositional and experimental forms in this lyrical work, where Fernandes transforms, dissects, loops and otherwise mutates the Gama's playing in unexpected and elegant ways.

Tenor saxophonist Gauci & trumpeter Nate Wooley with the dual bass backbone of Mike Bisio and Ingebrigt Haker Flaten in original compositions using extended instrumental techniques.

Trumpeter Magnus Broo with pianist Sten Sandell's Trio of bassist Johan Berthling and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, here with Sandell on the Hammond organ.

Dallas based Dennis Gonzalez with three stellar New York improvisers in an oustanding set including the 6 part Arikanu Suite, live at Tonic, NYC in 2003.

First meetings between Texan trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez met Portuguese pianist Joao Paulo, playing a delicate, beautiful music full of spirituality, nuance and drive.

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.

The second release from Germany's Grunen Trio of Achim Kaufmann on piano, Robert Landfermann on double bass and Christian Lillinger on drums, a superb and forward-thinking piano trio using prodigious talent in eccentric ways, resolving to lyrical and rewarding improvisation.

Berlin-based saxophonist Boris Hauf's sextet with Keefe Jackson (sax), Jason Stein (bass clarinet), Frank Rosaly (drums), Steve Hess (drums & electronics) and Michael Hartman (drums) in 4 extended pieces of boiling intensity.

German born, NY based trumpeter Heberer's trio with clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst and bassist Pascal Niggenkemper performing Heberer's "cliff" works blending composition and improvisation.

Bassist John Hebert continues to explore his Louisana/Cajun roots with his trio of Benoit Delbecq on piano (plus synth & electronics) and drummer Gerald Cleaver, challenging and enigmatic improvisation with a solid rhythmic center.

Bassist Hebert's Trio with French pianist and synth player Benoit Delbecq and drummer Gerald Cleaver, expansive and spacious jazz with a beautiful spirituality.

Ranging from trio to septet, Herculaneum incorporates a chamber aesthetic into modern improvisational aesthetic with graceful expressiveness and compositional power.

The German born NYC-based trio of quarter-tone trumpeter Thomas Heberer, drummer Joe Hertenstein and bassist Pascal Niggenkemperer, bringing European perspectives to jazz with a NY flavor.

Drummer Joe Herteinstein's followup to his 1st Clean Feed HNH album from his New York trio with Pascal Niggenkemper on bass and Thomas Heberer on cornet, adding a New York attitude to European modern jazz, with oustanding playing using a mix of traditional and inventive approaches.

A multinational jazz trio using compositional and improvisational approaches, led by drummer Dre Hocevar, with Bram De Looze on piano, and Lester St. Louis on cello, plus NY electronics artist Sam Pluta providing signal processing on the title track.

Accordionist and Braxton protege Holshouser's Trio with pianist Bernardo Sassetti play jazz incorporating world musics like cajun, klezmer, tango, gypsy songs, &c.

Tenor saxophonist Keefe Jackson's quartet with trombonist Jeb Bishop, bassist Jason Roebke and drummer Noritaka Tanaka, creative Chicago jazz from an active set of windy city players.

Italian Transalpine reedist Piero Bittolo (El Gallo Rojo) in his oddly named trio playing freeform jazz with a groovy accent, refined technique, imagination, soul and guts.

With links to Foton Quartet, Rob Mazurek, Nicole Mitchell, Keith Rowe, Kevin Drumm, Matt Bauder, &c, the Polish & German quartet of Anna Kaluza (sax), Artur Majewski (trumpet), Rafal Mazur (guitar) & Kuba Suchar (drums) perform a perfect blend of bebop, free forms, west coast jazz and free improvisation.

"Grunen" (The Greening) is a live totally improvised recording from the trio of pianist Achim Kaufmann, bassist Robert Landfermann, and drummer Christian Lillinger.

Trumpeter Kirk Knuffke's New York working band with Reuben Radding, Jeff Davis and Brian Drye showing influences of Lester Bowie, Lacy, &c. in free swinging compositions.

Trumpeter Kirk Knuffke in a NY trio with clarinetist Doug Wieselman and drummer Kenny Wollesen, all part of Butch Morris' Nublu Orchestra and frequent Zorn collaborators.

Tenor, soprillo saxophonist & flautist Jonas Kullhammar's trio with Torbjorn Zetterberg (bass) and Espen Aalberg (drums) is extended to a quartet with tenor saxophonist Jorgen Mathisen, in the 3rd "Basement Sessions" release recorded live at the 5th Ljubljana Jazz Festival.

The saxophone trio of Jonas Kullhammar, bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg and drummer Espen Aalberg, the 2nd release in their Basement Sessions merging bop and free European forms in masterful ways.

The Luso-Canadian trio Lama (Susana Santos Silva-trumpet; Goncalo Almeida-bass; Greg Smith-drums/electronics) join forces with NY reedist Chris Speed to perform these superb electro-chamber works recorded during the Portalegre Jazz Fest.

Crossing tonal material with post-bop playing, trumpeter Susana Santos Silva leads her LAMA trio in electroacoustic and traditional playing, with guest reedist Joachim Badenhorst adding a masterful edge, as they interpret the novel by the Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago.

The trio LAMA comes from the dynamic and inventive Portuguese jazz scene, formed by bassist and composer Goncqalo Almeida & trumpeter/electronics artist Susana Santos Silva, with Candian drummer Greg Smith.

2 CDs from the amazing little big band of bassist Lane, with trumpeters Nate Wooley & Taylor Ho Bynum, saxophonist David Bindman, trombonists Tim Vaughn & Reut Regev, & drummer Igal Foni.

A joyful and sophisticated performance from bassist and leader Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra, an 8-piece band including Nate Wooley, Susana Silva, Reut Regev, David Bindman, Avram Fefer, Adam Lane & Igal Foni performing live at the 53rd Ljubljana Jazz Festival.

Drummer Luther Gray's Lawnmower bridges jazz and rock with blues-tinged sonic underpinning from dual guitarists, with saxophonist Jim Hobbs lyrical and unique voice leading the way.

Cellist Daniel Levin's quartet with Nate Wooley on trumpet, Peter Bitenc on bass and Matt Moran on vibraphone performing live at the Jazz ao Centro Festival, Salao Brazil.

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

Cellist Daniel Levin with Nate Wooley, Matt Moran and Peter Bitenc performing live at Roulette, NYC in 2008, improv based on words and concepts instead of song structures.

Daniel Levin's quartet with trumpeter Nate Wooley, vibraphonist Matt Moran and bassist Peter Bitenc, modern and organic improvisation with incredible technique and aesthetic.

Cellist Daniel Levin's trio with Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten and Gerald Cleaver in a set of original compositions from one of contempory jazz's masters of cello improvisation.

The "Inner Landscape" of cellist Daniel Levin's playing in a 6-part solo release of pure improvisation as Levin finds his music in real time through spontaneous play and surprise.

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