A trans-national collaboration of superb improvisers working in minimally rugged, pointillist terrain, creating engrossing aural environments fueled by masterful technique and creative drive.

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.

A collection of standards, covers, and Blake originals recorded at WGBH Studio in Boston in 1998, half of the album solo piano, half in duos with guitarist David Fabris and clarinetist Guillermo Gregorio; a wonderfully paced album showing the distinctive approach Blake brings to jazz by merging elements of compositional, gospel, folk, blues and more.

West Coast oboist and english horn improviser composes a startlingly enjoyable work based on Matt Shears' book of recursive, encyclopedic poetry of the same name: 10 pieces colliding elements of skronk, spoken word, fried electroacoustic noise and dark prog within a Creative Music framework, with a core quartet of Aram Shelton, Jason Hoopes and Jordan Glenn, plus guest Weston Olencki and a large cast of readers.

Soprano & tenor saxophonist Noah Kaplan leads a quartet with Joe Morris on guitar, Giacomo Merega on electric bass, and Jason Nazary on drums, performing Kaplan original compositions and Johnny Green's "Body and Soul", taking melodic material and stretching it in unconventional and often microtonal ways; sophisticated and forward-thinking jazz.

A tremendous one-night engagement by late saxophone colossus David S. Ware and his latter day Trio with William Parker on bass and Warren Smith on drums, in an intimate club setting at Blue Note in New York City on October 4, 2010, the last time this trio came together, the previous an electrifying set at Vision Festival in June of 2015.

New compositions from bassist William Parker, two CDs with the first performed by the William Parker Quartet of Hamid Drake on drums, Rob Brown on sax, and Jalalu-Kalvert Nelson on trumpet, the second with his In Order to Survive quartet with Brown, Drake, and Coooper-Moore on piano; a tremendous album of beautiful melodies and infectious rhythms.

A decade after their last album "Dim Bulb", "The Dull Blade" follows up with the trio of Chris Corsano on drums and duel saxophonist Steve Baczkowski and Paul Flaherty, recorded live in the studio at New Haven, Connecticut's Firehouse 12, an incredible album of fiery and ferocious playing with an outsider jazz attitude; brilliant.

Pianist Myra Melford's original trio with Reggie Nicholson on drums and Lindsey Horner, her first in a long career of tremendous collaboration, presents a superb example of melodic playing balancing free and traditional structures with effusive joy and profound skill, captured live at Der Club, in Heiligenhaus, Germany in 1993.

The trio of Portuguese saxophonist Amado with Kent Kessler and Paal Nilssen-Love return for a 2nd album, an homage to Italian painter Giorgio de Chirico with a nod to Oliver Nelson.

The 4th release on Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado's European Echoes label has the leader in a trio with fellow Portuguese musicians cellist Miguel Mira and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini in meditative to muscular modern jazz.

The sixth album as a leader from the Vancouver-born, Brooklyn-based pianist Davis, composing for the inspired working group of Mat Maneri (viola), Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Trevor Dunn (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums & glockenspiel).

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.

Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York in a work based on the Chinese zodiac, referred to as "Eto", in a celebration of husband and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura's 60th birthday, and of the 12 animals of the zodiac.

Primarily a bass and guitar duo between Portugese natives Joao Hasselberg, on double bass and electric, and electric guitarist Pedro Branco, here in their second album together of delicately sophisticated string improvisations, joined by a a great set of collaborators to expand the duo to trio and quartet.

An expansive album blending acoustic and electronic instruments in unique ways, creating a tapestry of sound as a framework for creative improvisation, composed by drummer Dre Hocevar & performed in an ensemble that includes some of New York's finest young improvisers.

A superb trio of NY improvisers and composers whose collective work bridges the divide between free playing and jazz tradition, a kind of avant swinging bebop.

Joining noise rock and free jazz, the Louis Minus XVI quartet is fronted by two saxophonists--Adrien Douliez on alto and Jean Baptiste Rubin on tenor--with Maxime Petit on bass and Frederic L'homme on drums, in a balanced album of powerful and introspective compositions.

With members of Sao Paulo Underground, Pharoah and The Underground, and Chicago Underground, cornetist/electroacoustic artist Rob Mazurek leads a quintet with Mauricio Takara (drums), Thomas Rohrer (winds), Philip Somervell (piano) and Guilherme Granado (keys) through a unexpected confluence of styles to create an otherworldly blend of spiritual music.

London master drummer Steve Noble (Rip Rig and Panic, Derek Bailey), a mainstay on the scene for decades, with Scandinavian free improvising saxophonist Kristoffer Berre Alberts (Cortex, Saka, Starlite Motel) for a live album of uproariously driven, skronky free jazz.

A wild dialog between Swiss trumpeter Marco von Orelli and saxophonist Udo Schindler, recording live at the 58th SALON for Klang+Kunst in Krailing/Munich in 2015, using an insanely advanced set of techniques and approaches to their horns for intense and exultant effect.

The second release from prolific Chicago-based drummer/composer Tim Daisy's two year-old working trio, Vox Arcana with Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello & electronics and James Falzone on clarinet.

The second release from prolific Chicago-based drummer/composer Tim Daisy's two year-old working trio, Vox Arcana with Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello & electronics and James Falzone on clarinet.

Swedish trumpeter Magnus Broo (Atomic, Ken Vandermark, &c. &c.) in his new group with Torbjorn Zetterberg, Joe Williamson and Hakon Maset Johansen, 8 original creative compositions.

The complete performance at the 2010 Freedom of the City festival by the 38-member LIO with guest Wadada Leo Smith and conductions by Alison Blunt, Steve Beresford, Philipp Wachsmann, Caroline Kraabel, and Dave Tucker.

Collaborators since 1998, NY hyperpianist Denman Maroney's playing is captured and processed by Hans Tammen, who also plays the "endangered guitar" and electronics, in a spectacular and thought-provoking album of techniques and concepts.

TILT Brass is a Brooklyn-based experimental music organization led by Chris McIntyre dedicated to expanding contemporary brass performance via two ensembles, TILT Creative Brass Band (CBB) and TILT SIXtet.

A stunning example of modern creative improv from the duo of bassists Peter Frey and Daniel Studer, in concert with configurations of duos, trios and one septet, with performers including John Butcher, Hans Koch, Magda Mayas, Jacques Demierre, Gerry Hemingway, &c. &c.

Jean-Luc Guionnet creates a portrayal of Lake Annecy near his home as described through its geographical location, and heard in a series of snapshot field recording compositions that describe the environment, fauna, people and civilization that abound around it.

Previously played Squidco store copy, used for cataloging and samples, in excellent condition.

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Goh Lee Kwang performing on no-input mixer meets Julien Ottavi on TamTam, bass drum and a computer running Puredata and Apodio 10 for an album of electronic improvisation recorded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Nantes, France, balancing aggressive and meditative sound.

A dynamic set of wind and object improvisations from multi-reedist Hans Koch, using extended techniques to elicit a diverse and astounding range of sounds from his instruments, and Thomas Peter creating indescribable sound on amplified objects and live electronics.

Originally a side-project of douBt, this new electric jazz/rock trio is led by Tony Bianco (drums and loops), Michel Delville (guitar, bouzouki and live effects), and Belgian saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist Jordi Grognard.

New release by Stir (Yves Charuest, Agusti Fernandez, Nicolas Caloia, Peter Valsamis). Montreal based improvised music with special guest pianist Agusti Fernandez from Spain).

Drawing from the spirit of free jazz, pianist Simon Nabatov's new trio with Dominik Mahnig on drums and Stefan Schonegg on bass, are caught live at the LOFT in Cologne, Germany in 2015 for a superb concert of jazz that balances captivating lyrical material with exciting free passages, taking unexpected directions that constantly engage.

The 3rd part of NY/Brazilian saxophonist Ivo Perelman's "Art of the Improv Trio" series, with Matthew Shipp on piano and Gerald Cleaver on drums, each an essential element in the interplay and subtle skills of these masterful players, with Perelman's voice exceptionally strong as he demonstrates the full range of his sax through free and melodic passage.

"Our part is one half; listeners make up the other half. Your focused listening and your assessment of the formulation, stories, shapes, meanings, and design-arrived at by your experience with the music-provides the part of our action t...

The trio of Daunik Lazro on baritone and tenor saxophone, Jean-Luc Cappozzo on trumpet & flugelhorn and Didier Lasserre on drums, alternate jazz standards from Duke Ellington (Sophisticated Lady; Hop Head), John Coltrane (Lonnie's Lament), Albert Ayler (Angels), with original compositions and the 3-part "Garden", all in the varied traditions of jazz.

An unusual and captivating work from the trio of saxophonist Alexandra Grimal, double bassist Benjaim Duboc, and cellist Valentin Ceccaldi, leading their album with tracks from "Respirer l'ombre" by Giuseppe Penone "spontaneously used without permission but with great admiration," leading to powerful and unpredictable directions in free improvisation; excellent.

A 2-part single improvisation recorded live at la Maison Peinte, Labarthe-sur-Leze in 2014 from Jean-Luc Capozzo on trumpet & flugelhorn, and drummer Didier Lasserre, showing a great range of style and dynamic in gutsy playing using powerful technique and creative interaction.

Accordionist and electronic artist Robert Kusiolek conceived of the 7 chapter "Nuntium" project, which intersects free improvisation with jazz tradition, world, and modern music.

Guitarist Luis Lopes (Humanization 4tet, Lisbon-Berlin Trio) is known for his mix of jazz, blues, rock; saxophonist Guionnet (The Fish, Hubub) for a mix of free jazz and electroacoustic experimentation; together live they create a riveting and unexpected hybrid of sound.

Guitarist Joacim Nyberg, also performing on double bass, bell and recorder, in a live performance in Stockholm, Sweden at Fylkingen in 2014, using "Wood, steel, air. Hands, fingers, heart" in an open-ended and ardent exposition of his interpretation of jazz.

Straight-ahead jazz from the NY quartet of Jochen Ruekert (drums), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Brad Shepik (guitar) and Matt Penman (bass) performing Ruekert originals plus Herbie Hancock's "Sorcerer".

A quartet of thoroughly modern and innovative improvisers - violinist Carlos Alves "Zingaro", trumpeter Jean Luc Cappozzo, flutist and bass clarinetist Jerome Bourdellon, and percussionist Nicolas Lelievre - performing at "Live At Total Meeting", 2010.

Instant compositions on from Nicola L. Hein on guitar and Mia Zabelka on violin, both versed in soundscape and sonic sculptures, using extended techniques to create dense but dynamic sonic landscapes with significant room for silence.

New York bassist Max Johnson expands his piano trio of Kris Davis on piano and Mike Pride on drums with Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar, adding an eclectic Western flavor to overall on-point, anchored and driven modern jazz of a high order, balancing lyrical playing with moments of free collective playing, in a beautiful and extraordinary album.

Japanese vibraphonist and marimba player Taiko Saito is a contemporary classical player well established in the field of improv, joined by long-time collaborator, pianist Niko Meinhold, and here expanded with Tobias Schirmer on clarinet and bass clarinet for an album that uses solid compositional foundations for lyrical and contemplative modern music.

A superb example of contemporary collective improvisation crossing from acoustic improvisation into electroacoustic material from the quartet of Joachim Badenhorst on clarinets, Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Goncalo Almeida on double bass, keyboards & effects, and Greg Smith on drums & laptop, performing live at Jazzcase series Dommelhof, 2016.

Rob Mazurek solo works are brilliant displays of honest, lyrical and emotional playing, here recording in Rome for Radio Roma, bringing the cornet to the foreground, starting with a piece only on the horn, then adding electronics, piano, and prepared piano for a set of ethereal and spiritual improvisations that are not bound by any specific genre.

A unconventional yet lyrical album of creative jazz from the New York quartet of Angelika Niescier on alto sax, Denman Maroney on hyperpiano, James Ilgenfritz on contrabass, and Andrew Drury on percussion, Maroney's piano preparations and Drury's objects complementing complex time signatures and intricate notated materials that yield lush, beautiful music.

The 2nd recorded outing of this Oslo based improvising quartet, comprised of 3 young Norwegian players -- Katrine Shiott (cello), Jan Martin Gismervik (drums), and Jonas Cambien (piano & keys) -- with fRench clarinetist Xavier Charles, performing subtle collective improvisation using extended techniques, eclectic percussion, and piano preparations.

Double Bassist Eric Revis expands his concepts in this outstanding album with fellow New Yorkers, pianist Kris Davis and drummer Chad Taylor, and Chicago reedist Ken Vandermark on tenor saxophone, with all four players providing compositions that push the limit on structure and form while opening up the players to superb soloing settings of great modern jazz.

Deep Blues and Creative Jazz from the Italian septet Roots Magic, following up their "Hoodoo Magic" CD with another compelling album of instrumentals where the track list consists of personal renditions of Delta Blues classics (mostly Charlie Patton) played with an overtly exploratory attitude derived from the Free Jazz tradition.

A central figure in the Portuguese creative music scene, from the pop group GNR to free improv in Telectu to contemporary composition, guitarist Vitor Rua presents a 2-CD album, one multi-tracking solo in complex and astonishing ways, and the 2nd playing the same scores with his group The Metaphysical Angels of top figures in the Portuguese avant jazz scene.

Pronounced as "knife", this new project from NY trumpeter Nate Wooley brings together Chris Pitsiokos on alto sax, Brandon Lopez on bass, and Dre Hocevar on drums in a fresh take on the concepts of free jazz, using short material composed by Wooley and based on the poetry of Aram Saroyan, used in looping and repeating structures that never sound as such.

The Snus trio of Niklas Barno (trumpet), Joel Grip (bass) and Didier Lasserre (drums) return for their second album, an addictive mix of free jazz and free improv, subtle to skronking music of great beauty and power.

The Boston-based BOLT quartet of Jorrit Dijkstra (sax), Eric Hofbauer (guitar), Junko Fujiwara (cello), Eric Rosenthal (drums) chose the 19 pieces on this release from 36 improvised pieces, ranging from "energy-orgies of free jazz [to] sparse electronic soundscapes".