The Squid's Ear Magazine
Squidco Freedom Sale! July 3-6, Save 10% to 15% on all new items!

  Recently Restocked

Albums which we have recently restocked, listed in most recently restocked order. Some quantities will be limited, particularly for older albums. This page is updated after every catalog refresh, typically Tuesdays & Thursdays.



Frank London / The Elders: Spirit Stronger Than Blood (ESP)

Paying homage to recordings from Mingus, Sanders, Thornton, &c, albums that shaped his approach to jazz composition and playing, trumpeter Frank London and his band The Elders--Marilyn Lerner, piano; Hilliard Greene, bass; Newman Taylor Baker, drums; and Greg Wall on sax on 3 tracks--perform six sophisticated London compositions that bridge modern improv with 60s post-bop lyricism.



William: Parker Conversations IV [BOOK] (RogueArt)

The fourth book in New York improvising bassist William Parker's interview with other improvisers, here with 29 interviews, and 24 works of art by Jeff Schlangler; interviews include Peter Brötzmann, Darius Jones, Ava Mendoza, Zeena Parkins, Tom Rainey, Bobby Zankel, Evan Parker, James Brandon Lewis, Micheal Bisio, Mario Pavone, Taylor Ho Bynum, &c.



Marion Brown Quartet: Mary Ann (Live In Bremen 1969) [2 CDs] (Moosicus)

A beautifully recorded session at Germany's Club Lila Eule for Radio Bremen from 1969 by the Marion Brown Quartet, his touring band at the time with AACM legendary drummer Steve McCall and German double bassist Siggi Busch and trombonist Ed Kröger, performing eight solid free jazz pieces including "Ode to Coltrane" and "Juba Lee"; a spectacular addition to Brown's discography.



Henry Cow: Glastonbury, Chaumont, Bilbao And The Lions Of Desire (ReR Megacorp)

Expanding on the history of Henry Cow in new recordings discovered after the 19-CD Cow Redux box, including: a well-recorded concert at the the first Glastonbury Fayre in 1972, the earliest recordings of the quartet of Martin Ditcham, Fred Frith, John Greaves and Tim Hodgkinson; a 1978 grouping with Phil Minton; unrecorded compositions from 1977 in Bilbao; and a 1976 Chaumont Concert.



Myra Melford's Fire And Water Quintet: For The Love Of Fire And Water (RogueArt)

Few quintets deserve the designation of super-group more than pianist Myra Melford's quintet with Mary Halvorson on guitar, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano saxophones, Tomeka Reid on cello and Susie Ibarra on drums & percussion, performing Melford's wonderfully inventive 10-part composition.



Matthew Shipp / Evan Parker: Leonine Aspects (RogueArt)

Meeting in France in 2017 for the Festival Météo de Mulhouse, Evan Parker alternating between soprano and tenor saxophones and Matthew Shipp on acoustic piano, present an epic extended improvisation that naturally evolves through several sections, followed by a brief post-script, each musician attentively focused as they support the clarity of each other's playing.



The: Necks Mosquito / See Through (Recommended Records)



Fred Frith / Zorn, John: The Art of Memory II (Recommended Records)

Idiosyncratic improvisation with a strange set of tools from two master musicians, fascinating recordings from 1983-85 in the blossoming downtown NY scene.



Schlippenbach / Parker / Edwards / Prevost: 3 Nights at Cafe Oto (Matchless)

Presenting 3 CDs, a DVD, and a solid 80-page book of images and text, capturing 3 nights at Cafe Oto from the trio of Evan Parker (tenor sax), John Edwards (double bass), and Eddie Prevost (drums), joined one night by Alexander v. Schlippenbach, and another night by Christof Thewes.



Smith Quartet with John Tilbury: Morton Feldman: Music for Piano and Strings Volume 3 [DVD-AUDIO] (Matchless)

Recorded live at the Huddersfield Festival of Contemporary Music in 2006, this is the 3rd and final volume of works by Morton Feldman performed by the Smith Quartet with John Tilbury on piano, recorded in high quality DVD audio and with extensive liner notes by Tilbury.



AMM with Sachiko M: Testing (Matchless)

A rare meeting between Japanese minimalist Sachiko M and AMM's Eddie Prévost and John Tilbury, recorded in 2004 at London's Museum of Garden History, where sine wave precision meets tactile percussion and spacious piano in an intricate electroacoustic improvisation that explores silence, texture, and the fragile tension of deep collective listening.



Eddie: Prevost Loci Of Change (Matchless)

Breaking from the AMM collective, British percussionist Eddie Prévost's 1996 solo debut showcases six studio-recorded works highlighting expressive momentum and textural nuance through innovative drumming and cymbal techniques, crafting layered and intense sonic landscapes with extraordinary skill and the inventive application of external objects.



John Butcher / Eddie Prevost : Interworks (Matchless)



Bertrand Denzler / John Edwards / Eddie Prevost: "All-in-All [en tout en pour tout]" Meetings With Remarkable Saxophonists | Volume 4 (Matchless)

The final of 4 volumes documenting a series of concerts Eddie Prevost organised at the Network Theatre in London, trio sessions featuring the finest modern free improvising saxophonists, here with Bertrand Denzler on sax and bassist John Edwards accompanying.



Sebastian Lexer / Evan Parker / Eddie Prevost: Tri-Borough Triptych (Matchless)

3 recordings from 3 live concerts in 3 London boroughs, including the 2012 Freedom of the City Festival, bringing together master improvisers Evan Parker (saxophone), Eddie Prevost (Percussion) and Sebastian Lexer (piano) for unpredictable and exhilarating dialog.



Tom Chant / John Edwards / Eddie Prevost: All Change (Matchless)

Recorded in concert at The Network Theatre, Waterloo in London, 2012, the trio of Tom Chant on saxophone, John Edwards on bass and Eddie Prevost on drums present a tour de force of modern free jazz with great technical and conversational power.



Catchpole / Edwards / Prevost: Beyond the Barrier (Matchless)

Superb free improvisation from the UK trio of Nathaniel Catchpole on tenor sax, John Edwards on double bass, and Eddie Prevost on drums and bowed tam-tam, three generations of improvisers pushing the envelope of spontaneous composition in accomplished and playful dialog.



Ikeda / Prevost: The Whole Moon Rests in a Dewdrop on the Grass (Matchless)

Performing live at Cafe OTO in London, 2018, Japanese sound artist and composer Ken Ikeda comes together with percussionist and Matchless label-leader Eddie Prevost for a concert of resonant, rich improvisation, Ikeda's electronics complementing Prevost's bowed cymbals as the duo builds to a diverse offering of powerful yet controlled sonic uproar; stunning.



John Butcher / Eddie Prevost: Visionary Fantasies (Matchless)

A series of inspired solo and duo performances from AMM founder, percussionist Eddie Prevost and free improvising saxophonist John Butcher, captured live at London's Iklectik in 2018, splitting the album between solo and duo work as the two morph their instruments into incredible sonic devices, with intense concentration and dialog nothing short of fantastic.



Cordame: Cordame (Malasartes)



Francois Carrier Ensemble feat. Stanko / Maneri / Peacock / Lambert: Openness [3 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

As part of his annual concert series with local & international artists & musicians, in 2006 Montreal saxophonist Francois Carrier reached out to Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko to perform at Theatre La Chapelle, recording over two days as a quintet with long-time collaborator, drummer Michel Lambert, and legendary improvisers Mat Maneri on viola and Gary Peacock on double bass.



Michel Doneda / Le Quan Ninh / Nuria Andorra: El Retorn De L'escolta (A La Memoria De Marianne Brull) (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A powerful live performance recorded at Barcelona's L'Auditori in tribute to the late patron of free improvisation, Marianne Brull, capturing the first meeting of soprano saxophonist Michel Doneda, percussionist Lê Quan Ninh, and Barcelona-based improviser Núria Andorrà in a set of radical listening and deep interaction exploring spontaneous collective expression.



Charles Gayle / Szilard Mezei Quartet Bass: Oils (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A 2009 live performance at the 15th Magyarkanizsa Jazz Festival in Serbia between Hungarian violist and composer Szilárd Mezei and US saxophonist Charles Gayle, an evocative meeting of transcendent free jazz and compositional precision, weaving Mezei's intricate scores with Gayle's profound, soul-searching improvisations; a dynamic and fiery celebration of freedom and expression.



Izumi Kimura / Artur Majewski / Barry Guy / Ramon Lopez: Kind Of Light (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

After performing at the Ad Libitum Festival 2021, FSR's Maciej Karlowski organized this recording at Agnieszka Osiecka Polish Radio Concert Hall in Warsaw, bringing together four masterful improvisers from four countries: pianist Izumi Kimura (Japan/Ireland), cornetist Artur Majewski (Poland), bassist Barry Guy (The UK) and drummer/percussionist Ramon Lopez (Spain).



Leandre / Lotte Anker / Kersten Osgood: Worlds (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A riveting live performance from the 2023 Copenhagen Jazz Festival by Joëlle Léandre, Lotte Anker, and Kresten Osgood, whose trio of bass, saxophones, and drums delivers an enthralling journey through three improvisational worlds, blending spontaneity, profound interplay, and virtuosic intensity in a masterful exploration of sound and emotion.



Ivo Perelman / Tyshawn Sorey: Paralell Aesthetics [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A fearless and fluid exchange between saxophonist Ivo Perelman and drummer/pianist Tyshawn Sorey, this double album captures the duo's extraordinary chemistry, shifting between blistering intensity and spacious, exploratory passages as Sorey alternates between drums and piano, forging intricate dialogues with Perelman's masterful phrasing in a boundless and deeply expressive sonic journey.



Simon Nabatov / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey: Assamblage (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A far-ranging transatlantic trio session from pianist Simon Nabatov, bassist Mark Helias, and drummer Tom Rainey, capturing a dynamic fusion of composed and collective free jazz, as Nabatov's intricate compositions burst with frenetic energy, shifting between exuberant rhythmic interplay, explosive improvisation, and richly textured sonic landscapes in an electrifying set of performances.



New Origin (feat. Christoph Rocher / Joe Fonda / Harvey Sorge): The Poet Walks (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Formed from a transatlantic friendship and deep musical rapport, the trio of clarinetist Christophe Rocher, bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Harvey Sorgen create an inspired and richly expressive set of improvisations, balancing melodic clarity and spontaneous invention in a lyrical program that reflects themes of presence, connection, and creative renewal.



Satoko Fujii / Joe Fonda: Thread Of Light (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

The enduring and innately lyrical collaboration of Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii and NY bassist Joe Fonda, first heard in 2016 with Duet, through 2019's Four with trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, continues despite the constraints of a pandemic in these 10 improvisations recorded separately in Kobe and at Fonda's home, with Fonda also performing on cello & flute.



Izumi Kimura / Artur Majewski / Barry Guy / Ramon Lopez: Kind Of Shadow (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Complementing their 2022 release Kind Of Light, recorded the same day at Agnieszka Osiecka Polish Radio Concert Hall in Warsaw in 2021 after their performance at the Ad Libitum Festival, the quartet of Izumi Kimura on piano, Artur Majewski on trumpet & electronics, Barry Guy on bass and Ramon Lopez on drums & percussion release this magnificent 11-part improvisation.



Wadada Smith Leo / Joe Morris: Earth's Frequencies (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Delicately forceful, the live concert at Real Art Ways, in Hartford, Connecticut as part of the ImprovisatioNOW concert series, is a perfect encounter between two legendary New York improvisers--trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and guitarist Joe Morris--capturing five dialogs of impressive technique and creative expression, including references to Monk and Ma Rainey.



Joe Fonda / Bass of Operation: w/ Rabinovitz / Lederer / Sorgen (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Performing the lyrical compositions from the band's leader, this quartet — featuring Joe Fonda (bass), Michael Rabinowitz (bassoon), Jeff Lederer (clarinets & flutes), and Harvey Sorgen (drums) — explores a uniquely chamber-like soundscape, blending jazz and classical influences through intricately arranged compositions and inspired improvisations with a distinctively rich and unexpected ensemble voice.



Christer Bothen 3: L'INVISIBLE (thanatosis produktion)

A deeply intuitive trio session from Swedish bass clarinetist Christer Bothen with bassist Kansan Zetterberg (aka Torbjourn Zetterberg) and vibraphonist/drummer Kjell Nordeson, balancing lyrically meditative spaciousness with surging energy through dreamlike, open-ended improvisations that reflect Bothen's lifelong pursuit of spiritual expression in sound.



Vilhelm Bromander Unfolding Orchestra: Jorden Vi Arvde (thanatosis produktion)

A stunning second album from Swedish bassist and composer Vilhelm Bromander's Unfolding Orchestra, expanding on his acclaimed debut with richly textured, spiritually resonant compositions inspired by political urgency and environmental reflection, featuring a 13-piece ensemble delivering lush orchestrations, patient development, and profound, hopeful expression.



Herzog / Muche / Nillesen: Anasynthesi (thanatosis produktion)



Joe: Morris Perpetual Frontier The Properties of Free Music [BOOK] (Riti Publishing)

Joe Morris wrote this book to discuss aspects of free music, including responses to his questionnaire written by Joe McPhee, William Parker, Jamie Saft, Ken Vandermark, Marilyn Crispell, Nate Wooley, Jack Wright, Matthew Shipp, &c.



Adam O'Farrill : For These Streets (Out Of Your Head Records)

Brooklyn trumpeter Adam O'Farrill leads a superb octet — Mary Halvorson (guitar), Patricia Brennan (vibes), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), and others — through dramatically inventive compositions inspired by the literature and arts of the 1930s, balancing angular rhythmic intensity, rich melodic lyricism, and expressive improvisational depth with adventurous sophistication.



Hemphill Stringtet, The : Plays the Music of Julius Hemphill (Out Of Your Head Records)

Celebrating the profound compositional legacy of Julius Hemphill through inventive string adaptations of his saxophone quartet and sextet works, violinists Curtis Stewart and Sam Bardfeld, violist Stephanie Griffin, and cellist Tomeka Reid channel Abdul Wadud's expressive spirit, transforming Hemphill's blues-inflected jazz into vividly textured chamber improvisations with lyrical intensity.



Deerlady (Obomsawin, Mali / Magdalena Abrego): Greatest Hits [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)

A collection of songs exploring intimacy under colonialism by the writing duo of bassist and singer/lyricist Mali Obomsawin, a member of the Odanak First Nation and known for her work with the band Lula Wiles, and Chicago guitarist Magdalena Abrego, based in Cambridge, MA, featuring eight beautifully crafted pieces that showcase lyrical strength and astute observation.



Taylor Bynum Ho & SpiderMonkey Strings: Madeleine Dreams (Firehouse 12 Records)

The 2nd recording from cornetist Bynum's improvising chamber ensemble SpiderMonkey Strings in a narrative coming of age work using Bynum arrangements of Ornette, Sun Ra, & Elligton.



Mary Halvorson Trio : Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records)

Brooklyn guitarist Mary Halvorson in her 1st release with her trio of bassist John Hebert & drummer Ches Smith, experimenting with harmonic, melodic & rhythmic components.



Mary Halvorson Quintet: Bending Bridges (Firehouse 12 Records)

Brooklyn-based guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's second recording with her amazing working quintet of trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, bassist John Hebert, and drummer Ches Smith.



Mary: Halvorson Bending Bridges [2 VINYL LPs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Limited edition LP of Brooklyn-based guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's second recording with her amazing working quintet of trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, bassist John Hebert, and drummer Ches Smith.



Mary Halvorson Septet: Illusionary Sea (Firehouse 12 Records)

Mary Halvorson leads her Septet with Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Jon Irabagon (alto sax), Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Jacob Garchik (trombone), John Hebert (bass) & Ches Smith (drums) through 6 original compositions and a Robert Wyatt cover!



Taylor Bynum Ho: Navigation (Possibility Abstracts X & XI) [VINYL 2 LPs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

The 2nd of 3 releases documenting composer/cornetist Taylor Ho Bynums' Navigation project, in 2 LPs of studio recordings with his Sextet: Jim Hobbs on saxophone, Bill Lowe on trombone & tuba, Mary Halvorson on guitar, Ken Filiano on bass, and Tomas Fujiwara on drums & vibraphone.



Mary: Halvorson Meltframe (Firehouse 12 Records)

NY guitarist Mary Halvorson's solo album, worked out after a tour opening for King Buzzo, has her performing creative interpretations of works from modern composers like Roscoe Mitchell, Ornette Coleman, Oliver Nelson, & Tomas Fujiwara, back to Duke Ellington's "Solitude".



Mary Halvorson Octet: Away With You (Firehouse 12 Records)

Mary Halvorson continues her string of excellent modern jazz albums with this octet release with fellow guitarist Susan Alcorn, Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Jon Irabagon & Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Jacob Garchik (trombone), John Hebert (bass) and Ches Smith (drums).



Tomas Fujiwara : Triple Double (Firehouse 12 Records)

Drummer Tomas Fujiwara's sextet is actually two trios interacting, with fellow drummer Gerald Cleaver, both Mary Halvorson and Brandon Seabrook on guitar, and Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet and Ralph Alessi on trumpet, the pairings forming unisons and contrasts that add an unrestrained sense of enthusiasm and excitement to Fujiwara's sophisticated compositions.



Mary: Halvorson Away With You [VINYL 2 LPs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Mary Halvorson continues her string of excellent modern jazz albums with this octet release with fellow guitarist Susan Alcorn, Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Jon Irabagon & Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Jacob Garchik (trombone), John Hebert (bass) and Ches Smith (drums).



Taylor Bynum Ho : Enter the Plustet [VINYL] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum draws on a variety of techniques from improvised conduction to big band orchestration to deconstructed fanfares, with a large 15 member ensemble of impressive improvisers embodying a diversity of generations, backgrounds, ethnicities, and gender, presenting three large scale compositions that are ambitious and wonderfully accomplished.



Taylor Bynum Ho : Enter the Plustet [CD] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum draws on a variety of techniques from improvised conduction to big band orchestration to deconstructed fanfares, with a large 15 member ensemble of impressive improvisers embodying a diversity of generations, backgrounds, ethnicities, and gender, presenting three large scale compositions that are ambitious and wonderfully accomplished.



Mary Halvorson : Code Girl [2 CDs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Always open to new approaches, NY guitarist Mary Halvorson takes her trio with drummer Tomas Fujiwara and bassist Michael Formanek, adds trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and, in a twist of the thumbscrew, vocalist Amirtha Kidambi, for a mix of song and instrumental pieces that balance jazz and rock sensibilities with lyricism, intricate lines, and creative spirit.



Tomas Fujiwara : Triple Double [VINYL 2 LPs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Drummer Tomas Fujiwara's sextet is actually two trios interacting, with fellow drummer Gerald Cleaver, both Mary Halvorson and Brandon Seabrook on guitar, and Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet and Ralph Alessi on trumpet, the pairings forming unisons and contrasts that add an unrestrained sense of enthusiasm and excitement to Fujiwara's sophisticated compositions.



Taylor Bynum Ho 9-tette: The Ambiguity Manifesto (Firehouse 12 Records)

Grown from a sextet to this 9-tette, cornetist/composer Taylor Ho Bynum's ensemble brings together some of the finest improvisers from the Boston and New York scenes for compositions that merge orchestration and allow flexibility in interpretation, as heard in these 7 lyrical pieces, the last 3 turning the first 3 on their heads in reworked, expanded versions.



Taylor Bynum Ho 9-tette: The Ambiguity Manifesto [VINYL 2 LPs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

Grown from a sextet to this 9-tette, cornetist/composer Taylor Ho Bynum's ensemble brings together some of the finest improvisers from the Boston and New York scenes for compositions that merge orchestration and allow flexibility in interpretation, as heard in these 7 lyrical pieces, the last 3 turning the first 3 on their heads in reworked, expanded versions.



Mary Halvorson's Code Girl: Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12 Records)

The 2nd Code Girl release from guitarist Mary Halvorson presents an embraceable and ambitious set of songs from 8 poetic forms for which Halvorson composed words & music, 3 of which are sung by Robert Wyatt, the others by Amirtha Kidambi, in a band with Thumbscrew members Michael Formanek (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), plus Maria Grand (sax) and Adam O'Farrill (trumpet).



Mary Halvorson's Code Girl: Artlessly Falling [VINYL WHITE 2 LPs] (Firehouse 12 Records)

The 2nd Code Girl release from guitarist Mary Halvorson presents an embraceable and ambitious set of songs from 8 poetic forms for which Halvorson composed words & music, 3 of which are sung by Robert Wyatt, the others by Amirtha Kidambi, in a band with Thumbscrew members Michael Formanek (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), plus Maria Grand (sax) and Adam O'Farrill (trumpet).



Way Out Northwest (John Butcher / Tortsen Mueller / Dylan van der Shyff): The White Spot (Relative Pitch)

The UK and Vancouver meet for a second release under the Way Out Northwest name - British saxophone master John Butcher with bassist Torsten Muller and drummer Dylan van der Schyff - recording for Sonarchy Radio.



Matthew Shipp Chamber Ensemble: The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael (Relative Pitch)

Frequent collaborators, Matthew Shipp (piano) and Michael Bisio (bass) are joined by fellow Downtown New Yorker Mat Maneri on viola create what they refer to as a chamber ensemble, performing the 15 improvised and inspired chapters of Shipp & Bisio's "Gospel".



Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey: Buoyancy (Relative Pitch)

Drawing on several years and many shared projects, the duo of Ingrid Laubrock (sax) and Tom Rainey (drums) recorded this excellent album of sophisticated improvisation at the end of a 17-date tour, performing for a studio audience at Audio for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin.



Fred Van Hove / Roger Turner: The Corner (Relative Pitch)

Pioneering improvising pianist Fred Van Hove at UK's Cafe OTO for the first time, captured in a duo with UK drummer/percussionist Roger Turner, their first recording together, for a night of exceptional improvised interplay, sophisticated and complex playing that is constantly buoyant and charming, an enthralling conversation between two veteran players.



Ava: Mendoza New Spells (Relative Pitch)

A joint release between Astral Spirts and Relative Pitch, guitarist Ava Mendoza conjures five assertive and rugged "spells" performed on solo electric guitar, passionate works of raw technical skill and bold power as she improvises over two songs composed by herself, alongside pieces written for her from Devin Hoff, Trevor Dunn and John Dikeman.



John Blum / David Murray / Chad Taylor: The Recursive Tree (Relative Pitch)

An assertive album of collective free jazz from three masterful NYC players — John Blum (piano), David Murray (tenor sax) and Chad Taylor (drums) — recording in the studio for eight high-octane improvisations inspired by the mathematical and natural concept of recursion, comparing nature's expansive growth with the growth of jazz through the incremental expansion of ideas and influences.



Steve: Lacy November (Intakt)

The late soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy performing his final solo set in 2003 at the Unerhort! Festival in Zurich, a very personal and introspective set that goes straight to the heart.



Stephan Crump / Mary Halvorson (Secret Keeper): Super Eight (Intakt)

Brooklyn based bassist Stephan Crump (Rosetta Trio) and guitarist Mary Halvorson (MAP, Braxton, &c) perform duos recorded at Butler Plaza in Brooklyn, 2011, thoroughly modern improvisation from two of NY's finest young players.



James Lewis Brandon Quartet : Transfiguration (Intakt)

With a rare ability to play hard-hitting jazz while maintaining a lyrical sense to his compositions, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis' new studio album from his quartet of Aruan Ortiz on piano, Brad Jones on bass and Chad Taylor on drums is the fourth album from this working band, demonstrating their strong group affinity that invokes impressive soloing from all four.



James Lewis Brandon Quartet: Molecular Systematic Music: Live [2 CDs] (Intakt)

The first live recordings from 2021 in Switzerland of NY saxophonist James Brandon Lewis' Molecular concept of composition, inspired by molecular biology and yielding lyrical and sophisticated structures for his players, heard in nine compositions performed with the exemplary quartet of Brad Jones on bass, Chad Taylor on drums, Aruán Ortiz on piano and Lewis on tenor sax.



Wadada Smith Leo: Rosa Parks: Pure Love (Tum)

Inspired by the civil rights movement and the iconic Rosa Parks, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith's album pays tribute through impressive compositional skills that merge work with RedKoral Quartet, Blue Trumpet Quartet, Diamond Voices, and Janus duo, featuring excerpts from Anthony Braxton, Steve McCall, Leroy Jenkins, and words from Martin Luther King Jr and a text by Rosa Parks.



Wadada Smith Leo Great Lakes Quartet: The Chicago Symphonies [4 CD BOX SET] (Tum)

Inspired by Don Cherry's 1966 Symphony For Improvisers and intended to illustrate the profound cultural contributions Chicagoans & Midwesterners have made, trumpeter Leo Smith's presents four expansive symphonies, three performed with Henry Threadgill (sax & flute), John Lindberg (bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums), the fourth with Jonathon Haffner (sax) plus Smith, Lindberg and DeJohnette.



Amy: Denio Variete (Klanggalerie)

A sophisticated and delightful cinematic work from Seattle multi-instrumentalist Amy Denio, who composes and leads a 12-piece ensemble in a dynamic new soundtrack to the 1925 silent film Varieté, blending electric guitar, accordion, voice, and hammered dulcimer with a chamber orchestra of woodwinds, strings, and percussion in a rich, genre-defying studio recording.



Charles Hayward : Crossfade Estate (Klanggalerie)

Recorded in 2005 with an ensemble of like-minded instrumentalists and then edited and collaged for the next year and a half, this was a project of Charles Hayward during his time at The Albany in Deptford, London, using their digital recording suite to create a large work using a variety of strategies and developed in a dramatic story form, issued here for the 1st time.



Sainkho Namtchylak / Ned Rothenberg / Dieb13: Antiphonen (Klanggalerie)

The first meeting for the trio of Tuvan free improvising vocalist & throat singer Sainkho Namtchylak, saxophonist Ned Rothenberg and turntablist Dieb13, captured in performance at Music Unlimited 33, at Alter Schlachthof Wels, Austria in 2019 for 2 improvisations — the 40 minute "Shave and a Haircut" and the 11 minute "Two Bits" — in incredibly creative and formidable music.



Phil Minton / Dieb13: With, Without (Klanggalerie)

Combining concerts from a number of festivals and venues between 2009 & 2017, this album presents the best of the collaboration between London free improvising vocalist Phil Minton and Austrian turntablist and experimenter Dieb13, each of them masterfully unleashed in overwhelmingly creative, outlandish, sometimes frightening/sometimes uproarious, truly unique music.



Semantics (Elliott Sharp / Ned Rothenberg / Samm Bennett): Semantics (Klanggalerie)

An excellent example of the 80s Downtown NY approach to improvisation from the trio of wind player Ned Rothenberg on alto & tenor saxophones, bass clarinet & flute, Elliott Sharp on guitar, bass & violin, and Samm Bennett on drums, percussion & electronic drums, all in the height and excitement of the new music being developed and performed in NYC in the 1980s; awe-inspiring!



Frank Gratkowski / Elisabeth Harnik: Bullungga (Klanggalerie)

Recordings from two European jazz festivals in 2020--Klangspuren festival in Austria and Moers Festival in Germany--from the duo of pianist Elisabeth Harnik and multi-wind & reedist Frank Gratkowski performing on alto & soprano saxophones, clarinet & bass flute, both of whom bring classical training to their spirited, diverse and far-ranging improvisations.



Skein (Kaufmann / Gratkowski / de Joode): Spectra & Affrays (Klanggalerie)

Describing their improvisation as a chemical reaction of positive and negative ions, the central trio of the ensemble Skein--Achim Kaufmann (piano), Frank Gratkowski (winds) and Wilbert de Joode (bass)--are heard in this incredible 2018 concert at Konfrontationen Festival as a septet with Tony Buck (drums), Richard Barrett (electronics), Liz Allbee (trumpet) and Uchihashi Kazuhisa (guitar).



Francisco Meirino / Jerome Noetinger: Drainage, In Six Parts (Klanggalerie )

Recording in Switzerland at La Becque Residency Center, the experimental improvising duo of Francisco Meirino on synth & field recording and Jerome Noetinger using electronics, tape, reel to reel player & radio, create a 6-part series of unusual sonic interactions, patiently exposing unidentifiable sounds and synthetic punctuation, neither subtle nor explosive but wonderfully engaging.



Bristle (McKean / Wright / Campbell / Mezzacappa): Archimera (Queen Bee Records)

Ten years after their last release, Northern California’s Bristle returns with a richly inventive chamber jazz album blending virtuosic improvisation and playful composition, as saxophonists Randy McKean and Cory Wright join violinist/oboist Murray Campbell and bassist Lisa Mezzacappa in a dynamic, Threadgill-esque ensemble sound full of counterpoint, wit, and imaginative sonic twists.



Japp: Blonk Kurt Schwitters Ursonate (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Dutch vocal artist Jaap Blonk performs Kurt Schwitters' iconic Dada sound poem Ursonate with deeply internalized precision and theatrical nuance, drawing on decades of experience to present a vivid, expressive interpretation of the four-movement work, including both an improvised and written Kadenz, in this definitive 2024 studio recording.



Joe Mcphee / Ken Vandermark: Musings of a Bahamian Son: Poems and Other Words (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

27 concise poems written and read by saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee, punctuated by 9 musical interludes between McPhee on soprano sax and Chicago reedist Ken Vandermark on clarinet and bass, fortifying McPhee's captivating words that mix life observations among jazz references to Dolphy, Monk, Brötzmann, Coleman, &c.; a truly embraceable "book" of poetry.



Joe: McPhee Straight Up, Without Wings [BOOK] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Joe McPhee recounts his journey from his formative years and time in the army to his evolution as a creative free jazz saxophonist and trumpeter, sharing experiences and encounters with artists such as Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Peter Brötzmann, and Pauline Oliveros; featuring a foreword by Fred Moten and an afterword by Moor Mother.



Jimmy Lyons : Push Pull [2 CDs] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Originally issued on the Hat Hut label as a 3-LP set, this 1978 recording of Cecil Taylor compatriot, saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, performing live at Collective for Living Cinema in New York in a unique band with Karen Borca (bassoon), Munner Bernard Fennel (cello) and Roger Blank (drums).



Tony Oxley Quintet: Angular Apron (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

British percussionist Tony Oxley returned to this piece multiple times after debuting it in the early 1970s, drawing on both European improv and contemporary composed music, heard in this previously unreleased 1992 live performance with the superb quintet of legendary trumpeter & flugelhornist Manfred Schoof, UK pianist Pat Thomas, US bassist Sirone and UK saxophonist Larry Stabbins.



Various Artists: Music is a Message From Space [VINYL] (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

A cosmic tribute to Sun Ra's legacy, this limited-edition LP opens with a rare 1950s home recording of Ra performing a cappella, followed by archival and new works from Joe McPhee, Raymond Boni, Jason Adasiewicz, Wolfgang Voigt, and Spaceways Inc. (Ken Vandermark/Nate McBride/Hamid Drake) with Zu, reimagining Ra's soundworld through homage, remix, and exploratory improvisation.



Giovanni Maier / Alexander Hawkins: Two For Keith (Long Song Records)

Recorded live in the studio in Trieste, Italy, bassist Giovanni Maier and pianist Alexander Hawkins deliver a deeply expressive and adventurous duo session dedicated to the late, great Keith Tippett, weaving spontaneous improvisations and dynamic interplay in a heartfelt homage that reflects Tippett's profound influence and creative spirit.



Joe Fonda Quartet (w/ Wadada Leo Smith / Satoko Fujii / Tizano Tononi): Eyes On The Horizon (Long Song Records)

NY Bassist-composer Joe Fonda leads an exceptional quartet featuring trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, pianist Satoko Fujii, and drummer Tiziano Tononi in a profound tribute to his mentor Smith, skillfully blending compositional clarity with collective improvisation in a deeply resonant and lyrically intricate musical conversation that reflects inspiration, respect, and artistic integrity.



AMM (Prevost / Rowe / Tilbury): Generative Themes (Matchless)



AMM (Prevost / Tilbury): Uncovered Correspondence: A Postcard From Jaslo (Matchless)

2010 recordings of AMM (pianist John Tilbury and percussionist Eddie Prevost) performing at the Dom Kultury Centre in Poland, three "paragraphs" of introspective and exceptional improvisation.



Musson / Moore / Brice / Prevost: Under the Sun (Matchless)

Quartet, the masterful grouping of Rachel Musson on tenor sax, NO Moore on electric guitar, Olie Brice on double bass and Eddie Prévost on drums, an improvising ensemble of wonderfully unpredictable momentum, from passages of quiet introspection to thunderous density, but always with attentive listening and imaginative responses, heard in this spectacular 2021 concert at Iklektic.



AMM (Rowe / Prevost + Tilbury): Last Calls (Matchless)

To celebrate drummer/percussionist Eddie Prévost's 80th birthday, Café Oto hosted four concerts once a week in June, 2022, each a differing configuration from Prévost's history; this final concert reconvened for an extended improvisation between Prévost & guitarist Keith Rowe, with a "Postscript" from pianist John Tilbury recorded at his home in January, 2023.



Butcher / Prevost: High Laver Levitations Vol 1: Unearthed (Matchless)

Long-time collaborators and iconoclastic improvisers, drummer Eddie Prévost and saxophonist John Butcher, met at All Hallows Church, in High Laver, Essex in 2023, using the natural ambience of the space to capture these three improvisations, Prévost playing primarily on a drum kit and both in a more jazz-oriented sax and drum duo, extended by both players' exceptional technique.



Kanngiesser / Prevost / Wright: Splendid Nettle (High Laver Levitations Volume 3) (Matchless)

The third volume in the High Laver Levitations series that started with the duo of John Butcher and Eddie Prévost, continued with Silvan Schmid, Tom Wheatley & Prévost, now presents Ute Kanngiesser on cello, Seymour Wright on alto sax, and Eddie Prévost on drum kit, recording two extended improvisations that explore the resonant acoustics of All Saints Church in High Laver, Essex.



AMM: Laminal [3 CDs] (Matchless)



Eddie: Prevost Material Consequences (Matchless)

An engrossing solo statement from AMM percussionist Eddie Prévost, recorded in 2001, using bowed cymbals, found objects, resonant drums, and extended techniques to explore a wide sonic palette, transforming his percussion into a nuanced instrument of texture, tone, and timbral abstraction in a focused, contemplative, and remarkably expressive improvisation.



AMM: Before driving to the chapel we took coffee with Rick and Jennifer Reed (Matchless)



AMM w/ John Butcher: Trinity (Matchless)

New 2008 recordings from AMM - Eddie Prevost & John Tilbury with John Butcher - performing at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich, England.



AMM: Sounding Music (Matchless)

AMM's performance at the 2009 Freedom of the City Festival with AMM regular members Eddie Prevost and John Tilbury extended with John Butcher, Chritian Wolff and Ute Kanngiesser.



AMM (Prevost / Tilbury): Two London Concerts (Matchless)

Two live recordings by master improvisers John Tilbury (piano) and Eddie Prevost (percussion) playing two emotional sets that are quiet at just the right times and allow for a balanced amount of white space, creating beautiful music.



AMM (Tilbury / Prevost): Place Sub. V (Matchless)

AMM (Eddie Prevost on percussion and John Tilbury on piano(+)) performing a 1 hour, 1 minute and 1 second live concert at the 2012 Festival of Traditional and Avant-Garde Music in Lublin, Poland in a beautiful melding of unconventional approaches to improvisation.



Barry Guy / Eddie Prevost / Evan Parker / Keith Rowe: Supersession [REMASTERED, REPACKAGED, ADDITIONAL TEXT] (Matchless)

Recorded at a concert in London, September 1984, this supersession brings AMM stalwarts Keith Rowe and Eddie Prevost together with saxophonist Evan Parker and bassist Barry Guy for an amazingly diverse and cohesive long improvisation.



AMM: Spanish Fighters (Matchless)

Recorded at the festival Neposlusno (Sound Disobedience) in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2012, the AMM duo of Eddie Prevost on percussion and John Tilbury on piano perform an extend improvisation of tension and dynamic, delicately balancing sound in a rich dialog.



Eddie Prevost Band (w/ Hawkins / Gold / Mattos): Bean Soup and Bouquets (Matchless)

Their 1st album released in 1977 on Spotlite Records label, the free jazz quartet led by Prévost on drums, Geoff Hawkins on tenor saxophone, Gerry Gold on trumpet & flugelhorn, and Marcio Mattos on double bass, released two live albums on the Matchless label before disbanding; this live album from Cata OTO in London in 2020 reunites the band for a solid concert 42 years after.



Butcher / Prevost / Viltard: Iklectik Live One (Matchless)

Part of the Iklectic club's "Meetings With Remarkable Saxophonists" programmed by drummer Eddie Prévost and double bassist Guillaume Viltard, here meeting John Butcher performing on tenor and soprano saxophone for a masterful concert of free improvisations, energetically turning the "Electric", "Light", "On", "Click" through 4 extended and remarkable converstations.



Crispell / Prevost / Smith: ConcertOTO (Matchless)

American pianist Marilyn Crispell joined London Improviser's Orchestra saxophonist & clarinetist Harry Smith and AMM drummer Eddie Prévost for this 2012 concert at London's Cafe OTO, playing in a melodic free jazz mode of passionate interaction and deep communication, resulting in an unforced and naturally masterful set of thoughtfully lyrical improvisation.



AMM (Tilbury / Prevost): Industria (Matchless)

The title Indústria was chosen by Eddie Prevost in tribute to the history behind the Museu Industrial de Bala do Tejo, in Portugal where this concert took place by the legendary free improvisation band AMM, represented here as the duo of percussionist Eddie Prévost and pianist John Tilbury, performing as part of the 2015 OUT.FEST - Festival Internacional de Musica Exploratoria do Barreiro.



Eddie: Prevost Collider: Or, Whose Drum is it, Anyway? (Matchless)

A series of impressive improvised solo drum performances by AMM/Matchless leader Eddie Prévost performed at Network Theatre in London, 2012, three pieces with each demonstrating a different characteristic of his remarkably creative and technically virtuosic playing, first with drum sticks, then with "Hands, brush, hands", and finally "Sticking it too".



Jimmy Bennington / Paul Blaney / Julian Prister: Blue Veils And Bright Stars (ThatSwan!)

Recorded in 2005 and dedicated to Sun Ra and His Arkestra, this dynamic and lyrically inclined trio session brings together legendary trombonist Julian Priester with Canadian bassist Paul Blaney and drummer Jimmy Bennington, weaving spontaneous improvisations, expressive modern jazz, and a soulful rendering of "Mood Indigo" into a deeply rooted and timeless recording.



Roscoe: Mitchell Songs In The Wind (Les Disques Victo)



Paul Plimley Trio: Safe-Crackers (Les Disques Victo)



Keith: Tippett Une Croix Dans L'Ocean (Les Disques Victo)



Jean Derome And The Dangereux Zhoms + 7: Plates-Formes Et Traquenards (Les Disques Victo)

Jean Derome's extended Dangereux Zhomes opened the 25th Victo Festival in 2008, adding Joane Hetu, Lori Freedman, Bernard Falaise, &c. for an incredible and expressive orchestra.



Xavier Charles / Diane Labrosse / Kristoff K. Roll / Martin Tetreault ‎: Tout le monde en place pour un set americain (Les Disques Victo)



Boris: Kovac Anamnesis: Ecumenical Mysteries (Les Disques Victo)





The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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