Customer Best Sellers for 2016

A list of the top 25 best sellers from 2016 releases in sales order.

Following that is:

Phil Zampino's Top List for 2016,
Carl Kruger's Top List for 2016.

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Phil Zampino's Top 25 for 2016

As I wrote last year, these are presented (mostly) in release order, so the position in the list does not suggest that any one release is "better" than any other. Because they draw from so many of approaches to making music, and some are multi-disc sets that include material from various times and configurations, it seems wrong to try to rate them further. In 2015 we added roughly 825 titles to our catalog, so one way of looking at these titles is to delcare them my top 3%. Given that most of the releases we carry are directly recommended or related to important labels or artists, it somewhat of a crime to not include many more qualifying releases. Needless to say, this was a difficult list to compile.

Icepick (Nate Wooley, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten & Chris Corsano)
Amaranth [VINYL + DOWNLOAD CODE]
(Astral Spirits)
Nate Wooley (trumpet), Chris Corsano (percussion) and Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten (bass) recording in Austin, TX for their first proper release as Icepick, 3 tracks of powerfully creative and downright smoldering modern jazz using exceptional skill and passion.

Rova Channeling Coltrane
Electric Ascension - Live At The 2012 Guelph Festival + "Cleaning The Mirror - A Documentary by John Rogers" [Blu Ray + DVD + CD]
(RogueArt)
Rova led by saxophonist Larry Ochs expands their translation of John Coltrane's "Ascension" in this amazing 3 disc CD/DVD/BluRay set of their cathartic performance at the 2012 Guelph Jazz Festival with a stellar lineup including Mazurek, Frith, Cline, Mori, Drake, &c &c.

Ayler, Albert Quartet with Don Cherry
European Radio Studio Recordings 1964
(Hatology)
Recorded during Albert Ayler's 1964 European tour with Don Cherry on cornet, Gary Peacock on bass, and Sunny Murray on drums, perhaps Ayler's best band and most creative period, well captured at Hilversum in The Netherlands and for Danish Radio Copenhagen, Denmark.

Threadgill, Henry Ensemble Double Up
Old Locks and Irregular Verbs
(Pi Recordings)
Henry Threadgill's tribute to friend, composer-conductor Lawrence D. Butch Morris, in a detailed 4-part work with an excellent set of improvisers: Henry Threadgill, Jose Davila, Jason Moran, Christopher Hoffman, David Virelles, Roman Filiu, Curtis Macdonald, and Craig Weinrib.

Bowles, Paul
Music of Morocco: Recorded by Paul Bowles, 1959 [4CD & BOOK + DOWNLOAD]
(Dust-to-Digital)
A beautiful box set presenting 4 CDs that author and musicologist Paul Bowles recorded in 1959 of Moroccan, Algerian and North African music, with a 120 page leatherette book of liner notes by Philip Schuyler, field notes by Paul Bowles, and an introduction by Lee Ranaldo.

Koch, Hans / Thomas Peter
Wucherungen
(Herbal International)
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.

Brooklyn Express, The (Fonda / Tononi / Cavallanti / Swell / Robertson)
No Time Left!
(Long Song Records)
Long time collaborators, Italian saxophonist Daniele Cavallanti and drummer Tiziano Tononi, travelled to NYC to record with friends new and old, the results of which are this dynamic free jazz album recorded with Steve Swell (trombone), Herb Robertson (cornet) and Joe Fonda (bass).

Gustafsson, Mats And Friends
MG 50 - Peace & Fire [4 CD BOX SET]
(Trost Records)
A box set documenting the October 2015 3-day event held at Porgy and Bess in Vienna for the 50th birthday of saxophonist Mats Gustafsson (The Thing, Fire! and innumerable duo/trio/ensemble formations) with a who's-who of collaborators invited to join in various formations.

Nilssen-Love, Paal
News From the Junkyard [VINYL]
(PNL)
Assembling a wide range of percussive instruments accumulated through world travels, from Korean gongs to scrap metal sheets from Ethiopia, Paal Nilssen-Love presents an intense and wide-ranging solo percussion tour-de-force, recorded in Oslo by frequent collaborator Lasse Marhaug.

Harth, Alfred 23 / Wolfgang Seidel
Five Eyes
(Moloko Records)
A fascinating psychedelic stew of improv and audio construction dovetailing tremendous playing with unexpected concrete and electronic interventions from the duo of Alfred 23 Harth on reeds, trombone, keys, and misc., and Wolfgang Seidel on drums, percussion and misc.

RED Trio w/ John Butcher
Summer Skyshift
(Clean Feed)
The second collaboration between the Portugese Red Trio of Rodrigo Pinheiro (piano), Hernani Faustino (double bass) and Gabriel Ferrandini (drums) with UK saxophonist John Butcher, performing live at Jazz em Agosto Festival in 2015, revealing new aspects to their project.

The International Nothing
The Power Of Negative Thinking
(Monotype)
The 4th album from The International Nothing, originally the clarinet duo of Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke, now extended with Christian Weber on double bass and Eric Schaefer on percussion, adding new facets to their sonic spectrum of precise microtonal interaction.

Wooley, Nate
Seven Storey Mountain V
(Pleasure of the Text Records)
The 5th of 7 large and inspiring works that began with a Festival of New Trumpet commission in 2007, here in an ensemble of 19 players including C. Spencer Yeh, Ben Vida, Ben Hall, Matt Moran, Chris Dingman, Dan Peck, Josh Sinton, Colin Stetson, the TILT brass octet, &c.

Wooley / Antunes / Queijo / Costa / Corsano
Purple Patio [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
A very open album of improvisation, using an intensely responsive section of three drums and one bass, with Wooley in amazing form playing about the fray, from introspective reserve to seething runs, supported by a wicked undercurrent of astounding, criss-crossing rhythm.

Rammel, Hal
The Amplified Palette: A History in Pictures [BOOK + 2 CDS]
(Penumbra)
A book and 2 CDs celebrating the 25th anniversary of this unusual and fascinating musical instrument designed and built by Hal Rammel, an artist's palette outfitted with a contact mic and vertically-mounted rods, played with a variety of uniquely designed bows and mallets.

Baron, Marc
Un Salon Au Fond D'un Lac
(Potlatch)
Beautifully paced and enigmatically interesting compositions from Marc Baron, using only analog processes in three compositions for reel to reel tape, blending field recordings, cut-up, noise, found sound, pre-recorded and degraded tapes in unusual and absorbing ways.

Blanc, Michel
Le Miroir des Ondes
(Ayler)
Percussionist Michel Blanc's astounding 12-part work was composed around news events that occurred between 1972-89, in a tour-de-force of music drawing from improvised music, RIO oriented rock, and concrete sound; with Marc Ducret, Annabelle Playe, Anne Gimenez, & Antonin Rayon.

Bennett, Ben
Trap [CASSETTE with DOWNLOAD CODE]
(Astral Spirits)
Twelve tracks of solo percussion using a variety of drum-like devices, an intense album of percussive possibilities that surprise in the variety of approaches, the intensity of sound, and the dynamics of each work, using close microphones to capture sonic details.

Evans, Peter
Lifeblood [USB Drive]
(More Is More)
Trumpeter Peter Evans' first solo release in over 5 years, presenting two demanding and impressive live performances from 2015/16, during Evan's residency at Roulette, and at Bop Stop in Cleveland, presented on a USB credit card drive in mp3 and wav formats, with liner notes.

Edelin's, Michel Flute Fever Orchestra with special guest Nicole Mitchell
Kalamania [2 CDs]
(RogueArt)

Parker, Evan / Mark Nauseef / Toma Gouband
As The Wind
(psi)
A brilliant album of subtle and masterful improvisation recorded in 2012 at and using the reverb of the St. Peters church in Whitstable by soprano saxophonist Evan Parker with two percussionists: Toma Gouband on lithophone-based percussion and Mark Nauseef on metallophone-based percussion.

Giuffre, Jimmy 3
Bremen & Stuttgart (1961) [2 CDs]
(Emanem)
The sophisticated and influential Jimmy Giuffre 3 led by clarinetist Giuffre with Paul Bley on piano and Steve Swallow on double bass, in a 2-CD reissue of their only known well-recorded concerts, alongside two tracks from their "Fusion" album not included in the ECM reissue.

Parker, Evan / Pat Thomas / John Russell / John Edwards / Alex Ward / Alison Blunt / Benedict Taylor / David Leahy / Kay Grant
Mopomoso Tour 2013 | Making Rooms [4 CD BOX SET]
(Weekertoft)
An excellent 4-CD set from a UK tour of the long-running London monthly concert series Mopomoso, featuring improvisations from various grouping of John Russell, Evan Parker, John Edwards, David Leahy, Pat Thomas, Alison Blunt, Benedict Taylor, Kay Grant & Alex Ward.

Kurzmann, Christof / Mats Gustafsson
Falling And Five Other Failings
(Trost Records)
Two versatile and innovative improvisers, Mats Gustafsson on saxophones and Christof Kurzmann on electronics and voice, extracted improvisations recorded in the studio to create the 7 parts of this rich, pulse-based and intensely understated work about Falling and Failing.

Fond of Tigers
Uninhabit
(Drip Audio)
The 4th album in 14 years from this instrumental Vancouver 7-piece avant rock band exploring both heavy and beautiful sonic environments; the band shares members with The Tony Wilson 6Tet, Dark Blue World, Aeroplane Trio, with Drip Audio leader Jesse Zubot on violin.

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Carl Kruger's Top 20 for 2016

Iannotta, Clara
A Failed Entertainment. Works 2009-2014
(Edition Rz)
Works from Italian composer Clare Iannotta recorded from 2012 - 2014, including a work for string quartet composed for the DAAD artist-in-Berlin program titled "A Failed Entertainment" commissioned by Quaturo Diotima; plus 6 works for contemporary ensembles.

Bertoia, Harry
Complete Sonambient Collection [11CD BOX SET]
(Important Records)
Sonic sculptor Harry Bertoia's 100th is celebrated by restoring his original LP releases from their master tapes in an 11-CD box printed with metallic inks, each CD in replica jackets, and including a 100-page book of essays, interviews, plus modern and archival photos.

Circuit (Dunmall / Taylor / Gibbs)
Electro Acoustic Ensemble
(FMR)
The 7th CD for the sophisticated Circuit electroacoustic improvising ensemble, whose personnel shifts with each release; here Paul Dunmall plays sax, flute, and wind controller, alongside Phillip Gibbs on electric guitar and Trevor Taylor on acoustic & electric percussion.

Bowie, David
Blackstar
(Columbia)
David Bowie's impressive last album, performed with a great set of improvisers including Donny McCaslin on winds, Ben Monder on guitar, Tony Visconti on strings, &c. &c., a superb, detailed and beautifully sequenced set of songs; RIP, David Bowie.

Abrahams, Chris
Fluid To The Influence
(Room40)
Necks pianist Chris Abrahams presents a diverse album that ranges from eruptive electronics, beautiful acoustic improvisation, and rich soundscapes, a unique journey through styles and techniques unified by a patient and transformational approach.

"A" Trio + Alan Bishop
Burj al Imam [VINYL]
(Unrock)
Sun City Girls guitarist Alan Bishop, also improvising on voice, meets Beirut's "A" Trio of Mazen Kerbaj on trumpet, Sharif Sehnaoui on guitar, and Raed Yassin on bass for four quite unusual improvisations, and a cover of "Gently Johnny", best known from the UK movie "Wicker Man".

Brighton, Ian
Now And Then
(Confront)
British guitar Ian Brighton was tutored by Derek Bailey, and was a member of John Stevens' Spontaneous Music Ensemble and the Tony Oxley Quartet; this release coincides with the guitarist's 72nd birthday, in a variety of setting with a great list of improvisers.

Nabatov, Simon / Mark Dresser / Dominik Mahnig
Equal Poise
(Leo)
Live at the LOFT in Cologne, Germany, the trio of German-based Russian pianist Simon Nabatov with NY Downtown double bassist Mark Dresser and relative newcomer Dominik Manhig on drums, expressive collective improvisation using edgy techniques in impressive dialog.

Extended Pianos (Fox / Griswold / Pateras)
Switch On A Dime
(Immediata)
Extended Pianos employ stochastic improvisations, live analogue processing, feedback experiments, atmospheric tape composition, and ultra-physical episodic structures to manipulate prepared piano performances in real time, creating an exceptional and engrossing work.

Sharrock, Linda The Network
They Begin To Speak [2 CDs]
(Improvising Beings)
Improvising vocalist Linda Sharrock in a 2 CD release, one live with a sextet including trumpeter Itaru Oki and pianist Eric Zinman, one in the studio in a quartet with Derek Saw on trumpet and John Jasnoch on electric guitar, both performing the complex 3 part title track.

Bosetti, Alessandro
Stille Post. Radio Works: 2003-2011[4 CD Box Set w/ 36 page booklet]
(Monotype/Bolt)
Conceptualist/composer Alessandro Bosetti in a 4CD box set and extensive booklet presenting large and unusual radio works that he's composed from 2003-2011, using "translations, misunderstandings, travels, microphones, headphones and sonorous telephone games as creative tools."

Baker, Duck
Outside (1977-83)
(Emanem)
Fingerstyle guitarist Duck Baker was influenced by Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor, recording these solo original improvisations plus 2 Ornette Coleman pieces from '77-'83 in London, Torino & Calgary, plus 2 duos with guitar madman Eugene Chadbourne.

Harrison, Bryn
Receiving the Approaching Memory
(Another Timbre)
Bryn Harrison's highly acclaimed, labyrinthine composition for violin & piano from 2014, expertly realised by violinist Aisha Orazbayeva and pianist Mark Knoop, for whom this 5-part work of beautiful repetitions reflecting tapestries of sound was written.

Rammel, Hal
The Amplified Palette: A History in Pictures [BOOK + 2 CDS]
(Penumbra)
A book and 2 CDs celebrating the 25th anniversary of this unusual and fascinating musical instrument designed and built by Hal Rammel, an artist's palette outfitted with a contact mic and vertically-mounted rods, played with a variety of uniquely designed bows and mallets.

Oliveros, Pauline / Roscoe Mitchell / John Tilbury / Wadada Leo Smith
Nessuno
(Angelica)
The unexpected and open-minded quartet of Pauline Oliveros, Roscoe Mitchell, John Tilbury and Wadada Leo Smith performing live in Italy at the Angelika Festival in 2011, presenting the three part improvised work "Nessuno"; delicate, virtuosic, rewarding music from 4 masters.

Jackson / Baker / Kirshner
The Noisy Miner [CASSETTE with DOWNLOAD CODE]
(Astral Spirits)
Chicago mainstays Keefe Jackson on tenor and sopranino sax, Jim Baker on piano and synths, and Julian Kirshner on drums, are caught live at the Constellation in 2015 for a forceful, demanding yet lyrical set of free improvisations, a great example of the fertile Chicago scene.

Dumitrescu, Iancu
Live In New York w/ Either/Or
(Edition Modern)
Iancu Dumitrescu premieres six new works of Spectral compositions performed by the 13 piece Either/Or Ensemble under the direction of Richard Carrick, presented in Columbia University's Miller Theater in 2016, an amazing album of microcosmic and macrocosmic sound.

Ensemble Phoenix Basel & Jerome Noetinger
Les Voix De L'Invisible [VINYL]
(Bocian)
Jerome Noetinger was commissioned by the Ensemble Phoenix Basel, a challenge for a non-notational conceptualist, which he accepted, creating this work in collaboration with the Ensemble, and based on the book by Pascal Quignard, "La haine de la musique" (The hate of music).

d'Angiolini, Giuliano
Cantilena
(Another Timbre)

HMZ (Hubsch / Martel / Zoubek)
Drought
(Tour de Bras)

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Click Here to see our 2015 Top Lists

Best Sellers in This Category:

Morris, Joe: Perpetual Frontier The Properties of Free Music [BOOK]

Fujiwara, Tomas / Ben Goldberg / Mary Halvorson: The Out Louds

Lyons, Jimmy : Push Pull [2 CDs]

Laubrock, Ingrid / Tom Rainey: Buoyancy

Morris, Joe: Shock Axis

Malaby, Tony Paloma Recio: Incantations

Threadgill, Henry Ensemble Double Up: Old Locks and Irregular Verbs

Eskelin, Ellery Trio (w/ Gary Versace / Gerry Hemingway): Willisau Live

Doran, Christy: In The Corner Of The Eye

Moondoc, Jemeel / Hilliard Greene: Cosmic Nickelodeon

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