Pauline Oliveros / 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.
Joe Morris
Shock Axis
(Relative Pitch)
A limited edition release of guitarist Joe Morri's new NY-area aggressive improvising trio with younger players Dave Parmelle on drums and Chris Cretella on electric bass, shredding with awesome technical skill and intense harmonic and melodic force, really powerful stuff!
Anthony Braxton
Live At The Rainbow Gallery '79
(Hi Hat)
A great set of free bop oriented improvisations from Anthony Braxton in a great quintet with Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, George Lewis on trombone, Dave Holland on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums, recorded at Rainbow Gallery, in Minneapolis, Minnesota for broadcast.
Cage . Pisaro . Frey . Beuger
Accordion Music
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Four works interpreted for accordion performed by Edwin Alexander Buchhol, including John Cage's "Cheap Imitation"; Michael Pisaro's "Here (2)"; Jurg Frey's "Sam Lazaro Bros." and Antoine Beuger's "die geschichte des sandkorns".
Huy (Junji / Kazuhisa / Yoshida)
Huy
(Magaibutsu Limited)
The Japanese trio of Hirose Junji on tenor saxophone, Innocence label founder Uchihashi Kazuhisa on guitar, and Yoshida Tatsuya on drums, initiating Magaibutsu's "Improv Session Series" with this on-fire album of controlled chaos, recorded live at Foxhole in Kichijoji.
Perch Hen Brock & Rainy (Ab Baars / Ig Henneman / Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Raine)
Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere
(Relative Pitch)
Crossing Netherland and New York players, Ab Baars on reeds, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrcok on sax and Tom Rainey on drums present an album of insightful improv that borrows approaches to sound from natural world, performed live at Tampere Jazz Happening, Finland in 2014.
Cortex (Johansson / Alberts / Hoyer / Nilssen)
Live in New York
(Clean Feed)
Approaching the free side of 60s postbop in the Ornette Coleman vein, the Cortex quartet of Thomas Johansson (trumpet), Kristoffer Alberts (sax), Ola Hoyer (double bass) and Gard Nilssen (drums) are captured for a dynamic and captivating set at IBeam in Brooklyn in 2015.
The World Heritage (Yamamoto Seiichi / Katsui Yuji / Kido Natsuki / Nasuno Mitsuru / Yoshida Tatsuya)
The Land of Light
(Magaibutsu)
The Japanese improvising rock quintet The World Heritage--Yamamoto Seiichi, Katsui Yuji, Kido Natsuki, Nasuno Mitsuru, and Yoshida Tatsuya--with two guitars, violin, bass and drums, in a live recording of dynamic collective improvisation at Akihabara Goodman in 2013.
Hartmut Geerken And Chris Trent
Omniverse Sun Ra [BOOK]
(Art Yard)
Originally published in 1994, Hartmut Geerken and Chris Trent's comprehensive reference of Sun Ra includes a pictorial and annotated discography, essays and photo documents, photographs; this 2nd edition adds new photographs, photo documents, and essays.
Jurg Frey
String Quartet No. 3 / Unhorbare Zeit
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Two works from composer Frey performed by Montreal's string ensemble Quatuor Bozzini: "String Quartet No. 3", a minimal work of colors, sensations, shadows, durations; and "Unhorbare Zeit" exploring durations without sound, or empty volumes, to achieve lucidity and transparency.
Frode Gjerstad / Jon Rune Strom / Paal Nilssen-Love
Steam In the Casa
(PNL)
A live recording from the Casa Del Popolo club in Montreal, Canada, named because Gjerstad was upset that Air Canada had messed up his sax in transit, which he played regardless; his frustration pushed him into an overwhelmingly amazing set of smoking free jazz!
Steve Swell Quintet (Swell / Moondoc / Burrell / W. Parker / Cleaver)
Soul Travelers [VINYL + DOWNLOAD]
(RogueArt)
A great set of Downtown NY players led by trombonist Steve Swell, with Jemeel Moondoc on alto sax, Dave Burrell on piano, William Parker on double bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums, a heartfelt and masterfully soulful album of excellent modern jazz in a limited LP.
Anthony Burr / Anthony Pateras
The Long Exhale
(Immediata)
Beautifully slow drifting compositions for clarinet, ARP 2600, piano and prepared piano from the duo of Anthony Burr and Anthony Pateras, drawing on Cage and Feldman in these expansive and tranquil works that create beautiful and quietly exotic sound environments.
Hal Rammel
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.
Jurg Frey
String Quartets
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Composer Jurg Frey's 1988 work "String Quartet" realized by Nadia Francavilla, Clemens Merkel, Stephanie Bozzini and Isabelle Bozzini, exploring ideas of audibility: the moment when sound waves move in space and the air touches the body.
Fire! Orchestra
Ritual [VINYL 2 LPs + CD]
(Rune Grammofon)
The incredible Fire! Orchestra in a 21-piece rendition performs in the studio for an ecstatic album of free improvisation and song, with an amazing lineup including Mats Gustafsson, Mette Rasmussen, Johan Berthling, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Lotte Anker, &c. &c.
Large Unit
Ana
(PNL)
Drummer Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit recorded this ecstatic, Brazilian influenced material in 2015 after a mammoth European and North-American tour, hours after their performance at the 2015 Oslo Jazzfestival with an extended line-up with Brazilian percussion players.
Michiyo Yagi / Lasse Marhaug / Paal Nilssen-Love
Angular Mass
(PNL)
Japanese Koto virtuoso Michiyo Yagi joins the longstanding duo of drummer Paal-Nilssen-Love and electronics wizard Lasse Marhaug for a session of extended improvisations, driving the traditional Japanese instruments into non-idiomatic and percussive extremes.
Jurg Frey
Lucier . Wolff . Schlothauer . Frey
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Six compositions from Lucier, Wolff, Schlothauer, and Frey, exploring harmonic beats on the acoustic clarinet, deriving melody in unexpected ways; seeking static tones between sound and noise; and investigating melodic variations; inquisitive, thought-provoking, alluring work.
North Of North (Anthony Pateras / Scott Tinkler / Erkki Veltheim)
The Moment In and Of Itself
(Immediata)
Drawing from Xenakian architextures, Carterian set theory, Carnatic music, sharp-edged pointillism & orchestrational symbiosis, pianist Anthony Pateras steps back from electronic music for chamber-oriented improvisations with trumpeter Scott Tinkler & voilinist Erkki Veltheim.
Kazuto Shimizu / Yoshida Tatsuya / Nasyuno Mitsuru
SYN LIVE
(Magaibutsu Limited)
The Japanese improvising rock trio of Kazuto Shimizu on keyboards, Nasyuno Mitsuru on bass, and Yoshida Tatsuya on drums performing live at Club Goodman in Akihabara, Japan, 2016 for technically superb, fast paced, turn-on-a-dime, joyful prog-oriented playing.
David Sylvian (w/ Jan Bang, Otomo Yoshihide, Toshimaru Nakamura)
Playing The Schoolhouse
(Confront)
With contributions from Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura, David Sylvian recorded this album for Mark Wastell after much discussion, creating an intense and mysterious album of organized concrete sound and field recordings based on an improvisation with Jan Bang.
Mark Wastell
Quartet
(Confront)
As close to straight-ahead improvisation as you'll hear from audio explorer Mark Wastell, in an authoritative quartet of free improvisers, with both Olie Brice and Dominic Lash on double bass, Alan Wilkinson on alto sax, and Wastell himself on violoncello.
Ellery Eskelin Trio (w/ Gary Versace / Gerry Hemingway)
Willisau Live
(Hatology)
2015 recordings of tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's trio with Gary Versace on organ and Gerry Hemingway on drums, an ebullient set live at the Jazz Festival in Willisau, Switzerland, sequencing Count Basie, Victor Young, Ernie Burnett, and Thelonious Monk tunes.
John Butcher / Michael Duch
Fjordgata
(Confront)
A live recording at the Jazzfest Trondheim, Trondelag Senter for Samtidskunst, in May 2015 from the freely improvising duo of John Butcher and contrabassist Michael Duch, a superb extended concert of incredible reed technique and concept anchored by Duch's flexible bass work.
Joe Morris
Shock Axis
(Relative Pitch)
A limited edition release of guitarist Joe Morri's new NY-area aggressive improvising trio with younger players Dave Parmelle on drums and Chris Cretella on electric bass, shredding with awesome technical skill and intense harmonic and melodic force, really powerful stuff!
Anthony Braxton
Live At The Rainbow Gallery '79
(Hi Hat)
A great set of free bop oriented improvisations from Anthony Braxton in a great quintet with Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, George Lewis on trombone, Dave Holland on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums, recorded at Rainbow Gallery, in Minneapolis, Minnesota for broadcast.
Cage . Pisaro . Frey . Beuger
Accordion Music
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Four works interpreted for accordion performed by Edwin Alexander Buchhol, including John Cage's "Cheap Imitation"; Michael Pisaro's "Here (2)"; Jurg Frey's "Sam Lazaro Bros." and Antoine Beuger's "die geschichte des sandkorns".
Huy (Junji / Kazuhisa / Yoshida)
Huy
(Magaibutsu Limited)
The Japanese trio of Hirose Junji on tenor saxophone, Innocence label founder Uchihashi Kazuhisa on guitar, and Yoshida Tatsuya on drums, initiating Magaibutsu's "Improv Session Series" with this on-fire album of controlled chaos, recorded live at Foxhole in Kichijoji.
Perch Hen Brock & Rainy (Ab Baars / Ig Henneman / Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Raine)
Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere
(Relative Pitch)
Crossing Netherland and New York players, Ab Baars on reeds, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrcok on sax and Tom Rainey on drums present an album of insightful improv that borrows approaches to sound from natural world, performed live at Tampere Jazz Happening, Finland in 2014.
Cortex (Johansson / Alberts / Hoyer / Nilssen)
Live in New York
(Clean Feed)
Approaching the free side of 60s postbop in the Ornette Coleman vein, the Cortex quartet of Thomas Johansson (trumpet), Kristoffer Alberts (sax), Ola Hoyer (double bass) and Gard Nilssen (drums) are captured for a dynamic and captivating set at IBeam in Brooklyn in 2015.
The World Heritage (Yamamoto Seiichi / Katsui Yuji / Kido Natsuki / Nasuno Mitsuru / Yoshida Tatsuya)
The Land of Light
(Magaibutsu)
The Japanese improvising rock quintet The World Heritage--Yamamoto Seiichi, Katsui Yuji, Kido Natsuki, Nasuno Mitsuru, and Yoshida Tatsuya--with two guitars, violin, bass and drums, in a live recording of dynamic collective improvisation at Akihabara Goodman in 2013.
Jurg Frey
String Quartet No. 3 / Unhorbare Zeit
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Two works from composer Frey performed by Montreal's string ensemble Quatuor Bozzini: "String Quartet No. 3", a minimal work of colors, sensations, shadows, durations; and "Unhorbare Zeit" exploring durations without sound, or empty volumes, to achieve lucidity and transparency.
Frode Gjerstad / Jon Rune Strom / Paal Nilssen-Love
Steam In the Casa
(PNL)
A live recording from the Casa Del Popolo club in Montreal, Canada, named because Gjerstad was upset that Air Canada had messed up his sax in transit, which he played regardless; his frustration pushed him into an overwhelmingly amazing set of smoking free jazz!
Anthony Burr / Anthony Pateras
The Long Exhale
(Immediata)
Beautifully slow drifting compositions for clarinet, ARP 2600, piano and prepared piano from the duo of Anthony Burr and Anthony Pateras, drawing on Cage and Feldman in these expansive and tranquil works that create beautiful and quietly exotic sound environments.
Hal Rammel
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.
Jurg Frey
String Quartets
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Composer Jurg Frey's 1988 work "String Quartet" realized by Nadia Francavilla, Clemens Merkel, Stephanie Bozzini and Isabelle Bozzini, exploring ideas of audibility: the moment when sound waves move in space and the air touches the body.
Fire! Orchestra
Ritual [VINYL 2 LPs + CD]
(Rune Grammofon)
The incredible Fire! Orchestra in a 21-piece rendition performs in the studio for an ecstatic album of free improvisation and song, with an amazing lineup including Mats Gustafsson, Mette Rasmussen, Johan Berthling, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Lotte Anker, &c. &c.
Large Unit
Ana
(PNL)
Drummer Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit recorded this ecstatic, Brazilian influenced material in 2015 after a mammoth European and North-American tour, hours after their performance at the 2015 Oslo Jazzfestival with an extended line-up with Brazilian percussion players.
Michiyo Yagi / Lasse Marhaug / Paal Nilssen-Love
Angular Mass
(PNL)
Japanese Koto virtuoso Michiyo Yagi joins the longstanding duo of drummer Paal-Nilssen-Love and electronics wizard Lasse Marhaug for a session of extended improvisations, driving the traditional Japanese instruments into non-idiomatic and percussive extremes.
Jurg Frey
Lucier . Wolff . Schlothauer . Frey
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Six compositions from Lucier, Wolff, Schlothauer, and Frey, exploring harmonic beats on the acoustic clarinet, deriving melody in unexpected ways; seeking static tones between sound and noise; and investigating melodic variations; inquisitive, thought-provoking, alluring work.
North Of North (Anthony Pateras / Scott Tinkler / Erkki Veltheim)
The Moment In and Of Itself
(Immediata)
Drawing from Xenakian architextures, Carterian set theory, Carnatic music, sharp-edged pointillism & orchestrational symbiosis, pianist Anthony Pateras steps back from electronic music for chamber-oriented improvisations with trumpeter Scott Tinkler & voilinist Erkki Veltheim.
Kazuto Shimizu / Yoshida Tatsuya / Nasyuno Mitsuru
SYN LIVE
(Magaibutsu Limited)
The Japanese improvising rock trio of Kazuto Shimizu on keyboards, Nasyuno Mitsuru on bass, and Yoshida Tatsuya on drums performing live at Club Goodman in Akihabara, Japan, 2016 for technically superb, fast paced, turn-on-a-dime, joyful prog-oriented playing.
David Sylvian (w/ Jan Bang, Otomo Yoshihide, Toshimaru Nakamura)
Playing The Schoolhouse
(Confront)
With contributions from Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura, David Sylvian recorded this album for Mark Wastell after much discussion, creating an intense and mysterious album of organized concrete sound and field recordings based on an improvisation with Jan Bang.
Mark Wastell
Quartet
(Confront)
As close to straight-ahead improvisation as you'll hear from audio explorer Mark Wastell, in an authoritative quartet of free improvisers, with both Olie Brice and Dominic Lash on double bass, Alan Wilkinson on alto sax, and Wastell himself on violoncello.
Ellery Eskelin Trio (w/ Gary Versace / Gerry Hemingway)
Willisau Live
(Hatology)
2015 recordings of tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's trio with Gary Versace on organ and Gerry Hemingway on drums, an ebullient set live at the Jazz Festival in Willisau, Switzerland, sequencing Count Basie, Victor Young, Ernie Burnett, and Thelonious Monk tunes.
John Butcher / Michael Duch
Fjordgata
(Confront)
A live recording at the Jazzfest Trondheim, Trondelag Senter for Samtidskunst, in May 2015 from the freely improvising duo of John Butcher and contrabassist Michael Duch, a superb extended concert of incredible reed technique and concept anchored by Duch's flexible bass work.
Maja Ratkje S. K.
Crepuscular Hour [VINYL 2LP / CD /DVD]
(Rune Grammofon)
An epic, hypnotic work for three choirs, three pairs of noise musicians, and church organ, to be performed in a cathedral or similar location with musicians surrounding the audience, here from a live performance at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2012.
Uwe Oberg / Silke Eberhardt
Turns
(Leo)
Playful, joyful and absolutely commanding performances from the duo of German pianist Uwe Oberg and Silke Eberhard on alto sax and clarinet, performing both live and in the studio on original compositions and pieces by Carla Bley, Jimmy Giuffre, and Annette Peacock.
Michiyo Yagi / Lasse Marhaug / Joe McPhee / Paal Nilssen-Love
Soul Stream
(PNL)
A intensely introspective album of free improvisation from frequent collaborators, reed and trumpter Joe McPhee, drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, electronic artist Lasse Marhaug, and Japanese koto player Michiyo Yagi, performing live at GOK Sound in Tokyo, 2013; beautiful.
Fire! Orchestra
Ritual [VINYL 2 LPs + CD]
(Rune Grammofon)
The incredible Fire! Orchestra in a 21-piece rendition performs in the studio for an ecstatic album of free improvisation and song, with an amazing lineup including Mats Gustafsson, Mette Rasmussen, Johan Berthling, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Lotte Anker, &c. &c.
Maja Ratkje S. K.
Crepuscular Hour [VINYL 2LP / CD /DVD]
(Rune Grammofon)
An epic, hypnotic work for three choirs, three pairs of noise musicians, and church organ, to be performed in a cathedral or similar location with musicians surrounding the audience, here from a live performance at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2012.
New Zion Trio & Cyro Baptista
Sunshine Seas [VINYL]
(Rarenoise Records)
The third album from Jamie Saft's New Zion Trio with Brad Jones on bass, Craig Santiago on drums, and Vanessa Saft on vocals, finds the trio joined by percussionist Cyro Baptista for an album of compelling dub and grooves with an upbeat spiritual pulse.
Bobby Bradford / Hafez Modirzadeh / Mark Dresser / Alex Cline
Live At The Open Gate [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
West Coast cornetist Bobby Bradford captured live in 2013 for a superb set at the Center for the Arts in Los Angeles, part of the Open Gate Theatre Sunday evening concert series, in a quartet with Hafez Modirzadeh on alto sax, Mark Dresser on bass, and Alex Cline on drums.
Peter Brotzmann / William Parker / Hamid Drake
Song Sentimentale [VINYL]
(Otoroku)
One of a dual CD/LP release documenting three nights at London's Cafe Oto by the trio of Peter Brotzmann on reeds, William Parker on double bass, guembri, shakuhachi, and shenai, and Hamid Drake on drums, an incredible display of improvised music from three masters of the form.
Aster (Ashley Paul and Eli Keszler)
Things That Just Happen [VINYL]
(R.E.L. Records)
The 2nd release by the duo of Ashley Paul & Eli Keszler, merging the off kilter, quiet and fragile song based work of Ashley with the material-based sound from the duo's live performances, with no electronic processing; isolating, rich, alien and challenging music.
Sun Ra Arkestra
Sunrise In Different Dimensions [VINYL 2 audiophile LPs + 4 postcards]
(hatART)
The ultimate audiophile repressing of this essential album of Sun Ra and his Arkestra performing live in Switzerland in 1980, originally an LP, then a CD, and now restored and expanded to 2 LPs in the original box packaging, with 3 new tracks and 4 post cards.
Jean Schwarz
Erda / Suite N [VINYL]
(Recollection GRM)
Electronic composer Jean Schwarz in two large works composed in the Ina GRM's numerical composition studio exploring exaggerated amplification, inversion, transformation, and include tributes to Kenny Clarke and John Coltrane.
Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra
The Intergalactic Thing [VINYL 2 LPS + DOWNLOAD CODE]
(Roaratorio)
Unreleased material from Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra recorded in the rehearsal space of Sun Ra's Philadelphia home in 1969, with a dozen never-before-heard pieces from Ra's songbook, plus reworkings of some classics; invaluable music for the Sun Ra collector.
Leif Elggren
Das Baank [VINYL]
(Fragment Factory)
A solo album from veteran Swedish artist Leif Elggren, a sound and symbolic record as a powerful statement on the limits of social and political absurdity and corruption in our present time, and commenting on repression, violence, fear and power.
Christian Fennesz / Jim O'Rourke
It's Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry [VINYL]
(Editions Mego)
Viennese experimental guitarist and laptop artist Christian Fennesz and Jim O'Rourke on synthesizer in a beautiful album of sonic environments, with "gurgling harmonies swimming among the shimmering frequencies and strummed melodies"; recommended.
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.
Iannis Xenakis
GRM Works 1957-1962 [VINYL REPRESS]
(Recollection GRM)
Recollection GRM assembles Greek experimental composer Iannis Xenakis' works for Groupe de Recherches Musicales circa 1957-1962: "Concret PH" (1958); "Orient-Occident" (1960); "Diamorphoses" (1957-58); "Bohor" (1962).
Universal Indians w/ Joe McPhee
Skullduggery [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Clean Feed)
The free improvising trio of John Dikeman on sax, Jon Rune Strom on bass, and Tollef Ostvang on drums, invites Joe McPhee on pocket trumpet and alto sax for a release of rugged free improv using unorthodox approaches and amazing dexterity in their playing.
Horatiu Radulescu
Clepsydra / Astray [VINYL]
(Edition Rz)
Romanian-French composer Horatiu Radulescu with 2 works from 1983: "Clepsydra" for 16 Sound Icons played on a sideway piano, and the 1984 work "Astray" for 6 saxophones and Sound Icons.
Mimeo
WIGRY [2 VINYL LPs]
(Monotype)
A double LP from the incredible electro-acoustic improvising band of Phil Durrant, Christian Fennesz, Thomas Lehn, Cor Fuhler, Maffe Matthews, Keith Rowe, Rafael Toral, Jan Prins, Marcus Schmickler, and Peter Rehberg!
Exploding Star Orchestra
Stars Have Shapes [VINYL]
(Delmark)
Jazz cornetist Rob Mazurek with Nicole Mitchell, Matt Bauder, Jeb Bishop, Jason Adasiewicz, Jason Stein, Mike Reed, &c. &c., a unique and incredible orchestra of acoustic & electronic improvisation.
Alexander Schlippenbach Von
The Living Music [VINYL]
(Cien Fuegos)
Recorded the same day as Brotzmann's "Nipples", pianist Schlippenbach's 2nd album was released on his own Quasar label in 1969, featuring Brotzmann(sax), Manfred Schoof (cornet), Michael Pilz (reeds), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Buschi Niebergall (bass) and Han Bennink (drums).
Made to Break
Lacerba [VINYL]
(Clean Feed)
The electroacoustic quartet of Christof Kurzmann (electronics), Devin Hoff (bass), Ken Vandermark (reeds) and Tim Daisy (drums) performing live in Lisbon, an innovative and significant band developing new languages for improvisation.
Fire!
Without Noticing [VINYL]
(Rune Grammofon)
The fifth album from the powerful Swedish trio Fire!, comprised of Mats Gustafsson (The Thing), Johan Berthling (Tape) and drummer Andreas Werliin (Wildbirds & Peacedrums), with Mats playing keyboards and electronics on selected tracks.
Angles 9
In Our Midst [VINYL]
(Clean Feed)
Clean Feed's 2nd LP is their 4th Angles release, expanding saxophonist Martin Kuchen's band to 9 pieces with Mattias Stahl, Johan Berthling, Alexander Zethson, Mats Aleklint, Eirik Hegdal, Goran Kajfes, and Magnus Broo in an album of rare expressiveness and power.
Kidd Jordan / Peter Kowald / Alvin Fielder
Live In New Orleans [VINYL 2 LPs]
(NoBusiness)
The free improvising trio of saxophonist Kidd Jordan, drummer Alvin Fielder, and bassist Peter Kowald performing at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center in New Orleans in 2002.
Jim O'Rourke / Lasse Marhaug / Paal Nilssen-Love
The Love Robots [VINYL]
(PNL/PICA)
The trio of Jim O'Rourke on guitar, Paal Nilssen-Love on drums and Lasse Marhaug on electronics in an album of beautiful psychedelic noise recorded at Gok Sound Studio in Tokyo.
Peter Brotzmann Trio
For Adolphe Sax [VINYL]
(Cien Fuegos)
Reissuing Peter Brotzmann's first album from 1967 on his own BRO label (subsequently reissued by FMP in 1972) in a trio with German bassist Peter Kowald and drummer Sven Ake Johansson.
N.E.W. (Noble / Edwards / Ward)
Motion [VINYL]
(Dancing Wayang)
The London power jazz trio of Steve Noble on drums, John Edwards on double bass and Alex Ward on electric guitar, powerful and exhilarating free improvisation from a trio who for more than 10 years have developed a unique sound that blurs the lines of jazz & rock.
Joe Morris
Shock Axis
(Relative Pitch)
A limited edition release of guitarist Joe Morri's new NY-area aggressive improvising trio with younger players Dave Parmelle on drums and Chris Cretella on electric bass, shredding with awesome technical skill and intense harmonic and melodic force, really powerful stuff!
Anthony Braxton
Live At The Rainbow Gallery '79
(Hi Hat)
A great set of free bop oriented improvisations from Anthony Braxton in a great quintet with Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, George Lewis on trombone, Dave Holland on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums, recorded at Rainbow Gallery, in Minneapolis, Minnesota for broadcast.
Perch Hen Brock & Rainy (Ab Baars / Ig Henneman / Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Raine)
Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere
(Relative Pitch)
Crossing Netherland and New York players, Ab Baars on reeds, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrcok on sax and Tom Rainey on drums present an album of insightful improv that borrows approaches to sound from natural world, performed live at Tampere Jazz Happening, Finland in 2014.
Cortex (Johansson / Alberts / Hoyer / Nilssen)
Live in New York
(Clean Feed)
Approaching the free side of 60s postbop in the Ornette Coleman vein, the Cortex quartet of Thomas Johansson (trumpet), Kristoffer Alberts (sax), Ola Hoyer (double bass) and Gard Nilssen (drums) are captured for a dynamic and captivating set at IBeam in Brooklyn in 2015.
Frode Gjerstad / Jon Rune Strom / Paal Nilssen-Love
Steam In the Casa
(PNL)
A live recording from the Casa Del Popolo club in Montreal, Canada, named because Gjerstad was upset that Air Canada had messed up his sax in transit, which he played regardless; his frustration pushed him into an overwhelmingly amazing set of smoking free jazz!
Steve Swell Quintet (Swell / Moondoc / Burrell / W. Parker / Cleaver)
Soul Travelers [VINYL + DOWNLOAD]
(RogueArt)
A great set of Downtown NY players led by trombonist Steve Swell, with Jemeel Moondoc on alto sax, Dave Burrell on piano, William Parker on double bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums, a heartfelt and masterfully soulful album of excellent modern jazz in a limited LP.
Hal Rammel
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.
Fire! Orchestra
Ritual [VINYL 2 LPs + CD]
(Rune Grammofon)
The incredible Fire! Orchestra in a 21-piece rendition performs in the studio for an ecstatic album of free improvisation and song, with an amazing lineup including Mats Gustafsson, Mette Rasmussen, Johan Berthling, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Lotte Anker, &c. &c.
Large Unit
Ana
(PNL)
Drummer Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit recorded this ecstatic, Brazilian influenced material in 2015 after a mammoth European and North-American tour, hours after their performance at the 2015 Oslo Jazzfestival with an extended line-up with Brazilian percussion players.
Michiyo Yagi / Lasse Marhaug / Paal Nilssen-Love
Angular Mass
(PNL)
Japanese Koto virtuoso Michiyo Yagi joins the longstanding duo of drummer Paal-Nilssen-Love and electronics wizard Lasse Marhaug for a session of extended improvisations, driving the traditional Japanese instruments into non-idiomatic and percussive extremes.
North Of North (Anthony Pateras / Scott Tinkler / Erkki Veltheim)
The Moment In and Of Itself
(Immediata)
Drawing from Xenakian architextures, Carterian set theory, Carnatic music, sharp-edged pointillism & orchestrational symbiosis, pianist Anthony Pateras steps back from electronic music for chamber-oriented improvisations with trumpeter Scott Tinkler & voilinist Erkki Veltheim.
Mark Wastell
Quartet
(Confront)
As close to straight-ahead improvisation as you'll hear from audio explorer Mark Wastell, in an authoritative quartet of free improvisers, with both Olie Brice and Dominic Lash on double bass, Alan Wilkinson on alto sax, and Wastell himself on violoncello.
Ellery Eskelin Trio (w/ Gary Versace / Gerry Hemingway)
Willisau Live
(Hatology)
2015 recordings of tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's trio with Gary Versace on organ and Gerry Hemingway on drums, an ebullient set live at the Jazz Festival in Willisau, Switzerland, sequencing Count Basie, Victor Young, Ernie Burnett, and Thelonious Monk tunes.
John Butcher / Michael Duch
Fjordgata
(Confront)
A live recording at the Jazzfest Trondheim, Trondelag Senter for Samtidskunst, in May 2015 from the freely improvising duo of John Butcher and contrabassist Michael Duch, a superb extended concert of incredible reed technique and concept anchored by Duch's flexible bass work.
Uwe Oberg / Silke Eberhardt
Turns
(Leo)
Playful, joyful and absolutely commanding performances from the duo of German pianist Uwe Oberg and Silke Eberhard on alto sax and clarinet, performing both live and in the studio on original compositions and pieces by Carla Bley, Jimmy Giuffre, and Annette Peacock.
Michiyo Yagi / Lasse Marhaug / Joe McPhee / Paal Nilssen-Love
Soul Stream
(PNL)
A intensely introspective album of free improvisation from frequent collaborators, reed and trumpter Joe McPhee, drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, electronic artist Lasse Marhaug, and Japanese koto player Michiyo Yagi, performing live at GOK Sound in Tokyo, 2013; beautiful.
Ivo Perelman / Matthew Shipp / Michael Bisio / Whit Dickey
Soul
(Leo)
The long running duo of NY pianist Matthew Shipp and Brazilian/NY saxophonist Ivo Perelman forms the basis for this excellent quartet, with mainstays Michael Bisio on bass and Whit Dickey on drums, in an expressive and soulful album that balances enthusiasm and brilliant restraint.
Ivo Perelman / Karl Berger
The Hitchhiker
(Leo)
The second CD that NY saxophonist Ivo Perelman has recorded with Ornette alumni Karl Berger, the first with Berger on piano, and here on vibraphone, opening new aspects of sound to the commanding dialog between these two friends and seasoned improvisers.
Ivo Perelman / Matthew Shipp
Corpo
(Leo)
After many years working together in the vital Downtown NY scene, saxophonist Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp take their playing the next step after their previous duo "Callas", in thoughtful improv that expresses in both their mutual language and masterful skills.
Silva / Anker / Sandell / Zetterberg / Falt
Life and Other Transient Storms
(Clean Feed)
Live recordings at the 2015 Tampere Jazz Happening from the first meeting of Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Lotte Anker on sax, Sten Sandell on piano, Torbjorn Zetterberg on bass and Jon Falt on drums, a modern supergroup of responsive and subtle collective improvisation.
Terry Riley
The 3 Generations Trio
(Angelica)
Recorded during the 2013 Angelica Festival at Teatro Comunale, Terry Riley's 3 Generations Trio bring Riley on synth, piano and Indian influenced vocals together with son Gyan on guitar and Tracy Silverman on electric violin for an immersive and meditative performance.
Bay's Leap
Swans Over Dorking
(Citystream)
The debut album by the British Improvised Music trio Bay's Leap of clarinetist Noel Taylor, pianist Clare Simmonds and cellist James Barralet, presenting 11 spontaneously improvised compositions that bridge avant jazz and contemporary classical chamber music.
XT (Seymour Wright / Paul Abbot)
Pah'
(Pleasure of the Text Records)
The duo of Paul Abbot on drum kits, percussion & computer, and Seymour Wright on alto saxophone and feedback, in a massive edge-of-your seat live recording from London's Cafe Oto in 2015, a mix of brutal and beautiful playing with unexpected and surprising twists.
Charles Evans
Ballads
(Hot Cup Records)
Baritone saxophonist Charles Evans artfully navigates seven ballads, from standard pieces such as "Body and Soul" and "Chelsea Bridge" to 2 original compositions, in a band with Moppa Elliott (bass), Eli Hludzik (drums), Neil Shah (piano), and Eric Dutko (guitar).
Tomas Fujiwara Trio
Variable Bets
(Relative Pitch)
Merging different sub-genre of NYC's rich jazz and creative music scene, drummer Tomas Fujiwara's trio with Brandon Seabrook on guitar and Ralph Alessi on trumpet furtively builds into a free jazz album of contrasting dynamics and superb playing.
David Sylvian (w/ Jan Bang, Otomo Yoshihide, Toshimaru Nakamura)
Playing The Schoolhouse
(Confront)
With contributions from Otomo Yoshihide and Toshimaru Nakamura, David Sylvian recorded this album for Mark Wastell after much discussion, creating an intense and mysterious album of organized concrete sound and field recordings based on an improvisation with Jan Bang.
John Zorn / AutorYno
Flauros: The Book Of Angels Volume 29
(Tzadik)
Zorn's Book of Angels series presenting the Masada composition books performed by a wide variety of groups, here with AutorYno, a wild power trio of three Paris avant rockers, taking Masada into heavy rock territory blanding Metal, Punk, Thrash, Dub and Surf rock.
Marc Baron
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.
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.
Leif Elggren
Das Baank [VINYL]
(Fragment Factory)
A solo album from veteran Swedish artist Leif Elggren, a sound and symbolic record as a powerful statement on the limits of social and political absurdity and corruption in our present time, and commenting on repression, violence, fear and power.
Christian Fennesz / Jim O'Rourke
It's Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry [VINYL]
(Editions Mego)
Viennese experimental guitarist and laptop artist Christian Fennesz and Jim O'Rourke on synthesizer in a beautiful album of sonic environments, with "gurgling harmonies swimming among the shimmering frequencies and strummed melodies"; recommended.
Wilmington Sound Orchestra
Play Russolo
(Bad At Raving Foundation)
Peter Cusack
Where Is the Green Parrot?
(Recommended Records)
Kevin Drumm / Martin Tetreault
Particles and Smears
(erstwhile)
Morceaux_De_Machines
Estrapade
(No Type)
Chris Cutler
Twice Around the Earth
(Recommended Records)
John Tilbury
Plays Samuel Beckett
(Matchless)
Kenneth Kirschner
Three Compositions
(Sirr.ecords)
Hal Rammel
Midwest Disquiet
(Penumbra)
Hal Rammel has been building instruments since the mid 1970s; the amplified palette is an artist's palette with attached wood & metal rods played with mallets or bows, amplified with a contact microphone.
Corridors
Corridors
(Sedimental)
Byron Westbrook has been performing "Corridors", a multi-channel performance system for live guitar feedback, around the US and EU for the last four years, here in it's first official recording.
Akio Suzuki
NA-GI 1997
(Edition Rz)
Sound and installation pioneer Akio Suzuki in a work based on field recordings from the bay and caves of Takano, Tango-cho in the northern-most coast of Kyoto, Japan.
Akio Suzuki
Tubridge 99-00
(Edition Rz)
Japanese installation and sound artist Akio Suzuki in recordings made at the New Taiza Tunnel in Tango Kyoto, 1999, rich and pure works of ambient environments.
Rolf Julius
(Halb) Schwarz
(Edition Rz)
Six dense, mysterious and abstract electronic compositions created over a decade by German sound sculpture artist and composer Rolf Julius.
Various Artists
Cape Fear Noise
(Bicephalic)
A limited edition hand painted & numbered compilation featuring Bicephalic and ACK Recording noise artists Carl Kruger, Ryan Lewis, Allison Parker and August Traeger.
Michael Moser
Resonant Cuts: (2 CDs AND BOOK)
(Edition Rz)
Book and 2 CDs documenting a 2010 concert and sound installation by Carsten Seiffarth and Michael Moser, with Polweschsel & guests (Burkhard Beins, Axel Dorner, &c) performing the concert.
Carl Kruger
Loveday
(Bicephalic)
Abstract sound design from 910 Noise collective artist Carl Kruger, 5 tracks on a lovely 3" CD created through the processing of acoustic sound and electronics, a dynamic set of excellent compositions.
Jos Zwaanenburg
20 Odd Years: Music For Flute(s) & Live Electronics
(FMR)
Dutch flautist and electronic artist Jos Zwaanenburg in a release that updates and reinvents the technology for works written by British composers for Zwaanenburg over the last 20 years.
Anthony Pateras
Collected Works 2002-2012 [5 CD BOX]
(Immediata)
Electroacoustic composer and performer Anthony Pateras in a beautiful 5-CD box set documenting a broad variety of works from ensembles to solo work, an excellent overview of one of Australia's most vital composers and performers.
Reinaldo Laddaga
Things That A Mutant Needs To Know [BOOK + 2 CDs]
(Unsounds)
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.
Machinefabriek
Forks [CASSETTE]
(Banned Productions)
Machinefabriek, aka Rutger Zuydervelt, recorded the music on this release with tuning forks, steel wool, contact mics, memo recorders, looped cassettes from an answering machine tape, a ring modulator, and looper pedals.
Jurg Frey
String Quartet No. 3 / Unhorbare Zeit
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Two works from composer Frey performed by Montreal's string ensemble Quatuor Bozzini: "String Quartet No. 3", a minimal work of colors, sensations, shadows, durations; and "Unhorbare Zeit" exploring durations without sound, or empty volumes, to achieve lucidity and transparency.
Jurg Frey
String Quartets
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Composer Jurg Frey's 1988 work "String Quartet" realized by Nadia Francavilla, Clemens Merkel, Stephanie Bozzini and Isabelle Bozzini, exploring ideas of audibility: the moment when sound waves move in space and the air touches the body.
Jurg Frey
Lucier . Wolff . Schlothauer . Frey
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Six compositions from Lucier, Wolff, Schlothauer, and Frey, exploring harmonic beats on the acoustic clarinet, deriving melody in unexpected ways; seeking static tones between sound and noise; and investigating melodic variations; inquisitive, thought-provoking, alluring work.
Maja Ratkje S. K.
Crepuscular Hour [VINYL 2LP / CD /DVD]
(Rune Grammofon)
An epic, hypnotic work for three choirs, three pairs of noise musicians, and church organ, to be performed in a cathedral or similar location with musicians surrounding the audience, here from a live performance at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2012.
Mannfred Werder
2003 [3 CDs]
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Pushing the envelope on minimalism, Manfredd Werder's 3 scores for "2003" present just 6 tones, the instructions telling 3, 2 or 1 performers to play a pitch or sound for 3-7 seconds twice during the performance; realized by Erik Carlson, Stephanie Richards, and D. Edward Davis.
Sylvia Ocougne / Chico Mello
Musica Brasileira Descomposta
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
The Brazilian duo of Silvia Ocougne and Chico Mello, residing in Berlin, create a sonic collage of traditional popular and contemporary elements influenced by both Berlin and Brazil, using the unusual orchestration of instruments including tuba, matchbox, clarinet, &c.
Beat Keller / Tom Johnson / Joseph Kudirka
String Trios
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Jurg Frey
Circles and Landscapes - works for solo piano played by Philip Thomas
(Another Timbre)
Five new or recent pieces from composer Jurg Frey, alongside his 1993 work "In Memoriam Cornelius Cardew", all performed by pianist Philip Thomas, presenting slowly unfolding compositions emphasizing the physical space and time within which sounds are situated.
Frey . Beuger / Duo Contour
Duos
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
The duo Contour of Stephen Altoff (trumpet) & Lee Forrest Ferguson (percussion) perform Antoine Beuger's "dedekind duos" dedicated to mathematician Julius Wilhelm Richard Dedekind; and Jurg Frey's "22 Sachelchen" or "small things", 22 focused miniature compositions.
Jean Schwarz
Erda / Suite N [VINYL]
(Recollection GRM)
Electronic composer Jean Schwarz in two large works composed in the Ina GRM's numerical composition studio exploring exaggerated amplification, inversion, transformation, and include tributes to Kenny Clarke and John Coltrane.
Maja Ratkje S. K.
Crepuscular Hour [CD+DVD]
(Rune Grammofon)
An epic, hypnotic work for three choirs, three pairs of noise musicians, and church organ, to be performed in a cathedral or similar location with musicians surrounding the audience, here from a live performance at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2012.
Jurg Frey (performed by Cristian Alvear)
Guitarist, Alone
(Another Timbre)
A double CD featuring all of Wandelweiser composer Jurg Frey's music for solo acoustic guitar, beautifully interpreted by the Chilean guitarist Cristian Alvear, including a new piece written specially for Cristian Alvear; beautifully unfolding, concentrative music.
Clemens Merkel
Maderna . Beuger . von Schweinitz . Stiegler
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Violinist Clemens Merkel interprets compositions by Wolfgang von Schweinitz's "Sonata for Violine Solo"; Antonie Beuger's "Unwritten Page"; Bruno Madema's "Piece Pour Ivry"; and Thomas Stiegler's cycle "Kammerkomplex" ("quasi una fantasia", "gran partita" and "sonata facile").
Alfred Zimmerlin
Dunki . Frey . Aeschbacher . Capt . Hefti . Moster
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
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.
Iannis Xenakis
GRM Works 1957-1962 [VINYL REPRESS]
(Recollection GRM)
Recollection GRM assembles Greek experimental composer Iannis Xenakis' works for Groupe de Recherches Musicales circa 1957-1962: "Concret PH" (1958); "Orient-Occident" (1960); "Diamorphoses" (1957-58); "Bohor" (1962).
David Shea
Piano 1
(Room40)
Though using the piano to develop his complex and astonishing works, Shea has never himself released an album of his own piano playing; until Lawrence English challenged Shea to do so, the result of which is this album, playing acoustic, prepared, or electro-acoustically treated.
Pauline Oliveros + Musiques Nouvelles
Four Meditations/Sound Geometries
(Sub Rosa)
Pauline Oliveros surrounded by Belgian ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, performing two long pieces for orchestra, using her Expanded Instrument System and 5.1 Surround Sound System in a mix of conducted and improvised music using metaphors and listening concepts.
Zeitkratzer
Grand Orchestra
(Tochnit Aleph)
The "Grand Orchestra" of Zeitkratzer and guests create a complex sound using an assembly of players with 40 winds, including bagpipes, developed by both Zeitkratzer and lay people, playing not only pure intensity but also dense and complex sound aggregates.
Christian Wolff
Angelica Music
(Angelica)
Taken from 2 concerts during the 2013 Angelica Festival in Santa Caterina, with the Apartment House Ensemble, percussionist Robyn Schulkowsky, and Wolff himself; compositions include several "Excercises", his "Duo for Violins", and a variation on a Morton Feldman work.
Jon Rose / The Hyperstring Project
Pauline Oliveros
The Wanderer
(Important Records)
Horatiu Radulescu
Clepsydra / Astray [VINYL]
(Edition Rz)
Romanian-French composer Horatiu Radulescu with 2 works from 1983: "Clepsydra" for 16 Sound Icons played on a sideway piano, and the 1984 work "Astray" for 6 saxophones and Sound Icons.
Malcolm Goldstein
A Sounding of Sources
(New World Records)
Hailed as having "reinvented violin playing" and a NY peer to Tenney and Corner, this CD presents 4 compositions from composer/improvser Goldstein from the 80s & 90s.
Arthur Levering
Still Raining, Still Dreaming
(New World Records)
Arthur Levering in recordings of works from 2001-2002, compositions that stress clarity and lightness while working with dense elements of texture, tempo, & harmony.
The World Heritage (Yamamoto Seiichi / Katsui Yuji / Kido Natsuki / Nasuno Mitsuru / Yoshida Tatsuya)
The Land of Light
(Magaibutsu)
The Japanese improvising rock quintet The World Heritage--Yamamoto Seiichi, Katsui Yuji, Kido Natsuki, Nasuno Mitsuru, and Yoshida Tatsuya--with two guitars, violin, bass and drums, in a live recording of dynamic collective improvisation at Akihabara Goodman in 2013.
Kazuto Shimizu / Yoshida Tatsuya / Nasyuno Mitsuru
SYN LIVE
(Magaibutsu Limited)
The Japanese improvising rock trio of Kazuto Shimizu on keyboards, Nasyuno Mitsuru on bass, and Yoshida Tatsuya on drums performing live at Club Goodman in Akihabara, Japan, 2016 for technically superb, fast paced, turn-on-a-dime, joyful prog-oriented playing.
New Zion Trio & Cyro Baptista
Sunshine Seas [VINYL]
(Rarenoise Records)
The third album from Jamie Saft's New Zion Trio with Brad Jones on bass, Craig Santiago on drums, and Vanessa Saft on vocals, finds the trio joined by percussionist Cyro Baptista for an album of compelling dub and grooves with an upbeat spiritual pulse.
Aster (Ashley Paul and Eli Keszler)
Things That Just Happen [VINYL]
(R.E.L. Records)
The 2nd release by the duo of Ashley Paul & Eli Keszler, merging the off kilter, quiet and fragile song based work of Ashley with the material-based sound from the duo's live performances, with no electronic processing; isolating, rich, alien and challenging music.
Korekyojinn
Fall Line
(Magaibutsu)
The 5th studio album from the trio of Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins alone / Koenji Hyakkei), Kido Natsuki (Bondage Fruit / Salle Gavoux), Nasunomitsuru (Altered states / Umbeltipo), avant-progressive instrumental rock, melodic and complex rock performed at breakneck speed.
Friction (Akinobu / Minoru / Reck)
Zone Tripper
(Tzadik)
Friction, one of the most important and longest running underground bands in Japan, is currently the trio of Reck (bass, guitar & vocals), Iami Akinobu (guitar) and Sato Minoru (drums), in a hard-edged album of original songs and remixes; demanding and powerful modern rock.
Hedvig Mollestad Trio
Black Stabat Mater
(Rune Grammofon)
Another strong instrumental rock album, blending heavy prog, free jazz and psychedelia with forceful and technically excellent guitar work from leader Mollestad, backed by fellow Norwegians Ellen Brekken on bass and Ivar Loe Bjornstad on drums; keeping the 70s alive!
PYN (Pittard / Yoshida / Nasuno)
L'elan Createur
(Magaibutsu Limited)
Following their 2015 album "Songs for children who don't want to sleep", the quartet of Yan Pittard on guitar & oud, Mitsuru Nasuno on bass, Maki Nakano on vocals, and Tatsuya Yoshida on drums present this soundtrack album, which translates to "the creative urge".
Fred Frith
Prints
(Recommended Records)
Fred Frith
Accidental
(Recommended Records)
Blast
Altrastrata
(Recommended Records)
The Ex & Guests
Instant
(Ex Records)
Faust
BBC Sessions +
(Recommended Records)
Korekyojinn
This Heat
This Heat (1st album)
(This Is/Recommended Records)
This Heat
Out of Cold Storage Box Set (6 CDs)
(This Is/Recommended Records)
This Heat
Deceit
(Recommended Records)
Various Artists
Japanese New Music Festival 2008
(Magaibutsu)
The fifth Japanese New Music Festival 2008 has 7 audio tracks and 7 videos with artists Atsushi Tsuyama & Makoto Kawabata & Tatsuya Yoshida.
Henry Cow
Stockholm
(Recommended Records)
The 1st new Henry Cow release in 30 years, live concerts from '76-77 Swedish radio shows, remixed and remastered - 16 tracks including recordings with Georgie Born.
Henry Cow
Box 1: The Road Volumes 1-5
(Recommended Records)
Henry Cow's early years on the road, live recordings masterfully restored by Bob Drake, with early unreleased material, improvisations, shows with Robert Wyatt - wow!
Deluxx
The Tidy Boy [VINYL]
(Spirit of Orr)
One part Sonic Youth, one part early Residents, Deluxx is the anomalous output of NY/Boston transplant Mark Peretta, a one-man band of crazy riffs and warped song-spieling.
Uchihashi Kazuhisa
Flect II
(Innocent Records)
Guitarist Uchihashi Kazuhisa of Altered States fame in his second "Flect" album of solo electronic guitar improvisations recorded in Vienna, New York City, and Tokyo.
Korekyojinn
Swan Dive [DVD + CD]
(Magaibutsu)
Drummer Yoshida Tatsuya's amazing improvising progressive rock band Korekyojinn in a CD and DVD release with guests including Hoppy Kamiyama and Uchihashi.
Marbin
Breaking the Cycle
(MoonJune)
Marbin's 2nd release brings guitarist Dani Rabind and saxophonist Danny Markovitch together with the renowned rhythmic section of Pat Metheny Group veterans drummer Paul Wertico & bassist Steve Rodby.
Shockabilly
Live At 10 Foot Henry's
(Chadula)
Shockabilly (Eugene Chadbourne, David Licht, and Kramer) in sound board recordings from their performance at 10 Feet Henry, Calgary in 1983, perhaps one of their best live releases!
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.
Albert Ayler 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.
Anthony Braxton
Quartet (Santa Cruz) 1993, 2nd Set
(Hatology)
Remaster of the exhilarating second set from saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton's concert at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, CA, 1993, one of 7 nights performing with the quartet of Marilyn Crispell on piano, Mark Dresser on bass, and Gerry Hemingway on percussion.
Cecil Taylor
Garden, 2nd Set
(Hatology)
The second set of Cecil Taylor's superb live set at Grosser Saal Volkshaus, in Basel, Switzerland in 1981, performing solo over five improvisations, presented for the first time in the original concert sequence.
Steve Swell's Kende Dreams (Swell/ Brown / Crothers / Parker / Taylor)
Hommage A Bartok
(Silkheart)
Trombonist Steve Swell presents an homage to composer Bela Bartok, applying jazz techniques to the composer's music to find something new and unexpected, in an amazing quintet with Connie Crothers (piano), William Parker (bass), Chad Taylor (drums) & Rob Brown (sax).
Tomas Fujiwara / Ben Goldberg / Mary Halvorson
The Out Louds
(Relative Pitch)
The first release from the NY/West Coast trio of Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Ben Goldberg on clarinet, and Mary Halvorson on guitar, a collaborative improv of lyrical and nuanced improv, using great skill and sophistication in dialog that takes unexpected twists and turns.
Marc Ducret Trio + 3 (Chevillon / Echampard + Monniot / Blaser / Martinez)
Metatonal
(Ayler)
Guitarist Marc Ducret expands his trio of bassist Bruno Chevillon and drummer Eric Echampard with saxophonist Christophe Monniot, trumpeter Frabrice Martinez, and trombonist Samuel Blaser for a tour de force of dynamic and quickly shifting improv that both shreds and reflects.
Anthony Braxton / Quartet
(Santa Cruz) 1993 1st Set [REPRESS]
(Hatology)
Reissuing and remastering saxophonist Anthony Braxton's stellar release documenting his 1993 live performance with Marilyn Crispell on piano, Mark Dresser on bass, and Gerry Hemingway on percussion & marimba, demanding collective improvisation from masterful players.
Ellery Eskelin Trio (w/ Gary Versace / Gerry Hemingway)
Willisau Live
(Hatology)
2015 recordings of tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's trio with Gary Versace on organ and Gerry Hemingway on drums, an ebullient set live at the Jazz Festival in Willisau, Switzerland, sequencing Count Basie, Victor Young, Ernie Burnett, and Thelonious Monk tunes.
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.
Sun Ra Arkestra
Sunrise In Different Dimensions
(Hatology)
3rd edition of this great live recording of Sun Ra and his Arkestra from 1980 in Switzerland, originally released as a double LP, and remastered for CD in 2010.
Cecil Taylor
Garden 1st Set
(Hatology)
Reissue and 2015 remaster of Cecil Taylor's superb live set at Grosser Saal Volkshaus, in Basel, Switzerland in 1981, performing solo over three extended improvisations, presented for the first time in the original concert sequence.
Steve Lacy Quintet
Last Tour (2004)
(Emanem)
The Steve Lacy Quintet's final tour with vocalist Irene Aebi, trombonist George Lewis, bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel and drummer John Betsch, performing live in Boston for an impressive set punctuated with words from Burroughs, Waldman, Kaufman, Creeley & Schelling.
Jemeel Moondoc / Hilliard Greene
Cosmic Nickelodeon
(Relative Pitch)
Jemeel Moondoc's third release on New York's Relative Pitch label is this duo with bassist Hilliar Greene, a soulful album of bluesy free playing, Greene's solid finger and bow work anchoring Moondoc for beautiful, informed, quirky and sincerely heartfelt playing.
John Carter Trio
Echoes from Rudolph's [2 CDs]
(NoBusiness)
Between 1973 and '76 Sunday afternoons at Rudolph's Fine Art Center hosted the superb John Carter Trio with son Stanley Carter on bass and Chris Carter on cymbals; these live recordings were originally released in a limited LP in 1977, now reissued with a rare '77 radio broadcast.
Nate Wooley Quintet (Wooley / Sinton / Moran / Opsvik / Eisenstadt)
(Dance to) The Early Music
(Clean Feed)
Nate Wooley assembled his outstanding quintet of Josh Sinton on bass clarinet, Matt Moran on vibs, Eivind Opsvik on bass and Harris Eisenstadt on drums to present a non-ironic take on the early music of a trumpeter who inspired Wooley at an early age - Wynton Marsalis.
Joe McPhee / Paal Nilssen-Love
Candy [7 CDs]
(PNL)
Working together since 2000, and performing as a duo since 2007, this solid 7 CD box set presents free improvising saxophone and pocket trumpet legend Joe McPhee with Europe's most amazing drummer, Paal Nilssen-Love, in live sets from 2007-2014 recorded around the world.
McPhee / Saft / Morris / Downs
Ticonderoga
(Clean Feed)
A burning spiritual session inspired by John Coltrane's "Live at the Village Vanguard Again" that began when Jamie Saft told Joe Morris about his deep admiration for Alice Coltrane's playing, adding McPhee and Downs as the perfect complement to realize this excellent album.
Mostly Other People Do the Killing
Mauch Chunk
(Hot Cup Records)
Recorded and mixed on analog tape, MOPDtK combines historical jazz lineage and the 21st century perspective of MOPDtK's members (Jon Irabagon; Ron Stabinsky; Moppa Elliott; Kevin Shea), with each piece dedicated to an individual who influenced their compositional process.
Hartmut Geerken And Chris Trent
Omniverse Sun Ra [BOOK]
(Art Yard)
Originally published in 1994, Hartmut Geerken and Chris Trent's comprehensive reference of Sun Ra includes a pictorial and annotated discography, essays and photo documents, photographs; this 2nd edition adds new photographs, photo documents, and essays.
Steve Lacy Four
Morning Joy ...Paris Live [reissue]
(Hatology)
One night at the Paris Sunset Club by saxophonist Steve Lacy's Quartet with Steve Potts on sax, Jean-Jacques Avenel on bass and Oliver Johnson on drums, performing an exuberant mix of Lacy originals and Thelonius Monk tunes, remastered & expanded for Hat's 40th Anniversary.
Tony Malaby Paloma Recio
Incantations
(Clean Feed)
NY Saxophonist Tony Malaby's Paloma Recio with Ben Monder on guitar, Eivind Opsvik on double bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums in a studio album performing Malaby's 4-part "Incantation Suite", lyrically free improvisation with a shimmering essence invoking dreamlike states.
Seijaku
Last Live [2 CDs]
(Doubtmusic)
Long form twisted blues from the Japanese Seijaku Trio of Keiji Haino (guitar, voice, violin & flute), Mitsuru Nasuno (bass) and Yoshimitsu Ichiraku (drums), performing live at Club Goodman in Tokyo in 2014, for an album of profoundly introspective and dark music.
Keiji Haino / Mitsuru Nasuno / Yoshimitsu Ichiraku
After Seijaku [2 CDs]
(Doubtmusic)
The Seijaku Trio of Keiji Haino (electronics, guitar, voice), Mitsuru Nasuno (bass, electronics) and Yoshimitsu Ichiraku (electronics), recording 2 years after the "Last Live" album, in an epic voyage of meditative and intricate electronics performed live in Tokyo.
Bley / Koglmann / Peacock
Annette
(Hatology)
The trio of bassist Gary Peacock, pianist Paul Bley, and trumpeter Franz Koglmann interpret and improvise on the music of avant song-writer Annette Peacock.
Joe McPhee
As Serious As Your Life [reissue]
(Hatology)
In 1996, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Joe McPhee's first solo release, McPhee recorded this remarkable album of solo reeds, pocket cornet, and electronics, using overdubbing to create gripping music including an homage to Miles Davis and unique versions of standards.
Korekyojinn
Fall Line
(Magaibutsu)
The 5th studio album from the trio of Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins alone / Koenji Hyakkei), Kido Natsuki (Bondage Fruit / Salle Gavoux), Nasunomitsuru (Altered states / Umbeltipo), avant-progressive instrumental rock, melodic and complex rock performed at breakneck speed.
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.
Angry Waves (Takyanagi / Ino / Yamazaki)
Angry Waves / Vol.1
(Jinya Disc)
The late free improvising Japanese guiatarist Takayanagi Masayuki's free jazz trio with an Albert Ayler intent, formed in 1982 with Nobuyoshi Ino on bass and Hiroshi Yamazaki on drums, a pre-cursor to Takayanaki's Action Direct.
Chris Lightcap Bigmouth
Epicenter
(Clean Feed)
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.
Susan Alcorn
Soldad
(Relative Pitch)
Pedal Steel guitar innovator Susan Alcorn in a mostly solo release, beautifully performing 4 lush compositions by Astor Piazzolla, with bassist Michael Formanek joining for the Alcorn-penned "Suite for AHL".
Christy Doran
In The Corner Of The Eye
(Hatology)
Irish guitarist Christy Doran in a quintet with NY Downtown stars Hank Roberts (cello) and Marty Ehrlich (reeds), UK legend Ray Anderson (trombone) and Swiss sax master Urs Leimgruber, in recordings from 1989-1991 showing incredible melodic, technical and creative skills.
Angry Waves (Takyanagi / Ino / Yamazaki)
Angry Waves / Vol.2
(Jinya Disc)
The late free improvising Japanese guiatarist Takayanagi Masayuki's free jazz trio with an Albert Ayler intent, formed in 1982 with Nobuyoshi Ino on bass and Hiroshi Yamazaki on drums, a pre-cursor to Takayanaki's Action Direct.
Alexander Hawkins / Evan Parker
Leaps in Leicester
(Clean Feed)
Established players on the London and European Free Jazz scene from two generations, saxophonist Evan Parker and pianist Alexander Hawkins come together for a duo of remarkable insight, technical skill, and inventive dialog from two masterful players.
Michael Bisio (w/Kirk Knuffke, Art Bailey & Michael Wimberly)
Accortet
(Relative Pitch)
Chronicling 30+ years of New York bassist Michael Bisio's life as a composer in song form and otherwise, in a quartet with Art Bailey on accordion, Kirk Knuffke on cornet, and Michael Wimberly on drums, balancing freedom and swing in a euphorically compelling album.
Richard Pinhas / Tatsuya Yoshida
Live In Japan
(Magaibutsu)
After the 2014 Rock In Opposition Festival in Japan, Richard Pinhas and Yoshida Tatsuya did a two week tour of Japan; one of the results was this CD compiled from several shows during that tour, an excellent album of improvised electronics and drums from Heldon and Ruins masters.
Kevin Drumm / Jason Lescalleet
Busman's Holiday
(erstwhile)
A meditation on the inner mental environments that one encounters and endures during times of work-related travel, intended as a distraction in airports, bus stations, train stations, subway terminals, &c, reflected in literal and abstract sound for a mix of patience and terror.
Roger Turner / Satoh Masahiko / Otomo Yoshihide
Live at Hall Egg Farm
(Doubtmusic)
During legendary UK free improvising drummer Roger Turner's 2015 tour of Japan he met with guitarist Otomo Yoshihide and pianist Satoh Masahiko to record this monumental and astounding 66 minute improvisation at Fukaya City's Hall Egg Farm.
Henry Threadgill 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.
Bobby Bradford Quartet / John Carter
Seeking
(Hatology)
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.
MMM Quartet (Joelle Leandre, Fred Frith, Alvin Curran, Urs Leimgruber)
Oakland/Lisboa
(RogueArt)
Rich, subtle and unusual improv from the MillsMusicMafia (MMM) Quartet of Joelle Leandre on double bass, Fred Frith on electric guitar, Alvin Curran on keys, and Urs Leimgruber on sax, recording these spiritual and detailed improvisations live at Jazz em Agosto in Portugal.
Michael Bisio / Kirk Knuffke Duo
Row for William O.
(Relative Pitch)
New York bassist Michael Bisio pays tribute to his teacher William O. Smith in this tremendous duo with cornetist Kirk Knuffke, in a beautiful mix of lyrical playing and heavy technical skills made to sound remarkably simply; a joyful and profound jazz album.
Derek Bailey / John Tilbury
Playing with a Dead Person [VINYL]
(Bolt)
Despite their desire to record together, UK improvisers, guitarist Derek Bailey and pianist John Tilbury, never quite worked it out; so Tilbury instead took these solo Bailey recordings into the studio and improvised to them, making Bailey the dead leader of their duo.
Jimmy Lyons
Push Pull [2CDs]
(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).
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.
Peter Brotzmann / William Parker / Hamid Drake
Song Sentimentale
(Otoroku)
One of a dual CD/LP release documenting three nights at London's Cafe Oto by the trio of Peter Brotzmann on reeds, William Parker on double bass, guembri, shakuhachi, and shenai, and Hamid Drake on drums, an incredible display of improvised music from three masters of the form.
Daniel Levin Quartet
Blurry
(Hatology)
Cellist Levin's 2nd hatOlogy CD, a quartet of NY players using extended technique in Levin compositions and unusual readings of Ornette Coleman and Charlier Parker pieces.
Ran Blake & Anthony Braxton
A Memory Of Vienna
(Hatology)
In 1988, on the spur of the moment, Blake and Braxton met to record this set of 8 standards, including pieces by Monk, Parker, Gillespie, Miles Davis, Mal Waldron, &c.
Bobby-John Bradford Carter Quintet
Comin' On
(hatOLOGY)
Clarinetist John Carter and cornetist Bobby Bradford in a reissue of their 1991 HatArt release with bassist Richard Davis, drummer Andrew Cyrille, and Don Preston on keys, unusual jazz that stands the test of time.