Wadada Smith Leo / Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii / Ikue Mori
Aspiration
(Libra)
Pianist/composer Satoko Fujii's "Aspiration" brings together four masterful improvisers and innovators--trumpeters Wadada Leo Smith and Natsuki Tamura, and Downtown NY laptop player Ikue Mori--for an album of exciting and exceptional free playing over compositions from Fujii, Tamura, and one collective composition, a brilliant pinnacle of creative music.
Wadada Smith Leo
Najwa
(Tum)
Paying tribute to musicians whose vision paved the way for modern creative players to use new approaches, language and philosophy in improvisation, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith's band with four guitarists, electric bass, drums and percussion dedicates five incredible compositions to Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Billie Holiday.
Christian Wolff / Eddie Prevost
Uncertain Outcomes [2 CDs]
(Matchless)
Two concerts of experimental improvisation from two giants of conceptual improvisation and composition, recorded at IKLECTIK in London in 2015 and at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire in 2016; with superb pacing and brilliant execution, these dialogs between keyboard and percussive instruments explore unique sound worlds with depth, inquisitiveness, and a sense of wonder.
Nate Wooley / Daniele Martini / Joao Lobo
Legacy of Ashes
(Creative Sources)
A free jazz session recorded in Brussells between trumpeter Nate Wooley and half of the Daniele Martini Quartet--saxophonist Martini himself and drummer Joao Lobo--stepping in and out of modal jazz with a contemplative approach, using extended techniques to great effect, Lobo handling the foundation and rhythm in absolutely impressive ways.
Rudiger Carl Inc.
King Alcohol (New Version) [2 CDs]
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
The debut album of Rudiger Carl is an assertive studio session of brilliant free jazz from 1972, with Carl on tenor saxophone, Gunter Christmann on trombone, and Detlef Schonenberg on drums, presenting a great example of early European Free Improv, remastered from the original tapes and issued on CD for the first time, with a 2nd CD of previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Nate Wooley
Battle Pieces 2
(Relative Pitch)
Commissioned by Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation, trumpeter Nate Wooley developed a modular compositional structure of small melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, conceptual, textural, and timbral fragments, allowing Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), and Matt Moran (Vibes) exceptional freedom in improvisation, here in their 2nd recording live at Koeln's Loft.
Cortex
Avant-Garde Party Music
(Clean Feed)
Cortex propels their persuasive, groove oriented approach to jazz with this swinging album that blends free jazz styles with great hard bop, in line with a band like The Thing, this Scandinavian group wants to make your body move without indulging in excess or pandering, instead following a muse that's solidly in the exuberant free jazz tradition.
Rempis Percussion Quartet, The (w/ Haker Flaten / Daisy / Rosaly)
Cochonnerie
(Aerophonic)
13 years playing together and releasing this, their 8th album, the Chicago quartet of Dave Rempis on sax, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, Frank Rosaly on drums, and Tim Daisy on drums, are captured live at Elastic Arts, in Chicago for three awe-inspiring collective improvisations of great energy, resolution, and focus.
Wadada Smith Leo
Solo - Reflections And Meditations On Monk
(Tum)
An intimate album of solo trumpet from Wadada Leo Smith, performing compositions by Thelonious Monk, Smith professing in an essay in the accompanying booklet that he was motivated to become a composer by Monk above other contemporaries for his ideas of composition and bands; his admiration and love of Monk's work is clear in this beautifully lyrical album.
Slow Is Possible (Pontiifice / Figueira / Fonseca / Clemente / Santos Dias / Sousa)
Moonwatchers
(Clean Feed)
A stunningly beautiful album of langurous jazz from a sextet collective of young Portuguese musicians, self-described as a chamber band for the new century, in their 2nd album using melodic elements alongside classical contemporay music, post-rock, alternative metal, intelligent pop, free improvisation and more, creating a rich and embraceable music.
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.
Marginal Consort
08.09.13 [3 CDs]
(Ftarri / Meenna)
A live concert recorded at South London Gallery in London in 2013 from the influential Japanese collective improvisation project Marginal Consort of Kei Shii, Kazuo Imai, Masami Tada and Tomonao Koshikawa, formed around 1975 and since 1997 performing yearly concerts of evolving and continuous electroacoustic improvisation lasting for hours, here in 3 CDs.
The Elks (Kai Fagaschinski / Liz Allbee / Billy Roisz / Marta Zapparoli)
This Is Not The Ant
(Mikroton Recordings)
An extremely balanced group of electroacoustic improvisers, Kai Fagaschinski on clarinet and Liz Allbee on trumpet make up the acoustic side, though sounding as electronic and other-worldly as Billy Roisz on e-bass and electronics and Marta Zapparoli on reel-to-reel tapes and tape machines, creating incredibly wide-ranging and psychedelic sonic environments.
Der Verboten (Loriot / Chessex / Piromalli / Wolfarth)
Der Verboten
(Clean Feed)
Originally called Treffpunkt, or "meeting point", the partnership of violist Frantz Loriot and pianist Cedric Piromalli has evolved as they added collaborators to their idiosyncratic approach to improv, here with guests Antoine Chessex on tenor sax and Christian Wolfarth on percussion and cymbals for an extended, upbeat and wonderfully creative performance.
Roligheten (Roligheten / Loseth / Strom / Nylander)
Homegrown
(Clean Feed)
Saxophonist and bass clarinetist Andre Roligheten leads his quartet with Adrian Loseth Waade on violin, Jon Rune Strom on double bass, and Erik Nylander on drums and percussion through 7 original compositions and Ornette Coleman's "Kathleen Gray", writing for the players, particularly the combination of sax and violin, and the flexibility of a chordless quartet.
Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura
Kisaragi
(Libra)
On their 5th album together, pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura push the limits on approach and technique with their instruments, creating otherworldly and captivating improvisations, both players deciding against using "normal instrumental sounds", instead using preparations and textural approaches to create truly unique music.
John Butcher / Damon Smith / Weasel Walter
The Catastrophe of Minimalism
(Balance Point Acoustics)
Satoko Fujii Quartet (w/ Natsuki Tamura / Keisuke Ohta / Takashi Itani)
Live at Jazz Room Cortez
(Cortez Sound)
Presenting a different line-up from the 2001 debut of Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's Quartet, remaining is trumpeter Natsuka Tamura, with Keisuke Ohta on violin and Takashi Itani on drums, performing evolving and rich collective improvisation with a strange edge, captured live at the Jazz Room Cortez in Mito, Japan in 2016 for two extended and bewitching sets.
Dre Hocevar
Surface Of Inscription
(Clean Feed)
Composer and drummer Dre Hocevar brings an unusual sense of unity, logic and purpose to his improvised work resulting from a number of distinct compositional procedures, performed by vocalist Charmaine Lee, pianist Elias Stemeseder, brass player Weston Olencki reedist Michael Foster, and electronics artist Bernardo Barros, a unique and rewarding album.
Rova / Bruckmann & Kaiser
Saxophone Special
(Clean Feed)
The Californian saxophone quartet composed of Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs and Jon Raskin is extended with Henry Kaiser on guitar and Kyle Bruckmann on analog synth to perform the music of saxophone legend Steve Lacy in 7 compositions, putting an eclectic spin on the iconic composer and performer's music.
Simon Rummel Ensemble
IM MEER
(Umlaut Records)
German composer and improviser Simon Rummel presents the 2nd release from his 11-piece Simon Rummel Ensemble, blending his interest in acoustic phenomena and improvisational harmonics in an extended work that shifts from beautiful tonal work to disruptive cacophony and back to melodic music, blending jazz and 20th century approaches; a great achievement.
Akira Sakata / Manuel Mota / Giovanni Di Domenico / Mathieu Calleja
Jomon [VINYL]
(Holidays Records)
Named for the Jomon period of Japanese history, when Japan was inhabited by a hunter-gatherer culture, the trio of radical saxophonist Akira Sakata joins forces with frequent collaborator, keyboardist Giovanni Di Domenico, Portuguese guitarist Manuel Mota, and drummer Mathieu Calleja to record these powerfully cathartic and ritualistic improvisations.
Roscoe Mitchell
Discussions
(Wide Hive)
Four original improvisations, taken from legendary AACM composer, improviser and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell's "Conversations" album transcribed and performed by a twenty piece Bay Area orchestra, along with two orchestral improvisations and two duets with Roscoe Mitchell and flutist Wilfredo Terrazas.
Akio Suzuki / John Butcher
Immediate Landscapes
(Ftarri)
At the same event in Scotland that John Butcher recorded his excellent "Resonant Spaces" album, he also joined forces with sound artist Akio Suzuki on a variety of objects and sound devices to record the first 5 tracks of this unusual album of very free improv, the last track by the duo recording at the 2015 Ftarri Festival at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo.
Dave Rempis
Lattice
(Aerophonic)
Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis approached the idea of his first solo album under the shadow of the greats before him, in 2017 choosing to journey across the country on a solo tour, performing 31 concerts of which these 6 recordings represent the best reflection of his unique solo vocabulary on the instrument and his enthusiasm for a wealth of musical styles.
Wadada Smith Leo
Najwa
(Tum)
Paying tribute to musicians whose vision paved the way for modern creative players to use new approaches, language and philosophy in improvisation, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith's band with four guitarists, electric bass, drums and percussion dedicates five incredible compositions to Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Billie Holiday.
Christian Wolff / Eddie Prevost
Uncertain Outcomes [2 CDs]
(Matchless)
Two concerts of experimental improvisation from two giants of conceptual improvisation and composition, recorded at IKLECTIK in London in 2015 and at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire in 2016; with superb pacing and brilliant execution, these dialogs between keyboard and percussive instruments explore unique sound worlds with depth, inquisitiveness, and a sense of wonder.
Nate Wooley / Daniele Martini / Joao Lobo
Legacy of Ashes
(Creative Sources)
A free jazz session recorded in Brussells between trumpeter Nate Wooley and half of the Daniele Martini Quartet--saxophonist Martini himself and drummer Joao Lobo--stepping in and out of modal jazz with a contemplative approach, using extended techniques to great effect, Lobo handling the foundation and rhythm in absolutely impressive ways.
Rudiger Carl Inc.
King Alcohol (New Version) [2 CDs]
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
The debut album of Rudiger Carl is an assertive studio session of brilliant free jazz from 1972, with Carl on tenor saxophone, Gunter Christmann on trombone, and Detlef Schonenberg on drums, presenting a great example of early European Free Improv, remastered from the original tapes and issued on CD for the first time, with a 2nd CD of previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Nate Wooley
Battle Pieces 2
(Relative Pitch)
Commissioned by Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation, trumpeter Nate Wooley developed a modular compositional structure of small melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, conceptual, textural, and timbral fragments, allowing Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), and Matt Moran (Vibes) exceptional freedom in improvisation, here in their 2nd recording live at Koeln's Loft.
Cortex
Avant-Garde Party Music
(Clean Feed)
Cortex propels their persuasive, groove oriented approach to jazz with this swinging album that blends free jazz styles with great hard bop, in line with a band like The Thing, this Scandinavian group wants to make your body move without indulging in excess or pandering, instead following a muse that's solidly in the exuberant free jazz tradition.
Rempis Percussion Quartet, The (w/ Haker Flaten / Daisy / Rosaly)
Cochonnerie
(Aerophonic)
13 years playing together and releasing this, their 8th album, the Chicago quartet of Dave Rempis on sax, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, Frank Rosaly on drums, and Tim Daisy on drums, are captured live at Elastic Arts, in Chicago for three awe-inspiring collective improvisations of great energy, resolution, and focus.
Wadada Smith Leo
Solo - Reflections And Meditations On Monk
(Tum)
An intimate album of solo trumpet from Wadada Leo Smith, performing compositions by Thelonious Monk, Smith professing in an essay in the accompanying booklet that he was motivated to become a composer by Monk above other contemporaries for his ideas of composition and bands; his admiration and love of Monk's work is clear in this beautifully lyrical album.
Slow Is Possible (Pontiifice / Figueira / Fonseca / Clemente / Santos Dias / Sousa)
Moonwatchers
(Clean Feed)
A stunningly beautiful album of langurous jazz from a sextet collective of young Portuguese musicians, self-described as a chamber band for the new century, in their 2nd album using melodic elements alongside classical contemporay music, post-rock, alternative metal, intelligent pop, free improvisation and more, creating a rich and embraceable music.
Marginal Consort
08.09.13 [3 CDs]
(Ftarri / Meenna)
A live concert recorded at South London Gallery in London in 2013 from the influential Japanese collective improvisation project Marginal Consort of Kei Shii, Kazuo Imai, Masami Tada and Tomonao Koshikawa, formed around 1975 and since 1997 performing yearly concerts of evolving and continuous electroacoustic improvisation lasting for hours, here in 3 CDs.
The Elks (Kai Fagaschinski / Liz Allbee / Billy Roisz / Marta Zapparoli)
This Is Not The Ant
(Mikroton Recordings)
An extremely balanced group of electroacoustic improvisers, Kai Fagaschinski on clarinet and Liz Allbee on trumpet make up the acoustic side, though sounding as electronic and other-worldly as Billy Roisz on e-bass and electronics and Marta Zapparoli on reel-to-reel tapes and tape machines, creating incredibly wide-ranging and psychedelic sonic environments.
Der Verboten (Loriot / Chessex / Piromalli / Wolfarth)
Der Verboten
(Clean Feed)
Originally called Treffpunkt, or "meeting point", the partnership of violist Frantz Loriot and pianist Cedric Piromalli has evolved as they added collaborators to their idiosyncratic approach to improv, here with guests Antoine Chessex on tenor sax and Christian Wolfarth on percussion and cymbals for an extended, upbeat and wonderfully creative performance.
Roligheten (Roligheten / Loseth / Strom / Nylander)
Homegrown
(Clean Feed)
Saxophonist and bass clarinetist Andre Roligheten leads his quartet with Adrian Loseth Waade on violin, Jon Rune Strom on double bass, and Erik Nylander on drums and percussion through 7 original compositions and Ornette Coleman's "Kathleen Gray", writing for the players, particularly the combination of sax and violin, and the flexibility of a chordless quartet.
Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura
Kisaragi
(Libra)
On their 5th album together, pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura push the limits on approach and technique with their instruments, creating otherworldly and captivating improvisations, both players deciding against using "normal instrumental sounds", instead using preparations and textural approaches to create truly unique music.
John Butcher / Damon Smith / Weasel Walter
The Catastrophe of Minimalism
(Balance Point Acoustics)
Satoko Fujii Quartet (w/ Natsuki Tamura / Keisuke Ohta / Takashi Itani)
Live at Jazz Room Cortez
(Cortez Sound)
Presenting a different line-up from the 2001 debut of Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's Quartet, remaining is trumpeter Natsuka Tamura, with Keisuke Ohta on violin and Takashi Itani on drums, performing evolving and rich collective improvisation with a strange edge, captured live at the Jazz Room Cortez in Mito, Japan in 2016 for two extended and bewitching sets.
Dre Hocevar
Surface Of Inscription
(Clean Feed)
Composer and drummer Dre Hocevar brings an unusual sense of unity, logic and purpose to his improvised work resulting from a number of distinct compositional procedures, performed by vocalist Charmaine Lee, pianist Elias Stemeseder, brass player Weston Olencki reedist Michael Foster, and electronics artist Bernardo Barros, a unique and rewarding album.
Rova / Bruckmann & Kaiser
Saxophone Special
(Clean Feed)
The Californian saxophone quartet composed of Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs and Jon Raskin is extended with Henry Kaiser on guitar and Kyle Bruckmann on analog synth to perform the music of saxophone legend Steve Lacy in 7 compositions, putting an eclectic spin on the iconic composer and performer's music.
Simon Rummel Ensemble
IM MEER
(Umlaut Records)
German composer and improviser Simon Rummel presents the 2nd release from his 11-piece Simon Rummel Ensemble, blending his interest in acoustic phenomena and improvisational harmonics in an extended work that shifts from beautiful tonal work to disruptive cacophony and back to melodic music, blending jazz and 20th century approaches; a great achievement.
Roscoe Mitchell
Discussions
(Wide Hive)
Four original improvisations, taken from legendary AACM composer, improviser and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell's "Conversations" album transcribed and performed by a twenty piece Bay Area orchestra, along with two orchestral improvisations and two duets with Roscoe Mitchell and flutist Wilfredo Terrazas.
Akio Suzuki / John Butcher
Immediate Landscapes
(Ftarri)
At the same event in Scotland that John Butcher recorded his excellent "Resonant Spaces" album, he also joined forces with sound artist Akio Suzuki on a variety of objects and sound devices to record the first 5 tracks of this unusual album of very free improv, the last track by the duo recording at the 2015 Ftarri Festival at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo.
Dave Rempis
Lattice
(Aerophonic)
Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis approached the idea of his first solo album under the shadow of the greats before him, in 2017 choosing to journey across the country on a solo tour, performing 31 concerts of which these 6 recordings represent the best reflection of his unique solo vocabulary on the instrument and his enthusiasm for a wealth of musical styles.
Yedo Gibson / Hernani Faustino / Vasco Trilla
CHAIN
(NoBusiness)
A fiery and energetic album of masterful free jazz from Brazilian saxophonist Yedo Gibson, Portuguese-Brazilian drummer and percussionist Vasco Trilla, and Portuguese bass player Hernani Faustino (Red Trio, K4 Quadrado Azul), recording in the studio for 6 dynamic dialogs that uses a variety of approaches and references to free jazz and creative improv.
Matthieu Donarier / Santiago Quintans
Sun Dome
(Clean Feed)
Using a diverse set of strategies in free improvisation, from abstract textures, sonic and microtonal exploration to solid counterpoint, French saxophonist Matthieu Donarier and Spanish electric guitarist residing in France Santiago Quintans delight in the variety and dynamic approach to their album, in 14 tracks that surprise and captivate their listeners.
Jonas Cambien / Adrian Myhr
Simiskina
(Clean Feed)
With a discography of both contemporary and improvised music, Beligan pianist residing in Norway Jonas Cambien (Platform, Karokh) joins forces with Norwegian double bassist Adrian Myhr (Delius, Dorner, Buck) for an album that balances concentrative and muscular interplay, influenced by Cambien's piano preparations and Myhr's sophisticated techniques.
James Ulmer Blood W/ The Thing
Baby Talk [VINYL]
(The Thing Records)
The Thing with Mats Gustafsson on tenor and baritone sax, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric and double bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums and percussion, are joined by Downtown NY legend, guitarist James Blood Ulmer, for a live set at the Moldel International Jazz Festival in 2015 performing an exuberant and all-out impressive set of Ulmer composions.
The Necks
Unfold [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Ideologic Organ)
Four side-long improvisations from the Australian trio of Chris Abrahams on piano, Tony Buck on drums, and Lloyd Swanton on bass, each side a masterpiece of slowly transpiring and evolving music, unhurriedly expanding each track to reveal tension and allure.
Mark Dresser
Modicana [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
Double Bassist Mark Dresser, a mainstay of the Downtown NY scene as an improviser and composer, and also prominent on the US West Coast and as an international touring artist, releases a powerful album of distinctive solo playing, both technically and melodically, with 2 tracks caught live at the Umea Jazz Festival and others recorded at the University of California, San Diego.
Faust
Faust [VINYL]
(Lilith)
Faust's 1st 1971 release, originally on the Recommended Record label as ReR 1, beautifully repressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl.
The Nu Band
Live in Paris [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
Nu Band with trumpeter Roy Campbell, saxophonist Mark Whitecage, bassist Joe Fonda, and Lou Grassi, in their 5th album after 10 years together, performing live in Paris.
Luigi Nono
A Carlo Scarpa; A Pierre Dell'Azzurro Silenzio, Inquietum; Guai ai Gelidi Mostri [VINYL]
(Edition Rz)
3 works by composer Luigi Nono: "A Carlo Scarpa" for orchestra; "A Pierre..." for bass flute, bass clarinet and live elektronics; and "Guai ai Gelidi Mostri" for ensemble, voices and live elektronics.
Luc Ferrari
Presque Rien [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Recollection GRM)
Collecting all four of Luc Ferrari's musique concrete masterpieces "Presque Rien" on LP for the first time, forward-thinking and well-considered work from one of the masters of electroacoustic music.
Correction with Mats Gustafsson
Shift [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
Sweden's advanced free jazz piano trio Correction (Sebastian Bergstrom on piano, Joacim Hyberg on bass, and Emil Astrand-Melin on drums) are met by fellow Swede, baritone saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, for a stunning album ranging from abstract to hard blowing improv.
Tchicai / McBee / Fewell / Kohlhase / Hart
Tribal Ghost [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
Recorded during his residency at New York City's Birdland in Feb 2007, saxophonist and co-founder of the New York Art Quartet John Tchicai performs with the quintet of Charlie Kohlhase (sax), Garrison Fewell (guitar), Cecil McBee (bass) and Billy Hart.
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.
Paal Nilssen-Love / Mats Gustafsson
Sin Gas [Vinyl]
(Bocian)
Powerful duo playing from frequent collaborators, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love (The Thing, Original Silence, Peter Brotzmann) in three extended studio improvisations of deeply emotional and technically incredible playing.
Chicago / Sao Paulo Underground feat Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah and the Underground - Primative Jupiter [VINYL]
(Clean Feed)
Live from Lisbon's Jazz em Agosto Festival, cornetist Rob Mazurek merges his Chicago and Sao Paulo Underground bands, adding bassist Matthew Lux and jazz legend tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, for a potent blend of modern jazz, electronics, and free improvised music.
The Thing
Garage [VINYL]
(The Thing Records)
Heavy free jazz in the 3rd release from the trio of Mats Gustafsson on tenor and baritone sax, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, covering an eclectic set of punk and free jazz titles including covers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Sonics, White Stripes, Norman Howard and Brotzmann; thick and sick free improvisation.
Kent Carter / Gianni Lenoci / Bill Elgart
Plaything [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
The trio of pianist Gianni Lenoci, bassist Kent Carter, and drummer Bill Elgart recording in France, 2012 in an album that balances free improvisation with melodic impulse, giving the impression of calm while yielding intricate interactions on close listening.
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.
Bobby Bradford / Frode Gjerstad Quartet
The Delaware River [VINYL]
(NoBusiness)
The longstanding collaboration of cornetist Bobby Bradford and reedist Frode Gjerstad (together since '86) with bassist Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on bass and Frank Rosaly on drums, recording at Philadelphia Art Alliance in 2014, a powerful lineup of modern free players.
Brian Chippendale / Mats Gustafsson / Massimo Pupillo
Melt [VINYL]
(Trost Records)
Thick, grungy, ecstatic free improvisation crossing into rock territory from the trio of Mats Gustafsson (The Thing) on sax, Brian Chippendale (Lightening Bolt) on drums, and Massimo Pupillo (Zu) on electric bass, a temporary project that evolved into a touring band.
Keiji Haino / Jim O'Rourke / Oren Ambarchi
I Wonder If You Noticed... [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Black Truffle)
The trio of Keiji Haino, Jim O'Rourke and Oren Ambarchi continues with this double LP of the band performing live at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo in 2014, for a journey in improvised rock and electronics with the shamanistic vocals of Haino guiding their unique and powerful playing.
Chris Corsano / Massimo Pupillo
Via Combusta [VINYL]
(Trost Records)
A dark and powerful album of drums, percussion, and electric bass from the duo of Italian bassist Massimo Pupillo (Zu) and NY drummer Chris Corsano, both using a myriad of percussive and electronic strategies to create soundscapes that keep the listener on the edge of their seat.
Sam Shalabi / Alan Bishop & Sam Shalabi
Mother Of All Sinners (Puppet On A String) [VINYL]
(Unrock)
Montreal guitarist Sam Shalabi and Sun City Girls guitarist Alan Bishop in a release on Unrock's Saraswati Series, string-oriented albums; here Shalabi performs on electric guitar and oud, while Bishop plays alto sax and sings, in what is described as an "oriental psychedelic free form".
Oren Ambarchi
Hubris [VINYL]
(Editions Mego)
Continuing on from "Sagittarian Domain" & "Quixotism", Oren Ambarchi joins forces with Jim O'Rourke, Chris Cole, Keith Fullerton Whitmanm, Konrad Sprenger, Mark Fell, Will Guthrie, Joe Talia, Ricardo Villalobos and Arto Lindsay for this album of driving rhythm and sound.
Hearts & Minds (Stein / Giallorenzo / Rosaly)
Hearts & Minds [VINYL]
(Astral Spirits)
The Chicago trio of Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Paul Giallorenzon on keys, and Frank Rosaly on drums, performing a joyful album of lyrical jazz, blending compositions and free playing with modern creative skills and unpredictable, enthusiastic soloing; superb!
Borbetomagus
The Eastcote Studios Session [VINYL]
(Dancing Wayang)
A rare studio album from the aggressive and influential free improv trio Borbetomagus of saxophonists Jim Sauter & Don Dietrich and guitarist Donald Miller, recorded in London in 2014, and described by Sauter himself as "unlike anything we've ever recorded before".
Black Bombaim & Peter Brotzmann
Black Bombaim & Peter Brotzmann [VINYL]
(Shhpuma)
Portugese stoner rock band Black Bombaim and German free jazz saxophonist Peter Brotzmann recorded this album live at Estudios Sa Da Bandeira in Portugal, a power trio + 1 of uncompromising and burning improvisation, a less common but completely rewarding setting for Brotzmann.
Keiji Haino / Jozef Dumoulin / Teun Verbruggen
The Miracles Of Only One Thing [VINYL]
(Sub Rosa)
While on a 2-week tour of Japan, Belgium sound artists Teun Verbruggen on drums & electronics and Jozef Dumoulin on Fender Rhodes, joined forces with Keiji Haino on guitar, vocals, flute & gongs, capturing these darkly intense and powerful tracks in the studio and live at SDLX.
Wadada Smith Leo
Najwa
(Tum)
Paying tribute to musicians whose vision paved the way for modern creative players to use new approaches, language and philosophy in improvisation, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith's band with four guitarists, electric bass, drums and percussion dedicates five incredible compositions to Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Billie Holiday.
Christian Wolff / Eddie Prevost
Uncertain Outcomes [2 CDs]
(Matchless)
Two concerts of experimental improvisation from two giants of conceptual improvisation and composition, recorded at IKLECTIK in London in 2015 and at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire in 2016; with superb pacing and brilliant execution, these dialogs between keyboard and percussive instruments explore unique sound worlds with depth, inquisitiveness, and a sense of wonder.
Nate Wooley / Daniele Martini / Joao Lobo
Legacy of Ashes
(Creative Sources)
A free jazz session recorded in Brussells between trumpeter Nate Wooley and half of the Daniele Martini Quartet--saxophonist Martini himself and drummer Joao Lobo--stepping in and out of modal jazz with a contemplative approach, using extended techniques to great effect, Lobo handling the foundation and rhythm in absolutely impressive ways.
Rudiger Carl Inc.
King Alcohol (New Version) [2 CDs]
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
The debut album of Rudiger Carl is an assertive studio session of brilliant free jazz from 1972, with Carl on tenor saxophone, Gunter Christmann on trombone, and Detlef Schonenberg on drums, presenting a great example of early European Free Improv, remastered from the original tapes and issued on CD for the first time, with a 2nd CD of previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Nate Wooley
Battle Pieces 2
(Relative Pitch)
Commissioned by Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation, trumpeter Nate Wooley developed a modular compositional structure of small melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, conceptual, textural, and timbral fragments, allowing Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), and Matt Moran (Vibes) exceptional freedom in improvisation, here in their 2nd recording live at Koeln's Loft.
Cortex
Avant-Garde Party Music
(Clean Feed)
Cortex propels their persuasive, groove oriented approach to jazz with this swinging album that blends free jazz styles with great hard bop, in line with a band like The Thing, this Scandinavian group wants to make your body move without indulging in excess or pandering, instead following a muse that's solidly in the exuberant free jazz tradition.
Rempis Percussion Quartet, The (w/ Haker Flaten / Daisy / Rosaly)
Cochonnerie
(Aerophonic)
13 years playing together and releasing this, their 8th album, the Chicago quartet of Dave Rempis on sax, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, Frank Rosaly on drums, and Tim Daisy on drums, are captured live at Elastic Arts, in Chicago for three awe-inspiring collective improvisations of great energy, resolution, and focus.
Wadada Smith Leo
Solo - Reflections And Meditations On Monk
(Tum)
An intimate album of solo trumpet from Wadada Leo Smith, performing compositions by Thelonious Monk, Smith professing in an essay in the accompanying booklet that he was motivated to become a composer by Monk above other contemporaries for his ideas of composition and bands; his admiration and love of Monk's work is clear in this beautifully lyrical album.
Slow Is Possible (Pontiifice / Figueira / Fonseca / Clemente / Santos Dias / Sousa)
Moonwatchers
(Clean Feed)
A stunningly beautiful album of langurous jazz from a sextet collective of young Portuguese musicians, self-described as a chamber band for the new century, in their 2nd album using melodic elements alongside classical contemporay music, post-rock, alternative metal, intelligent pop, free improvisation and more, creating a rich and embraceable music.
Marginal Consort
08.09.13 [3 CDs]
(Ftarri / Meenna)
A live concert recorded at South London Gallery in London in 2013 from the influential Japanese collective improvisation project Marginal Consort of Kei Shii, Kazuo Imai, Masami Tada and Tomonao Koshikawa, formed around 1975 and since 1997 performing yearly concerts of evolving and continuous electroacoustic improvisation lasting for hours, here in 3 CDs.
The Elks (Kai Fagaschinski / Liz Allbee / Billy Roisz / Marta Zapparoli)
This Is Not The Ant
(Mikroton Recordings)
An extremely balanced group of electroacoustic improvisers, Kai Fagaschinski on clarinet and Liz Allbee on trumpet make up the acoustic side, though sounding as electronic and other-worldly as Billy Roisz on e-bass and electronics and Marta Zapparoli on reel-to-reel tapes and tape machines, creating incredibly wide-ranging and psychedelic sonic environments.
Der Verboten (Loriot / Chessex / Piromalli / Wolfarth)
Der Verboten
(Clean Feed)
Originally called Treffpunkt, or "meeting point", the partnership of violist Frantz Loriot and pianist Cedric Piromalli has evolved as they added collaborators to their idiosyncratic approach to improv, here with guests Antoine Chessex on tenor sax and Christian Wolfarth on percussion and cymbals for an extended, upbeat and wonderfully creative performance.
Roligheten (Roligheten / Loseth / Strom / Nylander)
Homegrown
(Clean Feed)
Saxophonist and bass clarinetist Andre Roligheten leads his quartet with Adrian Loseth Waade on violin, Jon Rune Strom on double bass, and Erik Nylander on drums and percussion through 7 original compositions and Ornette Coleman's "Kathleen Gray", writing for the players, particularly the combination of sax and violin, and the flexibility of a chordless quartet.
Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura
Kisaragi
(Libra)
On their 5th album together, pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura push the limits on approach and technique with their instruments, creating otherworldly and captivating improvisations, both players deciding against using "normal instrumental sounds", instead using preparations and textural approaches to create truly unique music.
John Butcher / Damon Smith / Weasel Walter
The Catastrophe of Minimalism
(Balance Point Acoustics)
Satoko Fujii Quartet (w/ Natsuki Tamura / Keisuke Ohta / Takashi Itani)
Live at Jazz Room Cortez
(Cortez Sound)
Presenting a different line-up from the 2001 debut of Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii's Quartet, remaining is trumpeter Natsuka Tamura, with Keisuke Ohta on violin and Takashi Itani on drums, performing evolving and rich collective improvisation with a strange edge, captured live at the Jazz Room Cortez in Mito, Japan in 2016 for two extended and bewitching sets.
Dre Hocevar
Surface Of Inscription
(Clean Feed)
Composer and drummer Dre Hocevar brings an unusual sense of unity, logic and purpose to his improvised work resulting from a number of distinct compositional procedures, performed by vocalist Charmaine Lee, pianist Elias Stemeseder, brass player Weston Olencki reedist Michael Foster, and electronics artist Bernardo Barros, a unique and rewarding album.
Rova / Bruckmann & Kaiser
Saxophone Special
(Clean Feed)
The Californian saxophone quartet composed of Bruce Ackley, Steve Adams, Larry Ochs and Jon Raskin is extended with Henry Kaiser on guitar and Kyle Bruckmann on analog synth to perform the music of saxophone legend Steve Lacy in 7 compositions, putting an eclectic spin on the iconic composer and performer's music.
Simon Rummel Ensemble
IM MEER
(Umlaut Records)
German composer and improviser Simon Rummel presents the 2nd release from his 11-piece Simon Rummel Ensemble, blending his interest in acoustic phenomena and improvisational harmonics in an extended work that shifts from beautiful tonal work to disruptive cacophony and back to melodic music, blending jazz and 20th century approaches; a great achievement.
Akira Sakata / Manuel Mota / Giovanni Di Domenico / Mathieu Calleja
Jomon [VINYL]
(Holidays Records)
Named for the Jomon period of Japanese history, when Japan was inhabited by a hunter-gatherer culture, the trio of radical saxophonist Akira Sakata joins forces with frequent collaborator, keyboardist Giovanni Di Domenico, Portuguese guitarist Manuel Mota, and drummer Mathieu Calleja to record these powerfully cathartic and ritualistic improvisations.
Roscoe Mitchell
Discussions
(Wide Hive)
Four original improvisations, taken from legendary AACM composer, improviser and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell's "Conversations" album transcribed and performed by a twenty piece Bay Area orchestra, along with two orchestral improvisations and two duets with Roscoe Mitchell and flutist Wilfredo Terrazas.
Akio Suzuki / John Butcher
Immediate Landscapes
(Ftarri)
At the same event in Scotland that John Butcher recorded his excellent "Resonant Spaces" album, he also joined forces with sound artist Akio Suzuki on a variety of objects and sound devices to record the first 5 tracks of this unusual album of very free improv, the last track by the duo recording at the 2015 Ftarri Festival at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo.
Dave Rempis
Lattice
(Aerophonic)
Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis approached the idea of his first solo album under the shadow of the greats before him, in 2017 choosing to journey across the country on a solo tour, performing 31 concerts of which these 6 recordings represent the best reflection of his unique solo vocabulary on the instrument and his enthusiasm for a wealth of musical styles.
Yedo Gibson / Hernani Faustino / Vasco Trilla
CHAIN
(NoBusiness)
A fiery and energetic album of masterful free jazz from Brazilian saxophonist Yedo Gibson, Portuguese-Brazilian drummer and percussionist Vasco Trilla, and Portuguese bass player Hernani Faustino (Red Trio, K4 Quadrado Azul), recording in the studio for 6 dynamic dialogs that uses a variety of approaches and references to free jazz and creative improv.
Matthieu Donarier / Santiago Quintans
Sun Dome
(Clean Feed)
Using a diverse set of strategies in free improvisation, from abstract textures, sonic and microtonal exploration to solid counterpoint, French saxophonist Matthieu Donarier and Spanish electric guitarist residing in France Santiago Quintans delight in the variety and dynamic approach to their album, in 14 tracks that surprise and captivate their listeners.
Anthony Pateras / Erkki Veltheim
The Slow Creep Of Convenience
(Immediata)
Junk & The Beast (Petr Vrba / Veronika Mayer)
Trailer
(Mikroton Recordings)
Petr Vrba and Veronika Mayer use non-idiomatic improvisation to research the combination of textural materials, crossing them with vibrations of objects on the speakers, pure sound waves, feedbacks, tones coming from trumpet, accordion, electronics, and laptop, culminating in the creation of a muscular frenetic soup of tense energy fields.
David Liebman
The Distance Runner
(Hatology)
Agostino di Scipio
Horbare Okosysteme: Live elektronic compositions 1993-2005
(Edition Rz)
Live electronic compositions from 1993-2005 by composer Agostino Di Scipio, using acoustic instruments and digital sound processing to create unusual and previously unheard sound worlds.
Various Artists
District of Noise Vol. 5
(Sonic Circuits)
The fifth installment of the District of Noise series featuring a diverse set of experimental noise and electronic artists from the Washington DC area released as part of the 2012 Sonic Circuits Festival.
Luigi Archetti
Null IV-VII [4 CD BOX]
(Die Schachtel)
Sound artist Luigi Archetti has developed his Null series over several years, here presenting his second Box set of 4 CDs, the word "null" (German for "zero") a metaphor for a state of pausing and anticipatory waiting, as the sound evolves slowly using static tones and drones and the transitions between, generated from e-guitars in unique tunings.
Michael Pisaro
Transparent City (Volumes 1 And 2)
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Composer Pisaro made a series 10 minute field recordings from different locations in Los Angels between 2004-2006, mixing them with sine tones and punctuating them with silence, mastered for home stereo playback to create a dynamic set of impressions of the city.
Michael Pisaro
Transparent City (Volumes 3 And 4)
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Composer Pisaro made a series 10 minute field recordings from different locations in Los Angels between 2004-2006, mixing them with sine tones and punctuating them with silence, mastered for home stereo playback to create a dynamic set of impressions of the city.
Astral Colonels (Anthony Pateras / Valerio Tricoli)
Good Times in the End Times
(Immediata)
Anthony Pateras & Valerio Tricoli worked 7 years transforming pianos, organs, harpsichords, tape machines and synthesizers into an expansive sonic otherworld that celebrates the "End of Times" in three parts; a meticulous and fascinating work.
Alfred Harth 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.
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.
Oren Ambarchi
Hubris [VINYL]
(Editions Mego)
Continuing on from "Sagittarian Domain" & "Quixotism", Oren Ambarchi joins forces with Jim O'Rourke, Chris Cole, Keith Fullerton Whitmanm, Konrad Sprenger, Mark Fell, Will Guthrie, Joe Talia, Ricardo Villalobos and Arto Lindsay for this album of driving rhythm and sound.
Graham Lambkin
Community [2 CDs]
(erstwhile)
Using electronics, field recordings and spoken word, Graham Lambkin explores "Community" in abstract and literal ways, reflecting on society and describing aspects of community through spoken word and sound, a thought-provoking and complex work of organized sound.
Keiji Haino / Jozef Dumoulin / Teun Verbruggen
The Miracles Of Only One Thing [VINYL]
(Sub Rosa)
While on a 2-week tour of Japan, Belgium sound artists Teun Verbruggen on drums & electronics and Jozef Dumoulin on Fender Rhodes, joined forces with Keiji Haino on guitar, vocals, flute & gongs, capturing these darkly intense and powerful tracks in the studio and live at SDLX.
Cilantro (Angelica Castello / Billy Roisz)
Borderland
(Mikroton Recordings)
Cilantro is the duo of multi-instrumentalists Angelica Castello on paetzold, ukulele, organ, tapes, & electronics, and Billy Roisz on electric bass, organ, tv, piezzo, computer & electronics, scrutinizing the activity in bordering areas between noise and silence, tenderness and rudeness, beat and drone, inner consciousness and outer awareness, control and freedom.
Burkhard Beins / Lucio Capece / Martin Kuchen / Paul Vogel
Fracture Mechanics
(Mikroton Recordings)
"Fracture Mechanics" is the scientific study of cracks in any material, an apt title from these European experimental innovators--Burkhard Beins, Lucio Capece, Martin Kuchen, and Paul Vogel--pulling back the curtain on process and creating an impressive album crossing acoustic and electronic improv, organized sound, and inexplicable interaction; recommended.
Eric La Casa
Paris Quotidien [CD+60 page booklet of photos & text]
(Swarming)
Eric La Casa documents his home environment in Paris through audio investigation and field recordings, creating 3 large works that reveal the properties, singularities, banalities and features of his audio environment in perspective to his status as a citizen of the city, presented in a gatefold CD package with a color 60-page booklet of photos and text.
Chik White
Raft Recodings from Economy [CASSETTE]
(Notice Recordings)
Chick White (Darcy Spidle) recorded this album while on residency in Economy, Nova Scotia, as part of the White Rabbit Arts Festival, displaying a truly unique approach to the jaw harp, along with seal bones, eagle feathers, and broken clam shells, as he floated in a raft in the world's highest tide, the Bay of Fundy, making these evocative recordings.
Graham Lambkin / Taku Unami
The Whistler [2 CDs]
(erstwhile)
Sound artists Graham Lambkin and Taku Unami create two large works using material which they recorded together, and then which independently assembled into a single CD each, with "Whistler Vanishes in Wind" composed by Taku Unami, and "Small Mistakes in Nature" by Graham Lambkin, both fascinating collages that alternately distract and absorb the listener.
Raphael Vanoli
Bibrax
(Shhpuma)
Amsterdam guitarist Raphael Vanoli in a solo record of discovery, hiper-amplifying his guitar so that slight motions create forceful statements, where gently blowing on the strings creates dynamics and harmonics rarely explored, effected to create complex sonic compositions with unique, unusual and fascinating properties.
Jean-Marc Foussat / Jamal Moss / Jean-Francois Pauvros
plays Tristan Tzara : L'homme Approximatif
(Fou Records)
An album of spoken word and sound, Jean-Francois Pauvros reads from Tristan Tzara's "L'homme Approximatif" (The Approximate Man) over flutes from Chicago producer and flautist Jamal Moss, AKA Hieroglyphic Being, and Jean-Marc Foussat on synth and voice, a mysterious album of subtle insinuation with an intriguing underpinning of electroacoustic sound.
Eric La Casa
AIR.ratio
(Swarming)
Reissuing La Casa's 2006 album of ventilation systems, which started with a bathroom vent and expanded to a sonic exploration of aeraulic devices and air flows in Paris buildings of various ages and dimensions, documenting their sonic and musical qualities, functioning as a sound study, a sonic data bank, a CD of environments, and finally as music.
Antoine Beuger
Ockeghem Octets
(Another Timbre)
Wandelweiser composer Antoine Beuger presents 25 of the 50 pages of his "Ockeghem Octets", each piece dedicated to one of Beuger's heroes, performed by an octet comprised of melodica, concertina, harmonium, e-bow zither, cello, flute, accordion and alto flute, each player provided notes and a playing methodology to create these gorgeous soundscape.
Ilan Volkov conducts Ana-Maria Avram / Iancu Dumitrescu
Hyperion International Ensemble
(Edition Modern)
Ilan Volkov directs the Bucharest based chamber group Hyperion Ensemble merging the history of Romanian music with moder avant-garde music, here performing the music of Ana-Maria Avram & Iancu Dumitrescu with guest guitarist Stephan O'Malley.
James Tenney
Bass Works (performed by Dario Calderone)
(Hat[now]ART)
Fascinating works for doublebass from American composer James Tenney, 3 pieces for solo doublebass, and a large work for viola, cello, doublebass and tape delay system, performed by bassist Dario Calderone with William Lane on viola and Francesco Dillon on cello.
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.
Ryoko Akama
Places And Pages [2 CDs]
(Another Timbre)
Composer Ryoko Akama releases a 2 disc set of 23 scores in the crossroads of minimalism and sound compositions, quiet and loud, performed in a sextet with the composer herself plus Christian Muller, Cristian Alvear, Cyril Bondi, Stefan Thut, and d'incise, each section like a page in a notebook related to place, space, time or location.
Janek Schaefer
Glitter In My Tears
(Room40)
A phenomenal album of mysteriously ambient and emotionally evocative music from London sound artist Janek Schaefer, creating 26 vignettes of dream states from texture, atmosphere, and emotive acoustic states, a collection of interludes, like reflective memories, interweave and carry the listener through passionate and beautiful passages.
Ana-Maria Avram / Dumitrescu, Iancu
Laboratory
(Edition Modern)
Cornelius Cardew
Material
(Hat [now] ART)
John Cage
Imaginary Landscapes
(Hat [now] ART)
Robert Ashley
Tap Dancing in the Sand
(Unsounds)
A selection of works by the great musical pioneer Robert Ashley performed by the Dutch Ensemble MAE directed by Yannis Kyriakides, including pieces written for the Ensemble MAE.
James Tenney
Music for Violin and Piano
(Hat [now] ART)
Earle Brown
Synergy
(Hat[now]ART)
Remastered edition of Earle Brown's conducting debut with the Ensemble Avantgarde in Leipzig, presenting his proportional and graphic score "Event: Synergy II", along with 2 other works of distinctive structure.
Galina Ustvolskaya
Piano Sonatas 1-6
(Hat[now]ART)
Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya's piano sonatas performed by Marianne Schroeder, innovative works that integrate dissonance, drone, overtone and harmonic density.
Jakob Ullmann
A Catalouge of Sounds
(Edition Rz)
Ullman's composition of subtle gradations in sound performed very softly forcing the ear to notice the smallest variations, as realized by the string trio Ensemble Oriol Berline.
Luigi Nono
A Carlo Scarpa; A Pierre Dell'Azzurro Silenzio, Inquietum; Guai ai Gelidi Mostri [VINYL]
(Edition Rz)
3 works by composer Luigi Nono: "A Carlo Scarpa" for orchestra; "A Pierre..." for bass flute, bass clarinet and live elektronics; and "Guai ai Gelidi Mostri" for ensemble, voices and live elektronics.
Luc Ferrari
Presque Rien [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Recollection GRM)
Collecting all four of Luc Ferrari's musique concrete masterpieces "Presque Rien" on LP for the first time, forward-thinking and well-considered work from one of the masters of electroacoustic music.
Iancu Dumitrescu / Ana-Maria Avram
Live in Israel - CD (II)
(Edition Modern)
The 2nd CD of Romanian electroacoustic composer Iancu Dumitrescu & Ana-Maria Avram's performance with the Contemporary Music Ensemble Israel conducted by both composers, with special guest Stephen O'Malley on guitar.
Liza Lim
The Heart's Ear
(Hat[now]ART)
Although she has probably become known as one of Australia's best-known composers, Liza Lim's compositions undermine centuries-old Eurocentrism and are largely inspired by Asian culture.
Iancu Dumitrescu / Ana-Maria Avram
Paris-London (III), Spectrum XXI Festival
(Edition Modern)
Three works from Romanian composer Iancu Dumitrescu, and two from Ana-Maria Avram, recorded at the 6th edition of the Spectrum XXI Festival held in London, Paris, Berlin and Bucharest in 2011, presenting works gravitating around the "Spectral Music" nucleus.
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Mantra (performed by Mark Knoop, Roderick Chadwick and Newton Armstrong)
(Hat[now]ART)
Stockhausen's late 60s composition "Mantra" was a return to his intricately systematised approach to musical construction, expanding the possibilities and potentialities of the serial principle to allow for more melodic and embraceable compositions.
Morton Feldman played by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas
Two Pianos And Other Pieces 1953-1969 [2 CDs]
(Another Timbre)
"Two Pianos" is one of Morton Feldman's most experimental and radical works, performed here by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas; plus lesser known works including 'Piece for Four Pianos', 'Between Categories', 'False Relationships and the Extended Ending' and 'Two Pieces for Three Pianos'.
Christian Wolff / Wandelweiser Komponisten Ensemble
Stones
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
Antoine Beuger, Burkhard Schlothauer, Chico Mello, Jurg Frey, Kunsu Shim, Michael Pisaro, and Thomas Stiegler participate in this realization of Christian Wolff's compositions to make sounds or draw sounds out of stones, alone or with other surfaces, acoustically or amplified.
Tom Johnson
Counting Keys
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
John McAlpine performs composer Tom Johnson's beautiful piano cycle "Counting Keys", using mathematical progressions to create the structure of its 5 movements; plus 8 parts from his "Organ and Silence for Piano"; and two other compositions using mathematical processes.
John Cage
Empty Words
(Edition Wandelweiser Records)
John Cage's "Empty Words" (1974) is drawn from the Journals of Henry David Thoreau, written in four parts: Part I omits sentences, Part II omits phrases, and Part III omits words. Part IV, which omits syllables, leaves us nothing but a virtual lullaby of letters and sounds.
Ana-Maria Avram / Iancu Dumitrescu
Ilan Volkov conducts and plays Ana-Maria Avram and Iancu Dumitrescu
(Edition Modern)
World premieres of new compositions by spectral composers Iancu Dumitrescu and Ana-Maria Avram performed live with the Hyperion International Ensemble under the batton of Ilan Volkov at the 15th George Enescu Festival in 2015.
Seijaku
Mail From FUSHITSUSHA
(Doubtmusic)
Guitarist/vocalist Haino Keiji, bassist Nasuno Mitsuru and drummer Ichiraku Yoshimitsu play the 21-st century blues, dark, distorted and dynamic rock for your shattered future.
Ground-Zero
Live 1992 +
(Doubtmusic)
Faust
Faust [VINYL]
(Lilith)
Faust's 1st 1971 release, originally on the Recommended Record label as ReR 1, beautifully repressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl.
Henry Cow
Box 2: The Road: Volumes 6-10 with DVD
(Recommended Records)
Henry Cow's early years on the road, live recordings masterfully restored by Bob Drake, including the only known video of Henry Cow in Switzerland - amazing and essential!
Gene Pritsker
Varieties of Religious Experience Suite
(Innova)
Sound Liberation is an eclectic chamber ensemble led by guitarist Gene Pritsker, complex and genre-encompassing compositions that embrace compositions, improv, rock, and electronic approaches.
Seijaku
You Should Prepare To Survive Through Even Anything Happens
(Doubtmusic)
Haino Keiji's Seijaku with bassist Nasuno Mitsuru and drummer Ichiraku Yoshimitsu here showing their devotion to the 20th-century blues spirit in a unique and twisted style.
Hijokaidan featuring Sakata Akira
Made in Studio
(Doubtmusic)
Saxophonist Sakata Akira joins Hijokaidan for a roaring studio performance in their first CD recording after 8 years, and the first since their newest member, drummer Futoshi Okano, joined the group.
Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
Take Me to the Land of Hell
(Chimera Music)
Yoko Ono's fifteenth solo album produced by her son, Sean Lennon, featuring guests tUnEyArDs, ?uestlove, Lenny Kravitz, Nels Cline, Andrew Wyatt, &c..
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.
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.
Korekyojinn (Yoshida Tatsuya)
Arabesque [2nd SPECIAL EDITION with new bonus tracks]
(Magaibutsu)
The insanely great improvising rock trio of drummer Yoshida Tatsuya, guitarist Kido Natsuki, and bassist Nasuno Mitsuru, in the third edition of their 2004 album, with 4 different bonus tracks recorded live At Osaka Bridge: "Hash"; "Arabesque"; "Quicksilver"; and "Freestone".
Keiji Haino / Jim O'Rourke / Oren Ambarchi
I Wonder If You Noticed... [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Black Truffle)
The trio of Keiji Haino, Jim O'Rourke and Oren Ambarchi continues with this double LP of the band performing live at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo in 2014, for a journey in improvised rock and electronics with the shamanistic vocals of Haino guiding their unique and powerful playing.
Nick Millevoi
Disertion
(Shhpuma)
Guitarist Nick Millevoi leads an ensemble that includes Jamie Saft on Hammond Organ, Ches Smith on drums, Johnny Deblase on bass, Dan Blacksberg on trombone and June Bender on violin, for an album equally embracing and subverting a wealth of rock and jazz forms.
Sam Shalabi / Alan Bishop & Sam Shalabi
Mother Of All Sinners (Puppet On A String) [VINYL]
(Unrock)
Montreal guitarist Sam Shalabi and Sun City Girls guitarist Alan Bishop in a release on Unrock's Saraswati Series, string-oriented albums; here Shalabi performs on electric guitar and oud, while Bishop plays alto sax and sings, in what is described as an "oriental psychedelic free form".
John Zorn
The Garden Of Earthly Delights
(Tzadik)
Composer John Zorn's Simulacrum ensemble of Trevor Dunn (bass), John Medeski (keyboards), Kenny Grohowski (drums), Matt Hollenberg (guitar), and Sara Serpa (voice) in their 6th album of heavy improv, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the passing of painter Hieronymus Bosch.
Ruins
Burning Stone [REISSUE]
(Magaibutsu Limited)
Tatsuya Yoshida's insanely complex and exhilarating rock project Ruins started around 1986, and bassist Ryuichi Masuda (also a member of Koenji Hyakkei) has been with him since the early days; this CD reissues the 1992 Shimmy Disc album, originally an LP, here with the CD bonus tracks.
Faust
Fresh Air
(Bureau B)
Recorded during their 2016 US tour, Peron and Werner "Zappi" Diermaier used ever-changing ensembles from different locations on the tour to make these recordings, mated with Peron's field recordings, to blend rhythm, noise, spoken word, strong rock and blues hooks, and experimental/industrial elements; another great, eclectic Faust release!
Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere
03
(Discus)
The improvising rock group Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere, led by Martin Archer, Chris Bywater, and Steve Dinsdale, in their 3rd album of innovative improvisation, haunting hypnotic grooves and blasts of sheer exuberance, with the band augmented by strings and trombone to give them a larger and more intense sound.
Bill Orcutt
Bill Orcutt
(Palilalia)
Guitarist Bill Orcutt's self-titled solo album brings a mix of standards and original compositions, starting with Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" and eclectically running us to "The Star Spangled Banner", each song unfolding as he delivers in an unhurried way with rich sustain and reverb on a 4-string Telecaster, performing at The Living Room in San Francisco.
Peregrine Falls (Grdina / Loewen)
Peregrine Falls
(Drip Audio)
Named for the moment when a Peregrine Falcon falls from flight to attack its prey, the Vancouver duo of Gordon Grdina on guitars, oud, electronics and Kenton Loewen on drums and percussion present a heavy album of improvised rock with raw energy, riveting technique and powerful grooves with an Arabic influence and essence; of interest to King Crimson fans.
Bob Drake
Antiquities [6-CD BOX SET]
(Recommended Records)
Collecting multi-instrumentalist & vocalist Bob Drake's albums Little Black Train, The Skull Mailbox and Other Horrors, XIII Songs and a Thing, The Shunned Country, and Bob's Drive-In in a solid box set, with a bonus CD, a specially curated collection of outtakes and oddities from this amazing avant-rocker, a member of Thinking Plague, 5uu's, Hail and The Science Group.
Haco
Qoosui
(Someone Good / Room40)
An hypnotic, lush and beautiful album of sound and lilting voice from Japanese vocalist and electronic experimenter Haco (After Dinner), seven songs of subtle sophistication that create dreamlike environments of floating tones and invoking voice, refined from decades of experimentation and investigation to yield this enchanting album.
Anthony Braxton
Quintet (Basel) 1977
(Hatology)
Reissuing and remastering Braxton's outstanding radio concert for Radio DRS in Safranzunft, Basel in 1977 in a quintet with George Lewis on trombone, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, Mark Helias on double bass, and Charles "Bobo" Shaw on drums.
Sylvie Courvoisier / Mary Halvorson
Crop Circles
(Relative Pitch)
A studio encounter between pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and electric guitarist Mary Halvorson, both using sophisticated techniques giving unique voices to their playing styles, in a set of improvisations that balance playful, subtle, energetic, and emotional playing.
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.
BassDrumBone + guests Joe Lovano / Jason Moran
The Long Road [2 CDs]
(Auricle)
The 40th Anniversary release for the creative free improvising jazz trio of Gerry Hemingway (drums), Mark Helias (bass) and Ray Anderson (trombone), with guests Joe Lovano on sax and Jason Moran on piano; superb lyrical soulful collective improvisation of the finest order.
Morton Feldman
Three Voices (performed by Juliet Fraser)
(Hat[now]ART)
Soprano Juliet Fraser performs Morton Feldman's late work for 3 voices, performed by 1 vocalist (originally Joan La Barbara) who performs with themself on tape, in a work that Feldman described as "lucious", "sexy", and "gorgeous", as heard in Fraser's beautiful rendering.
Corsano / Courviosier / Wooley
Salt Task
(Relative Pitch)
First recorded meeting of Chris Corsano (drums), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), and Nate Wooley (trumpet) in the studio in Brooklyn, 2015, for a completely open, sensitive set of improvisations that are constantly on the edge, at times explosive, and always in a focused dialog.
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).
Morton Feldman
Patterns In A Chromatic Field [2 CDs]
(Hat [now] ART)
Feldman's idiosyncratic large composition is also one of his more active, influenced by John Cage, and using a score that defines organizational procedures in chordal and chromatic patterns, as realized in this '93 recording by Rohan de Saram (cello) and Marianne Schroeder (piano).
James Tenney
Bass Works (performed by Dario Calderone)
(Hat[now]ART)
Fascinating works for doublebass from American composer James Tenney, 3 pieces for solo doublebass, and a large work for viola, cello, doublebass and tape delay system, performed by bassist Dario Calderone with William Lane on viola and Francesco Dillon on cello.
Jimmy Giuffre 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.
Evan Parker / 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.
John Butcher / Thomas Lehn / Matthew Shipp
Tangle
(Fataka)
After "Exta", where saxophonist John Butcher and electronics artist Thomas Lehn met with pianist John Tilbury, the duo now meet with New York pianist Matthew Shipp for a distinct improvisational entanglement of Butcher's dense streams, Lehn's rich sound floor, and Shipp's thick repetitions.
Korekyojinn Acoustic
Kaleidoscope
(Magaibutsu Limited)
The Korekyojin trio of Tatsuya Yoshida on percussion, Kido Natsuki on guitar and Mitsuru Nasuno on fretless bass, plus violinist Miyamoto Rei on several tracks, take their intricate and exuberant rock into acoustic territory with this impressive album, which includes acoustic takes on "Arabesque", "Careless Heart", "Four Holes in the Sky", &c.
Mat Maneri / Evan Parker / Lucian Ban
Sounding Tears
(Clean Feed)
Viola improviser and composer Mat Maneri leads this trio with British UK legend Evan Parker on soprano and tenor saxophone and Romanian ex-patriot and frequent collaborator Lucian Ban on piano, for ten compositions blending tradition, song, and improvisational tactics, recalling 20th century modern classical music in addition to jazz.
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.
Evan Parker / 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.
Angles 9 (Zethson / Stahl / Broo / Kajfes / Aleklint / Hegdal / Berthling / Werlin / Kuchen)
Disappeared Behind the Sun
(Clean Feed)
Saxophonist Martin Kuchen's amazing 9-piece Angles ensemble returns for an album titled for the grief of those who disappear due to war, crime and oppression, music that celebrates the tense balance in the challenge to confront and lead away from darkness and tyranny.
Evan Parker / John Edwards / Steve Noble
PEN
(Dropa Disc)
Bringing together three leaders from the UK free jazz scene, the new trio of Evan Parker on tenor sax, Steve Noble on drums & percussion, and John Edwards on double bass present a masterful album drawing from the roots of free improvisation in playing that rises and recedes like a tidal force, captured live at the Oorstof concert series in Antwerp.
Steve Lacy
Free for a Minute (1966-72) [2 CDs]
(Emanem)
Four sessions on a 2 CD set, all featuring Steve Lacy and Kent Carter: (1) DISPOSABILITY, the 1965 trio record with Aldo Romano of jazz standards, originals and free improv; (2) SORTIE, the 1966 free improv quartet + Enrico Rava album; (3) previously unissued 1967 'Free Fall' Film Cues in a quintet with Rava, Karl Berger, & Paul Motian; (4) two never issued '72 quintet pieces with Steve Potts, Irene Aebi on cello and Noel Mcghie.
Michael Pisaro / Reinier van Houdt
The Earth And The Sky [3 CDs]
(erstwhile)
erstwhile records releases their first CD on their ErstClass imprint, issuing and collecting historically important work, here with composer Michael Pisaro's piano works from 1994-2016, 11 compositions performed by Netherlands pianist Reinier van Houdt.
Musica Elettronica Viva
Symphony No 106
(Les Disques Victo)
Documenting a reunion of Musica Elettronica Viva's founders Frederic Rzewski (piano and vocals), Richard Teitelbaum (keyboards and computer) and Alvin Curran (keyboards, computer and shofar) at the 32nd International Festival Of Current Music in Victoriaville, Canada in 2016.
Neukollner (Denzler / von Schlippenbach / Grip / Johansson)
Sektion 3-7 [2 CDs]
(Umlaut Records)
The Neukollner trio of Bertrand Denzler on sax, Joel Grip on double bass, and Sven-Ake Johnasson on drums is joined by pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach for a double album of exhilarating free jazz that conjurs standards-based jazz through well-structured instant compositions.
Graham Lambkin
Community [2 CDs]
(erstwhile)
Using electronics, field recordings and spoken word, Graham Lambkin explores "Community" in abstract and literal ways, reflecting on society and describing aspects of community through spoken word and sound, a thought-provoking and complex work of organized sound.
Morton Feldman
For John Cage
(Hat[now]ART)
Morton Feldman was a friend, flatmate and student of John Cage's innovative approaches to composition; he wrote this 3 part work for violin and piano in 1982 as a 70th birthday present for Cage, here performed by violinist Josje Fosie Ter Haar and pianist John Snijders.
Keith Rowe
The Room Extended [4 CDs]
(erstwhile)
A massive and rewarding work of organized sound extending ea-improviser, AMM guitarist Keith Rowe's work "The Room" into a massive 4 CD set of compositions, layering work familiar from his recent improvisations with classical compositions, field recordings, &c. &c.
Derek Bailey / Joelle Leandre / George Lewis / Evan Parker
28 Rue Dunois Juillet 1982
(Fou Records)
A superb encounter from France in 1982 between four masters in a fertile and creative period: Derek Bailey (guitar), Joelle Leandre (double bass), George Lewis (trombone), and Evan Parker (saxophone), each bringing incredible experience to their enduring collective music.
En Corps (Eve Risser / Benjamin Duboc / Edward Perraud)
Generation
(Dark Tree Records)
The 2nd album from En Corps, the improvising trio of Eve Risser on piano, Benjamin Duboc on double bass, and Edward Perraud on drums, was recorded live at Artacts 16 festival in St Johann, Austria in 2016, performing two building works--"Des Corps" and "Des Ames" (The Bodies, The Souls)--which evolve from intricate quiet interplay into rich harmonic interaction.
Mark Dresser Seven (Mitchell / Ehrlich / Boroff / Dessen / White / Black)
Sedimental You
(Clean Feed)
Downtown NY scene pioneering bassist, currently on the West Coast, Mark Dresser presents an album of original compositions performed with an amazing septet including Marty Ehrlich, Jim Black, Joshua White, Michael Dessen, David Morales Borof, and Nicole Mitchell.
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.
Jackson Harrison Trio
Sintering
(Hatology)
Melodic and texturally rich jazz from the trio of pianist Jackson Harrison with Ben Waples on double bass and brother James Waples on drums, a lyrical album of original compositions named for the process of coalescing a powder into a solid by heating it without liquefaction.
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.
Evan Parker / John Russel / Ian Brighton / Phillip Wachsmann / Marcio Mattos / Trevor Taylor
Reunion: Live From Cafe Oto
(FMR)
London's Cafe Oto organized a reunion of String Thing, guitarist Ian Brighton's project with violinist Phillip Wachsmann, bassist Marcio Mattos, & Trevor Taylor on percussion and electronics, adding guitarist John Russell and saxophonist Evan Parker, here capturing an impressive night of improv, and Brighton's first public appearance in nearly 40 years.
Harris Eisenstadt
Recent Developments
(Songlines)
NY Composer and percussionist Harris Eisenstadt furthers his exploration into long-form composition and unusual instrumentation in his 20th release as a bandleader, with a spectacular improv ensemble including Nate Wooley, Jeb Bishop, Han Roberts, Anna Webber, &c. &c.
John Butcher / John Edwards / Mark Sanders
Last Dream Of The Morning
(Relative Pitch)
A studio album between three UK master improvisers -- John Butcher on sax, John Edwards on double bass, and Mark Sanders on drums -- the trio pushing the envelope in technique and dialog in nearly telepathic playing that transports the listener into their environment, as the music builds and releases in effortless ways that are stunning and exulant; highly recommended.
Christian Wolff / Eddie Prevost
Uncertain Outcomes [2 CDs]
(Matchless)
Two concerts of experimental improvisation from two giants of conceptual improvisation and composition, recorded at IKLECTIK in London in 2015 and at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire in 2016; with superb pacing and brilliant execution, these dialogs between keyboard and percussive instruments explore unique sound worlds with depth, inquisitiveness, and a sense of wonder.
Willem Breuker Kollektief
Angouleme, 18 Mai 1980 [2 CDs]
(Fou Records)
The late Willem Breuker's Kollektief was an ensemble focusing on jazz roots in theatrical and dramatic performances, emphasing the fun aspects of historic jazz bands with energetic orchestration and soloing, described as a "mix of circus music, jazz and improvisation".
Wadada Smith Leo / Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii / Ikue Mori
Aspiration
(Libra)
Pianist/composer Satoko Fujii's "Aspiration" brings together four masterful improvisers and innovators--trumpeters Wadada Leo Smith and Natsuki Tamura, and Downtown NY laptop player Ikue Mori--for an album of exciting and exceptional free playing over compositions from Fujii, Tamura, and one collective composition, a brilliant pinnacle of creative music.
John Escreet (w/ Evan Parker / John Hebert / Tyshawn Sorey)
The Unknown (Live in Concert)
(Sunnyside Records)
Pianist John Escreet brought his trio with drummer Tyshawn Sorey and bassist John Hebert on a tour of Europe in 2016, meeting with British saxophonist Evan Parker in Amsterdam's Bimhuis and at Rotterdam's Lantaren Venster to record these profound performances of free improvisation.
Mats Gustafsson / Craig Taborn
Ljubljana [VINYL]
(Clean Feed)
Celebrating the 400th release of Clean Feed Records, Swedish free jazz phenomenon, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson meets with NY jazz pianist Craig Taborn for an unlikely yet highly satisfying encounter that pushes each improviser into unfamiliar, edge-of-their seats, territory.
Michael Attias Quartet (w/ Ortiz / Hebert / Hebert)
Nerve Dance
(Clean Feed)
New York alto saxophonist Michael Attias presents his new quartet with Aruan Ortiz on piano, John Hebert on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums, in his sixth album as a leader, a lyrical album dealing with the theory of elasticity and the concept of equality in music.
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.
Illegal Crowns (Halvorson / Fujiwara / Delbecq / Ho Bynum)
Illegal Crowns
(RogueArt)
A cooperative band of mostly NY improvisers-- Mary Halvorson on guitar, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet & flugelhorn, and French pianist Benoit Delbecq, recording in the studio for a album of uniquely unusual and rewarding compositions from all players.
Linda Smith Catlin
Dirt Road
(Another Timbre)
Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith's extended composition for violin and percussion in 15 parts, performed by percussionist Simon Limbrick and violinist Mira Benjamin, a unique orchestration that reveals a journey of steady pace, tension and beauty.
Eloping with the Sun (William Parker / Morris / Drake)
Counteract This Turmoil Like Trees and Birds
(RogueArt)
An almost ceremonial release in percussive approaches to improvisation from the trio of William Parker on double bass, shakuhachi, thumb piano & more, Hamid Drake on drums, cymbals and gongs, and Joe Morris on guitar, banjo, bass, pocket trumpet, fiddle & whistles.
Dunmall / Noble / Edwards / Sanders
Chords Of Connections
(FMR)
A stunning example of collective free improvisation from the quartet of frequent collaborators and superb improvisers, Paul Dunmall on tenor & soprano sax, Liam Noble on piano, Mark Sanders on drums, and John Edwards on bass, recording in the studio in Birmingham.
George Lewis & Splitter Ochester
Creative Construction Set
(Mikroton Recordings)
An amazing album of advanced techniques and sonic possibilities from the Berlin based Splitter Orchester, bringing together 25 superlative players from the "Echtzeitmusik" electroacoustic improvisation, here performing George Lewis's composition "Creative Construction Set".
Ballister (Renpis / Lonberg-Holm / Nilssen-Love)
Slag
(Aerophonic)
The trans-Atlantic Ballister trio of Dave Rempis (saxes), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello & electronics) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums & percussion) release their 6th album, a live concert at Cafe Oto in London in 2015, a hard-hitting, euphoric release of free-improvising power.
Matt Mitchell plays Tim Berne
Forage
(Screwgun)
Pianist Matt Mitchell, a member of saxophonist Tim Berne's Snakeoil, releases a solo album of Berne compositions, taking the reedist's typically frenetic material into unexpected territory, revealing dark beauty and intensely introspective aspects to Berne's music.
Keith Rowe / Michael Pisaro
13 Thirteen [2 CDs]
(erstwhile)
A collaboration between composer Michael Pisaro and AMM guitarist/improviser Keith Rowe, with each bringing scores which they improvised over, creating 13 discrete sections including samples from Shostakovich's 13th String Quartet, balancing activity, space and silence in patient ways that only two such experienced composer/improvisers could.
Isabelle Duthoit / Georg Graewe
Parlance
(Nuscope)
The duo of French clarinetist Isabelle Duthoit and Viennese pianist Georg Graewe in a subtle and sophisticated set of improvisations with chamber music inclinations, using impressive technique that serves their beautiful and mesmerizing dialog.