June 12, 2026:
This has been a challenging period for Squidco, no doubt affected by politics. We've seen a reduction in international sales, which is understandable given both rising shipping costs and the disdain many in Europe and the UK feel toward our current government. It's a pity that music meant to be transnational, cooperative, and open-hearted is affected by the chaotic behavior of our president, a sentiment that has been expressed to us many times by customers abroad. Rest assured that we are not aligned with the terrible goals of the current administration, and we look forward to the day when this period is behind us and properly judged.
Meanwhile, we've adapted, as we did during the Great Recession and the pandemic, by modifying how we buy new music and by initiating a digital label. The first change helps ensure that we can continue to offer a diverse catalog to our customers; the second helps us make interesting music available regardless of changes to shipping throughout the world.
The first of those changes takes effect in a few weeks, with new rules affecting "de minimis" packages sent to European Union countries. "De minimis" refers to low-value packages, and these rules are being changed primarily to address the rapid growth of low-value e-commerce imports, including so-called "fast fashion" shipments of inexpensive clothing and other goods. Sadly, music sellers and our customers have been drawn into this wide net.
Here's the change: Beginning July 1, 2026, EU customs rules will add a fixed €3 customs duty to goods entering the EU in small consignments valued at less than €150. Current guidance indicates that this interim duty will be applied to each item category contained in a small parcel, in addition to VAT collected through IOSS where applicable. These charges are controlled by EU customs rules and carrier clearance procedures.
That means packages from Squidco to EU countries may require an additional payment at delivery. Depending on the destination country and carrier, that charge could be assessed by item category, and possibly with an additional carrier or customs processing surcharge. We are not able to collect those charges in advance, as they will be assessed at delivery.
We will do what we can to help customers reduce those charges by aggregating purchases onto single item categories for each format where appropriate, for example "Quantity 3 - Materials: Pre-recorded audio CD" or "Quantity 4 - Materials: phonograph (vinyl) records", along with the correct Harmonized System code. How postal services and carriers apply these rules in practice may vary as the changes take effect.
We are disappointed that there are not exceptions in the new EU rules for cultural and artistic objects such as music albums. The interim duty is currently expected to remain in place until July 1, 2028, when it is to be replaced by normal customs tariffs once the new EU customs data hub is operational. In the meantime, I urge customers in the EU to explain to their governments that CDs and LPs should be free from duty and handling charges, similar to the exception we have in the US.
Thanks for staying with us through a more sobering entry this week. Next week, gladly, we'll return to the music.
Squidco Publishing Roundup:
You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.
You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.
To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.
And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.
May 27, 2026:
We're catching up after the long weekend and the tremendous response to our Memorial Day sale. Thanks to all of you who placed orders, and for all the nice comments — it's truly heartening to sell to such a great and informed community!
We're following up the long weekend with some excellent new albums, which I'll write about soon, including new ezz-thetics by Hat Hut, Ltd.; five new albums on Another Timbre; two on Burning Ambulance Music; an essential compilation from Machinefabriek (Rutger Zuydervelt); Nate Wooley's final Columbia Icefield album on Out Of Your Head Records; the duo of Myra Melford & Satoko Fujii; and a Clifford Brown box set. Wow!
While listening to these new albums, I've also been turning back to my own history, as we mark what would have been Miles Davis' 100th birthday and the passing of Sonny Rollins at 95. I sought out albums including Bags' Groove and Collectors' Items, where Davis and Rollins can be heard playing together, followed by Sonny Rollins on Impulse!, where Rollins demonstrates that he truly was a colossus. My mornings at home have been filled with Miles, focusing on his 1960s quartet with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams, along with the later quintet albums with John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley.
Searching our database, I found these albums that we currently have in stock: the first two include Sonny Rollins, and the second set features Miles Davis. For me, history connects directly to modern creative jazz and improvisation, and we owe a debt to these masters, who helped change the way we listen to improvised music.
 Clifford Brown: The Ultimate Collection [4 CDs] (Enlightenment)
A 4-CD survey of Clifford Brown's essential 1953-1956 Blue Note and EmArcy recordings, tracing his masterful trumpet voice through early leader dates, string settings, vocal and ensemble sessions, and the classic Max Roach quintet with Harold Land, Sonny Rollins, Richie Powell and George Morrow, capturing a foundational hard bop figure at astonishing creative strength.
 Monk, Thelonious with Sonny Rollins : 1953 To 1957 Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Restoring and remastering three key sessions documenting the evolving creative relationship between Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, alongside artists including Julius Watkins, Ernie Henry, Oscar Pettiford, and Max Roach, in a vital revisitation of formative collaborations that highlight Monk's unique brilliance and Rollins' early improvisational voice within shifting post-bop ensembles.
 Davis, Miles w/ Tadd Dameron: Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Between his work with Charlie Parker and before his own personal success, trumpeter Miles Davis joined the influential ensemble of pianist, composer and arranger Tadd Dameron, heard in six large ensemble pieces at New York's Royal Roost in 1949, and then in a quintet at the Paris Festival International De Jazz the same year, in both hearing a unique and confident facet to Miles' playing.
 Davis, Miles Quintet: 2nd Sessions 1956, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Recorded in the same October 1956 Rudy Van Gelder sessions that are heard on Miles Davis' Cookin' and Steamin' albums, these alternate takes with his quintet of John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on double bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums give us a unique view on the consistency and strength of the famous and foundational hard bop band.
 Davis, Miles Quintets: Stockholm 1967 & 1969 Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Two live recordings from Miles Davis in the 1960s, first from Stockholm in 1967 with the classic 60s quintet of Miles, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams; then two years later also in Stockholm with the "Lost Quintet" of Miles, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, pushing new directions with tracks including "Bitches Brew".
 Parker, Charlie: Bebop Live [2 CDs] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Remarkably remastered recordings of Charlie Parker's quintets from 1945-49, performing live at Carnegie Hall, Royal Roost, & Town Hall with configurations of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Dorham, Red Rodney, Don Byas, Al Haig, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Kenny Clarke, Tommy Potter & Curley Russell, allowing us to re-live the consistent brilliance of the leader and his sidemen.
 Parker, Charlie : Selections From The SAVOY Recordings (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
The second of two volumes in celebration of legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker's 100th birthday, here remastering his landmark recordings for the Savoy label in New York City between 1945-48, performing with jazz greats including Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Lewis, Curley Russel, Max Roach, &c. for some of be-bop's finest and best known compositions.
 Parker, Charlie : Selections From The DIAL Recordings (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
The first of two volumes in celebration of legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker's 100th birthday, here remastering his landmark recordings for the Dial label on the US West Coast between 1946-47, performing with jazz greats including Miles Davis, Lucky Thompson, Erroll Garner, Barney Kessel, Red Calender, JJ Johson, Max Roach, &c. for some of Parker's best known and essential compositions.
Squidco Publishing Roundup:
You can view our latest fully cataloged albums in the Recently Section.
You can also browse new titles as they enter our Just In Stock Section — meaning we physically have the album and can ship it, though we may still be updating additional information about the release.
To see restocks of previously listed titles, visit our Recently Restocked page.
And if you're interested in a future release, you can ask us to notify you by email via our Upcoming Releases page — no obligation necessary.
May 21, 2026:
It's been a bit quiet here as we lead up to the US holiday of Memorial Day. For me, that means a week of half workdays, spending the rest of my time in the yard repairing the damage of winter and preparing for the hot summers here in the mid-South; in a few more weeks, it will be prohibitively hot for outdoor work. That has put cataloging and publishing mostly on hold, with a few exceptions.
As we have for the last couple of decades, we're running our annual Memorial Day sale, with discounts on all new items. This sale always makes me reflect on the musicians who have passed away in the previous year, and this year I spent time reading interviews with Louis Moholo-Moholo, the South African drummer best known for his work with Chris McGregor in The Blue Notes, and for his legacy within the British jazz scene. I found this fascinating interview, which discusses his early foundation in learning to play drums in South Africa. In America's current political situation, with efforts to dismantle the legacy of the civil rights movement and affirmative action under attacks on the poorly maligned idea of D.E.I. — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — this is an important read. Moholo discusses being prevented from seeking music education, being forced to play behind a curtain while performing with white musicians, and having police enter his home to destroy his instruments.
As this weekend is dedicated to remembering those who came before us, it's extremely important to remember how brutal people can be to one another. The innovations that led to jazz, blues, son, salsa, and so many other musical forms came from people of color. While some try to cast D.E.I. as an unfair correction of racial imbalance, it's critical to remember how horribly we have treated those who have given us so much.
Squid Note #6 - Ivo Perelman & Damon Smith: Duologue: Core of Existence:
Our biggest news for the week is the release of our next digital album on our own Squid Note Records: the duo of Ivo Perelman & Damon Smith and the coincidental sixth album of duos in Perelman's Duologue series. A first time-meeting between these two incredibly active improviser, Perelman pairs his searching tenor saxophone with Damon Smith's commanding double bass for a freely improvised exchange of raw physical immediacy and deep listening, where intertwining lines, extended techniques and spontaneous form turn dialogue itself into the core of the music.
Squidco Publishing Roundup:
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Steve Beresford / Pierpaolo Martino / Mark Sanders:
Melaine Dalibert / David Sylvian:
Agusti Fernandez / Artur Majewski / Albert Cirera / Ramon Prats:
Julia Eckhardt:
Lori Goldston:
Arkady Gotesman:
Nicolas Collins / Birgit Ulher:
Albert Ayler Quintet:
Merzbow / Mats Gustafsson / Balasz Pandi:
Ivo Perelman / Damon Smith:
Davis, Miles Quintet (w/ Coltrane / Kelly / Chambers / Cobb): Live Europe 1960, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
