The Squid's Ear Magazine
The Squid's Ear Magazine
  Recently Restocked

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



Evan Parker / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton: Live at Maya Recordings Festival (NoBusiness)

Superb improvisation from three masters - Evan Parker on sax, Barry Guy on bass and Paul Lytton on drums - performing at the Maya Recordings Festival, September 23 - 25, 2011 at Theater am Gleis, Winterthur, Switzerland.



Oliver Lake / Fred Hopkins / Phillip Wilson / Baikida Carroll / Michael Gregory Jackson: Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 4 (NoBusiness)

Recorded during the mid-1970s loft-jazz flowering at Studio Rivbea in New York City, this live session finds Oliver Lake leading a volatile ensemble with Baikida Carroll, Michael Gregory Jackson, Fred Hopkins, and drummers Phillip Wilson and Jerome Cooper, blending post-BAG urgency, searching improvisation, and sharp ensemble interplay into a raw, idealistic document of creative rebirth.



Joe McPhee / John Edwards: Tell Me How Long Has Trane Been Gone (for James Baldwin And John Coltrane) (Klanggalerie)

The incredible first meeting between legendary saxophonist Joe McPhee and double bassist John Edwards is this performance at the 2019 Artacts festival in Austria, a powerfully reflective free jazz concert with McPhee speaking & preaching about the loss of giants John Coltrane, Albert Ayler and James Baldwin, as they stand upon their shoulders through free music.



Rob: Brown Oceanic (RogueArt)

Stepping away from his quartet, New York alto saxophonist performs solo in the studio for eight recordings using his unique language and creative voice to meditate on the ocean-- the source of our origin and life--through a four-part "Oversea Undersea" suite, and four works with titles referencing marine life and sea faring through engaging waves of innovative reed work.



Cosa Brava (Frith / Parkins / Kihlstedt / Bossi / Ismaily): Z Sides (Klanggalerie)

Guitarist & vocalist Fred Frith leads the highly creative quintet of Zeena Parkins on keys & voice, Carla Kihlstedt on violin & voice, Mathias Bossi on drums and Shahzad Ismaily on bass, merging free improv, rock and experimental forms; drawn from live performances recorded by The Normal Conquest, this set of compositions captures the group's dynamic interplay and remarkable inventiveness.



Eliane: Radigue Trilogie de la Mort [3 CDs] (XI Records)

Electronic composer Eliane Radigue's 1998 "Trilogie de la Mort" about existence, pilgrimage, and death, issued for the first time presenting all three parts of this important work.



4Corners: Alive In Lisbon [DVD] (Clean Feed)

4 Corners with Ken Vandermark, Magnus Broo, Adam Land and Paal Nilssen-Love in a live DVD from a March 2007 gig in Portugal playing 5 extended tracks. (PAL format)



Dennis Gonzalez's Spirit Meridian w/ Oliver Lake: Idle Wild (Clean Feed)



Herb Robertson NY Downtown Allstars: Rea Aberration (Clean Feed)

Trumpeter Herb Robertson in a double disc of live material with his truly allstar NY band including Tim Berne, Sylvie Courvoisier, Mark Dress & Tom Rainey



Stephen Gauci's Basso Continuo: Nididhyasana (Clean Feed)

Tenor saxophonist Gauci & trumpeter Nate Wooley with the dual bass backbone of Mike Bisio and Ingebrigt Haker Flaten in original compositions using extended instrumental techniques.



RIDD Quartet: Fiction Avalanche (Clean Feed)

The Ridd Quartett is Jon Irabagon, Reuben Radding, Jeff Davis and Kris Davis, bringing a variety of approaches together into the free improvising of many dimensions.



Sean: Conly Re: Action (Clean Feed)

Double bassist Sean Conly in a New York based quartet with saxophonists Michael Attias & Tony Malaby and drum legend Pheeroan Aklaff.



John O'Gallagher Trio: Dirty Hands (Clean Feed)

New York alto saxophonist O'Gallagher's trio with Jeff Williams and Masa Kamaguchi recording during their tour through France and Portugal.



The Stateless Trio: In the Sunrise of Some Other World [5x5 ALBUM FACSIMILE WITH DOWNLOAD] (Squid Note Records)

Developed through remote, spontaneously layered exchanges between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Minnesota, Rick Countryman's alto flute, replacing his customary alto saxophone, joins Richard Allan Bates' electric bass and effects and Steve Hirsh's reflective drumming in an organically connected improvisation of spacious textures, subtle rhythmic tension, and lyrical interaction.



Paul Dunmall Sun Quartet: Ancient and Future Airs (Clean Feed)

Saxophonist & bagpipe player Dunmall's amazing Sun Quartet with Tony Malaby, Mark Helias and Kevin Norton performing live in NYC the day after Dunmall's Vision 2008 Fest show.



Jason's Stein Locksmith Isidore: Three Less Than Between (Clean Feed)

Jason Stein 2nd Locksmith Isidore release on Clean Feed with bassist Jason Roebke and drummer Mike Pride shows his devotion to Eric Dolphy in experimental and classic jazz approaches.



Nobuyasu Furuya Trio: Bendowa (Clean Feed)

Sax, bass clarinet and flutist Nobuyasu Furuya is a free player migrated from Japan to Lisbon, Portugal, here in a trio with bassist Hernani Faustino and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini.



Michael: Attias Renku In Coimbra (Clean Feed)

An afternoon during saxophonist Michael Attias's residency at the Coimbra's Jazz ao Centro festival in Brazil with the core of his quintet: bassist John Hebert & drummer Satoshi Takeishi.



Scott Fields Ensemble: Fugu (Clean Feed)

Originally released in 1995 on Field's own Geode label, these compositions for choreographer Li Chiao-Ping use complex rhythms and tonalities in a serial pitch "system of circles".



Keefe Jackson Quartet: Seeing You See (Clean Feed)

Tenor saxophonist Keefe Jackson's quartet with trombonist Jeb Bishop, bassist Jason Roebke and drummer Noritaka Tanaka, creative Chicago jazz from an active set of windy city players.



Lawnmower (Gray / Hobbs / Farina / Littleton): West (Clean Feed)

Drummer Luther Gray's Lawnmower bridges jazz and rock with blues-tinged sonic underpinning from dual guitarists, with saxophonist Jim Hobbs lyrical and unique voice leading the way.



Michael: Attias Twines of Colesion (Clean Feed)

Alto saxophonist Michael Attias leads this quintet with Tony Malaby on tenor and soprano, Russ Lossing on piano, John Hebert on bass and Staoshi Takeishi on drums performing live at the Jazz ao Centro Festival.



oe Morris / Nate Wooley: Tooth and Nail (Clean Feed)

Guitarist Joe Morris continues his duet parternships on Clean Feed, here with the innovative and amazing trumpeter Nate Wooley in an album of brilliant spontaneous improv.



Daniel Levin Quartet: Bacalhau (Clean Feed)

Cellist Daniel Levin's quartet with Nate Wooley on trumpet, Peter Bitenc on bass and Matt Moran on vibraphone performing live at the Jazz ao Centro Festival, Salao Brazil.



Jason Robinson / Anthony Davis: Cerulean Landscape (Clean Feed)

Saxophonist Jason Robinson and pianist Anthony Davis in their first collaboration in 9 years, an album that references and steps off from the beautiful blues compositions of Duke Ellington.



Afterfall (Lopes / Giardullo / Miguel / Duboc / Sorgen): Afterfall (Clean Feed)

Luis Lopes put together this international group including Sei Miguel, Joe Giardullo & Benjamin Duboc for gigs in Portugal, which worked so well that they went to the studio for this impressive release.



Harris: Eisenstadt September Trio (Clean Feed)

Drummer Eisenstadt's September trio with pianist Angelica Sanchez and saxophonist Ellery Eskelin in a release of thoughtful, creative, meaningful and lovely music.



SFE - Simon Fell Ensemble: Positions and Descriptions (Clean Feed)

Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 with an ensemble including Tim Berne, Joe Morris, Rhodri Davies, Jim Denley, Alex Ward & Steve Beresford, this amazing work is organized in traditional movements using a very modern and free language.



Scott Fields Multiple Joyce Orchestra: Moersbow Ozzo (Clean Feed)

A live concert of Fields' Quite Large Orchestra (aka Multiple Joyce Orchestra) with Frank Gratkowski, Christina Fuchs, Thomas Lehn, Carl Hubsch, &c. &c. performing modular compositions for improvising chamber group, plus an homage to Merzbow.



Boris: Hauf Sextet Next Delusion (Clean Feed)

Berlin-based saxophonist Boris Hauf's sextet with Keefe Jackson (sax), Jason Stein (bass clarinet), Frank Rosaly (drums), Steve Hess (drums & electronics) and Michael Hartman (drums) in 4 extended pieces of boiling intensity.



Joe Mcphee / Ingebrigt Haker Flaten: Brooklyn DNA (Clean Feed)

A project about the rich jazz history of Brooklyn, NY, recorded in that burrough by NY saxophonist Joe McPhee & bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, referencing Putnam Central, The Blue Coronet, Sonny Rollins, and Brooklyn itself.



The Fish (Guionnet / Duboc / Pearraud): Moon Fish (Clean Feed)

The long-running trio of alto saxophonist Jean-Luc Guionnet and drummer Edward Perraud (Hubbub) and bassist Benjamin Duboc in a studio album of intense and expressive free jazz in the Albert Ayler tradition.



Platform 1: Takes Off (Clean Feed)

A first and exceptional release from the Platform 1 quintet of Chicago reedist Ken Vandermark, NY trombonist Steve Swell, European trumpeter Magnus Broo, Canadian ex-pat bassist Joe Williamson, and Amsterdamn based drummer Michael Vatcher.



Michael: Attias Spun Tree (Clean Feed)

His first studio album since 2004, alto saxophonist Michael Attias returns to the epic forms of his "Credo" release, presentng 8 new compositions with his band of Ralph Alessi, Matt Mitchell, Sean Conly and Tom Rainey



Eric's Revis 11:11, : Parallax (Clean Feed)

Eric Revis (double bass, composition) brings together Ken Vandermark (sax, clarinet), Jason Moran (piano), and Nasheet Waits (drums) for his new avant-garde quartet, 11:11, a jazz supergroup with a stellar first album.



Lotte Anker / Rodrigo Pinheiro / Hernani Faustino: Birthmark (Clean Feed)

Recordings from Lisbon of Danish saxophonist Lotte Anker with pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro and double bassist Hernani Faustino, both from Red Trio; dynamic improvisation with a sense of restraint and beautiful fluidity.



Sophie Agnel / John Edwards / Steve Noble: Meteo (Clean Feed)

A live recording at the famous Meteo Festival from the trio of Sophie Agnel (piano), John Edwards (double bass) and Steve Noble (drums), three of Europe's most active improvisers in an intense extended performance.



Harris Eisenstadt September Trio: The Destructive Element (Clean Feed)

The second album of the trio founded by drummer and composer Harris Eisenstadt with Ellery Eskelin (tenor saxophone) and Angelica Sanchez (piano) performing a set of Eisenstadt compositions referencing Joseph Conrad, Schoenberg, &c.



Eric: Revis City of Asylum (Clean Feed)

The trio of Eric Revis on bass, Kris Davis on piano and Andrew Cyrille on drums recording in the studio in NYC, vital, introspective and sophisticated free trio work spanning generations in spontaneous compositions and one each from Monk, Jarrett, and Revis.



Joe: McPhee Sonic Elements (Clean Feed)

A distinctive solo album from legendary New York saxophonist and pocket trumpeter Joe McPhee, playing two extended solo improvisations, one dedicated to the late trumpeter Don Cherry, and one to innovative saxophonist Ornette Coleman.



Trumpets and Drums (Wooley / Evans / Black / Lytton): Live in Ljubljana (Clean Feed)

Two drummers - Jim Black & Paul Lytton - and two trumpeters - Nate Wooley & Peter Evans - came together at the 53rd Ljubljana Jazz Festival to record these extended improvisations, demonstrating the phenomenal skill and compatibility of these outstanding players.



Pascal Niggenkemper Vision 7: Lucky Prime (Clean Feed)

NY based German-French bassist Pascal Niggenkemper in a European septet with reedist Frank Gratkowski, pianist Eve Risser, violist Frantz Loriot, vibraophonist Els Vandeweyer, voicals Emilie Lesbros, and drummer Christian Lillinger recording at the Loft, Cologne.



Kaja: Draksler The Lives of Many Others (Clean Feed)

Influenced by Cecil Taylor, Kaja Draksler is a Slovene piano player living in Amsterdam, performing inside and out of the piano in a unique style that approaches performing as a vision of the piano as a miniature orchestra.



Eric Revis / Taylor / McHenry / Jones / Branford Marsalis: In Memory of Things Yet Seen (Clean Feed)

A superb modern jazz release from NY bassist Eric Revis with Chad Taylor (drums), Bill McHenry (sax) and Darius Jones (sax), plus special guest Branford Marsalis on two tracks.



Rodrigo Amado / Mota / Faustino / Ferrandini: Wire Quartet (Clean Feed)

Saxophonist Rodrigo Amado in a quartet with 2/3's of Red Trio - bassist Hernani Faustino and drummer Gabriel Ferrandini - and guitarist Manuel Mota adding unusual angles to their exemplary blues-based free improvisation.



Tony Malaby Tamarindo: Somos Agua (Clean Feed)

The NYC trio of saxophonist Tony Malaby, bassist William Parker and drummer Nasheet Waits present their 3rd Tamarindo record of "high-impact free-form progressive jazz extravaganza", flowing music demonstrating the strength of all 3 players.



Joe Morris Quartet: Balance (Clean Feed)

Joe Morris reunites his NY quartet as their last configuration from 2000, with violist Mat Maneri, bassist Chris Lightcap, drummer Gerald Cleaver, and Morris on guitar, bringing us an update on the intently informed collective improvisation that defines this great- band.



Cortex: Live! (Clean Feed)

Four Norwegian jazz musicians--Thomas Johansson (cornet), Kristoffer Alberts (reeds), Ola Hoyer (double bass) and Gard Nilssen (drums)--representatives of a new generation of Scandinavian jazzmen playing creative music with the tools and forms of the older generation.



Grunen (Kaufmann / Landfermann / Lillinger): Pith and Twing (Clean Feed)

The second release from Germany's Grunen Trio of Achim Kaufmann on piano, Robert Landfermann on double bass and Christian Lillinger on drums, a superb and forward-thinking piano trio using prodigious talent in eccentric ways, resolving to lyrical and rewarding improvisation.



Tony Malaby's TubaCello: Scorpion Eater (Clean Feed)

NY saxophonist Tony Malaby's latest album was recorded with his most consistent collaborators--tubist Dan Peck, cellist Christopher Hoffman, and drummer/percussionist John Hollenbeck--in an album of energetic improv with a unique timbral configuration.



Deux Maisons: For Sale (Clean Feed)

Deux Maisons (Two Houses) is a chamber jazz quartet bringing together French and Portuguese players of the current generation: from France, 2 brothers, Theo & Valentin Ceccaldi (violin and cello); from Portugal, Luis Vicente (trumpet) & Marco Franco (drums).



Eve: Risser Des pas sur la neige (Clean Feed)

Following her trio record with Benjamin Duboc and Edward Perraud, pianist Eve Risser releases this contemplative and gorgeous solo album, a beautifully paced and delicate album for the piano, augmented with moving preparations for sonic and percussive accents.



All Included (Kuchen / Johansson / Aleklint / Strom / Ostvang): Satan in Plain Clothes (Clean Feed)

With members from Angles, Universal Indians, Frode Gjerstad Trio, Friends and Neighbors, &c. the quintet of Martin Kuchen (sax), Thomas Johansson (trumpet), Mats Aleklin (trombone), Jon Rune Strom (bass) and Tollef Ostvang (drums) play modern, energetic jazz that kicks Satan's ass; highly recommended!



Universal Indians + Joe McPhee (Dikeman / Strom / Ostvang): Skullduggery (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.



Nick Fraser (feat. Tony Malaby and Kris Davis): Too Many Continents (Clean Feed)

Toronto drummer and composer Nick Fraser in a superb trio with saxophonist Tony Malaby and pianist Kris Davis, performing Fraser originals that merge free improvisation, jazz and avant compositional approaches with astonishing solos from all three.



Roots Magic (Popolla / Defabriths / Tedeschi / Spera / Ventiucci): Hoodoo Blues (Clean Feed)

An Italian quartet playing rootsy jazz and blues compositions from John Carter, Charley Patton, Julius Hemphill, Phil Cohran, Sun Ra, Blind Willie Johnson, Olu Dara, alongside and a few originals; gutsy, informed, spell-binding Hoodoo from the delta blues to outer space.



Jason: Roebke Every Sunday (Clean Feed)

The music of bassist Jason Roebke and his trio of guitarist Matthew Schneider and drummer Marcus Evan is rooted in the leader's solid bass work and the tasteful and informed lyrical freedom of his sidemen, as heard in this live performace Chicago's Hungry Brain.



Benoit Delbecq 3: INK (Clean Feed)

Miles Perkin takes the late bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel's place in pianist Benoit Delbecq's trio with Emile Biavenda on drums and percussion, in an inventive and lyrical album balancing structure versus improvisational freedom in engaging ways.



Carlos Bica & Azul: Things About (Clean Feed)

Double bassist and composer Carlos Bica's Azul with guitarist Frank Mobus and drummer Jim Black in their 5th album, bringing jazz and elements of rock together into a lyrical and alluring set of recordings.



Harris Eisenstadt (Bishop / Malaby / Roebke / Eisenstadt): Old Growth Forest (Clean Feed)

New York drummer Harris Eisenstadt revives his trio with trombonist Jeb Bishop and bassist Jason Roebke, adding tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby, recording in the studio after two concerts at John Zorn's venue The Stone in 2015, heard in here in momentous and heartfelt jazz.



Dre Hocevar : Collective Effervescence (Clean Feed)

Freely improvised collective with an electroacoustic inclination and chamber music reserve from the quintet of Dre Hoceva (drums), Bran De Looze (piano), Lester St. Louis (cello), Chris Pitsiokos (sax) and Philip White (electronics & signal processing).



Julie Kjaer 3 (Kjaer / Edwards / Noble): Dobbeltgaenger (Clean Feed)

Alto saxophonist Julie Kjaer, a Denmark native living in the UK and active on the London Improv scene, in a trio with two of the most active London players - Steve Noble on drums and John Edwards on bass - for a live album at Vortex Jazz Club in 2015.



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.



Eric: Revis Crowded Solitudes (Clean Feed)

New York bassist Eric Revis' Trio with Kris Davis on piano and Gerald Cleaver taking over the drum position in an album that crosses the traditional piano trio concept with modern free parlance, for both lyrical and unconventionally creative moments.



Starlite Motel (Alberts / Saft / Haker-Flaten / Nilssen): Awosting Falls (Clean Feed)

Scandinavian and American musicians join together to form this quartet, with Kristoffer Berre Alberts on saxes, Jamie Saft on organ and keys, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, and Gard Nilssen on drums & electronics, for an album of spacey and groove oriented jazz.



RED Trio w/ John Butcher: Summer Skyshift (Clean Feed)

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



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.



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.



Elliott Sharp Aggregat (Bynum / Greene II / Jones / Altschul): Dialectrical (Clean Feed)

Downtown New York multi-reedist mainstay Elliott Sharp in his third Aggregat release, in a quintet with Taylor Ho Bynum on trumpet, Barry Altschul on drums, Terry L. Greene II on trombone, and Brad Jones on bass, pushing elastic limits on the concepts of jazz and free improv.



John Butcher / Stale Liavik Solberg: So Beautiful, It Starts To Rain (Clean Feed)

British free improvising legend John Butcher met Scandinavian drummer Stale Liavik Solberg at Cafe Oto to record these intensely detailed yet sublimely reserved duos, three pieces segmenting the album title, an intimate and never extravagent dialog of great technical depth.



Gorilla Mask (Van Huffel / Fidezius / Fischerlehner): Iron Lung (Clean Feed)

Hard-edged and tightly controlled free jazz from the trio of Peter Van Huffel on alto sax, Roland Fidezius on electric bass, and Rudi Fischerlehner on drums, blending jazz & punk sensibilities in works with great technical twists and turns over savagely lyrical music.



Daniel Levin Quartet (Levin / Maneri / Moran / Zetterberg): Live at Firehouse 12 (Clean Feed)

Cellist Daniel Levin's sophisticated jazz quartet with Mat Maneri (viola), Matt Moran (vibes), and Torbjorn Zetterberg (double bass) are captured live at Connecticut's Firehouse 12 for a superb album of modern improv with great skill, depth and style.



CP Unit (Pitsiokos / Seabrook / Dahl / Walter): Before the Heat Death (Clean Feed)

Chris Pitsiokos' Unit with electric guitarist Brandon Seabrook, electric bassist Tim Dahl, and drummer Weasel Walter turn in a fiery and demanding album of compelling free jazz, using traditional jazz structures but turning them on their head in joyfully unconventional ways.



Angelica Sanchez Trio (w/ Michael Formanek / Tyshawn Sorey): Float the Edge (Clean Feed)

Fiction, folklore and everyday sounds fuel the compositions of NY pianist Angelica Sanchez, with her trio of Michael Formanek on double bass and Tyshawn Sorey on drums, the band explores concepts of lucid dreaming, backyard birds, novels, mythical creatures and ancient structures, in a magnificent album of inspired free improvisation.



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.



Tony Malaby / Mat Maneri / Daniel Levin: New Artifacts (Clean Feed)

The unique orchestration of this trio, with Tony Malaby on sax, Mat Maneri on viola, and Daniel Levin on cello, givs a distinct character to the highly informed improvisations from these commanding players, who recorded this album at Three's Brewing in Brooklyn in 2015.



Harris Eisenstadt Canada Day (w/ Wooley / Bauder / Niggenkemper): On Parade in Parede (Clean Feed)

A live recording of drummer/composer Harris Eisenstadt's Canada Day band performing as a quartet with trumpeter Nate Wooley, saxophonist Matt Bauder, and bassist Pascal Niggenkemper, recorded at SUMP during their 2016 European tour, an exemplary set of free playing over a great set of original compositions, including a large work in 3 sections and 5 parts.



Rova / Bruckmann & Kaiser: Steve Lacy's Saxophone Special Revisited (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.



Trespass Trio (Zanussi / Strid / Kuchen): The Spirit of Pitesti (Clean Feed)

Trespass trio with Martin Kuchen on saxophone, Per Zanussi on double bass, and Raymond Strid on drums & percussion, tell us instrumental narrative through compassionate, impassioned and unorthodox writing and playing, about Romania's Pitesti Prison, where for 4 years around 1950 totalarian authorities practiced brainwashing experiments on the inmates.



Mario Pavone (Pavone / Ballout / Malaby / Noriega / McEachern / Sarin): Vertical (Clean Feed)

Drawing from some of the finest players on the New York Downtown jazz scene, with Dave Ballou on trumpet, Tony Malaby and Oscar Noriega on reeds, Peter McEachern on trombone and Michael Sarin on drums, double bassist Mario Pavone presents a set of 11 new compositions of lyrical and sophisticated jazz anchored by the leader's powerful compositional structures.



Eric: Revis Sing Me Some Cry (Clean Feed)

Double Bassist Eric Revis expands his concepts in this outstanding album with fellow New Yorkers, pianist Kris Davis and drummer Chad Taylor, and Chicago reedist Ken Vandermark on tenor saxophone, with all four players providing compositions that push the limit on structure and form while opening up the players to superb soloing settings of great modern jazz.



Kullhammar, Aalberg Zetterber & Santos Silva: Basement Sessions Vol.4 (The Bali Tapes) (Clean Feed)

The 4th volumes of this remarkable set of "basement sessions" from the Swedish trio of Espen Aalberg on drums & percussion, Jonas Kullhammar on saxophone & flute, and Torbjorn Zetterberg on bass, joined by Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, for a beautiful album of free hard bop, encompassing spiritual and ritual aspects of gamelan music in a unique and wonderful album.



Imaginary Numbers (McPhee / Niggenkemper / Solberg): Imaginary Numbers (Clean Feed)

Playing both pocket trumpet and tenor sax, Joe McPhee joins German/French/NY bassist Pascal Niggenkemper, and Norwegian drummer Stale Liavik Solberg, for an authoritative and bold album of collective free improv, three extended conversations that center on "A Supreme Love (For John Coltrane)", pointing to the history and sympathies of these impressive musicians.



Susana Silva Santos : All The Rivers | Live At Panteao Nacional (Clean Feed)

Exploring the ambient sound of the immense marble temple of the Portuguese National Pantheon, trumpeter Susana Santos Silva recorded this beautiful and spiritual solo improvisation as part of the Rescaldo Festival, adding tin whistle and bells as her stunning tone and impressive technique resonated and invoked the spirit of this 17th century monument.



The Heat Death (Moster / Kuchen / Aleklint / Hyouer, Andersen): The Glenn Miller Sessions [3 CDs] (Clean Feed)

With members of The Core, Angles 9, Cortex, &c. The Heat Death is a Norwegian quintet with dual reeds and winds from Kjetil Moster & Martin Kuchen, Mats Aleklint on trombone, Olay Hoyer on bass, and Dag Erik Knedal Andersen on drums, a blazing band of energetic, informed and joyful free improv in a long-anticipated releases presenting 3 CDs of extended play.



Benoit Delbecq 4 (w / Turner / Hebert / Cleaver): Spots On Stripes (Clean Feed)

French pianist Benoit Delbecq brings together frequent collaborators from New York--Mark Turner on tenor saxophone and drummer Gerald Cleaver--and from Paris--Delbecq himself and double bassist John Hebert--for an album of refined and inventive contemporary jazz, the work of masterful players with years of experience and collaborations dating back to 2003.



Jonas Cambien Trio (w / Roligheten / Wildhagen): We Must Mustn't We (Clean Feed)

Leveraging influences in improvisation and contemporary compositional music, Belgian/Oslo pianist Jonas Cambien, a member of Simiskina and Platform, extends his own trio of saxophonist Andre Rolighete and drummer Andreas Wildhagen with trumpeter Torstein Lavik Larsen on 2 tracks, as they balance jazz, avant, free improv and other hybrid forms in a compellingly creative album.



Matt Piet & His Disorganization (w / Berman / Mazzarella / Daisy): Rummage Out (Clean Feed)

A young and fresh voice in the creative Chicago improv scene, pianist and composer Matt Piet, who leads his own trio and the band Four Letter Words, and one third of Rempis/Piet/Daisy, introduces a new quartet with saxophonist Nick Mazzarella, cornet player Josh Berman, and drummer Tim Daisy, a superb example of the energetic and active Chicago scene.



Sara Serpa (w / Laubrock / Fiedlander): Close Up (Clean Feed)

Lisbon, Portugal native, singer and composer Sara Serpa in a trio with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and cellist Erik Friedlander, recording live at Pete's House, in Brooklyn, for an album of unusual and creative vocals inspired by experimentation and changing identities, bringing a unique approach to improvised voice, here in the company of accomplished players.



Frode Gjerstad Trio + Steve Swell: Bop Stop (Clean Feed)

The indefatigable Norwegian saxophonist Frode Gjerstad invites trombonist Steve Swell, with whom he collaborated in 2011 on the live album "At Constellation", to join his trio with Jon Rune Strom on double bass and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, at Cleveland's Bop stop during their 2017 tour, recording this impressive concert of exemplary collective free jazz.



Marty: Ehrlich Trio Exaltation (Clean Feed)

With a history of playing together in the Andrew Hill Sextet, Marty Ehrlich immediately chose bassist John Hebert and drummer Nasheet Waits to join Ehrlich in his new trio endeavor, the multi-wind & reed player on alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet and wooden flutes as they perform 9 lyrical and sophisticated Ehrlich compositions, plus one by Andrew Hill.



LFU (Lisbon Freedom Unit) : Praise Of Our Folly (Clean Feed)

Without a leader, this 9 piece collective ensemble includes members of Red Trio (Rodrigo Pinheiro, Hernaani Faustino and Gabriel Ferrandini), Garden (Jose Bruno Parrinha, Ricardo Jacinto, Luis Lopes), the duo Eitr (Pedro Sousa and Pedro Lopes), 2/3 of the Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio (Amado, Ferrandini) and half of the Luis Lopes Humanization 4tet (Lopes and Amado).



Mario Costa (w/ Marc Ducret / Beniot Delbecq): Oxy Patina (Clean Feed)

Drummer, composers and electronic artist Mario Costa in his first solo album as a leader, presenting 9 original compositions performed at the 26th Festival de Jazz na Praca da Erva in a trio with French improvisers Benoit Delbecq on piano, prepared piano and synth, and Marc Ducret on guitar, a great album and an absolutely stunning concert by three masterful players.



Mette Rasmussen / Chris Corsano: A View Of The Moon (From The Sun) (Clean Feed)

Following their Relative Pitch album "All the Ghosts at Once", the free improvising duo of alto saxophonist Mette Rasmussen and drummer Chris Corsano, also on slide clarinet, release their 2nd album, a live concert at Cankarjev dom, in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2015, pushing the limits on both instruments through radical technique and inventive approaches to their playing.



Jacob: Sacks Fishes (Clean Feed)

Eleven new works from New York pianist Jacob Sacks in a quintet with some of NY's finest--Ellery Eskelin on tenor saxophone, Tony Malaby on tenor & soprano saxophones, Michael Formanek on bass, and Dan Weiss on drums--referencing traditional jazz influences like Monk & Mingus with superbly creative soloing fostered by the freedom of Sack's compositions.



Friends & Neighbors (Roligheten / Johansson / Gronberg / Rune Strom / Ostvang): What's Next? (Clean Feed)

A great example of the Norwegian creative jazz scene, the quintet of Andree Roligheten on sax & clarinet, Thomas Johansson on trumpet, Oscar Gronberg on piano, Jon Rune Strom on double bass, and Tollef Ostvang on drums take their name from an Ornette Coleman LP, as they show us 'What's Next' by blending lyrical and free approaches with unexpected twists and turns.



Larry Ochs / Gerald Cleaver / Nels Cline: What Is To Be Done (Clean Feed)

The first release from the trio of Nels Cline, Gerald Cleaver, and Larry Ochs in a 2016 concert at Gallery5 Arts, in Richmond, Virginia, captured as part of the trio's series touring around the Northeast each December since 2015, playing what Larry Ochs describes as music that "seeks sonically to soothe, to inspire, and to conspire", in three urgent and powerful improvisations.



The Way Ahead (Roligheten / Alberts / Barno / Aleklint / Stahl / Hoyer / Ostvang): Bells, Ghosts And Other Saints (Clean Feed)

An incredibly informed and modern album of free jazz drawing on an Albert Ayler influence from the Norwegian and Swedish septet of Andre Roligheten on tenor saxophone, clarinet, Kristoffer Alberts on alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, Niklas Barno on trumpet, Mats Aleklint on trombone, Mattias Stahl on vibraphone, Ola Hoyer on double bass, and Tollef Ostvang on drums.



Mark Dresser Seven (Nicole Mitchell / Ehlrlich / GoGwilt / Dessen / White / Black / McLagan): Ain't Nothing But A Cyber Coup & You (Clean Feed)

The 2nd album for East/West Coast double bassist and composer Mark Dresser's Seven band, in a diverse set of lyrically intricate Dresser compositions using unusual and compelling rhythmic structures, with Nicole Mitchell on flute, Marty Ehrlich on clarinets & sax, Keir GoGwilt on violin, Michael Dessen on trombone, Joshua White on piano, and Jim Black on drums.



The Fictive Five (Ochs / Wooley / Filiano / Niggenkemper / Eisenstadt): Anything Is Possible (Clean Feed)

A tour-de-force of modern creative jazz from the quintet of Larry Ochs on tenor & sopranino saxophones, Nate Wooley on trumpet, Ken Filiano on bass & effects, Pascal Niggenkemper on bass & effects, and Harris Eisenstadt on drums, the familiar history of the musicians and the staggering skill of each bearing out the album's title, in 2 collective and 3 Ochs compositions.



Eve: Risser Apres Un Reve (Clean Feed)

A remarkably varied and unique approach to prepared piano that French pianist Eve Risser refers to as "piano droit", heard in her performance at FGO Barbara, in Paris on an upright piano, chosen for its specific mechanical qualities that allow Risser to generate a surprising amount of rhythmic variety, as she performs a single work mixing composed and improvised elements.



Mario Pavone Dialect Trio: Philosophy (Clean Feed)

Three in-demand New York improvisers--Mario Pavone on double bass, Matt Mitchell on piano, and Tyshawn Sorey on drums-- recording in the studio in one of the premiere spaces in the Metropolitan area, Firehouse 12, resulting in this profoundly authoritatve piano trio album, with five Pavone original compositions, two from Annette Peacock, and one collective improv.



Harris Eisenstadt (w/ Wooley / Hawkins / Niggenkemper): Canada Day Quartet Live (Clean Feed)

While staying in the village Poschiavo in Switzerland at the Uncool Artist Residency program with his wife and son, drummer/composer Harris Eisenstadt composed more than 50 single-line, three-system unison compositions and multi-voice tunes, flexible to be arranged for any size group, as heard in this all-star quartet configuration of his Canada Day ensemble.



Avram Fefer Quartet (w/ Marc Ribot / Eric Revis / Chad Taylor): Testament (Clean Feed)

For this album saxophonist Avram Fefer opened up his working unit by adding legendary Marc Ribot on guitar, expanding the sound of the trio with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Chad Taylor, while digging deep into North African inspired spiritual hymns with beatiful melodies, many taken from some of his previous trio records but adding new shape and sonic explorations.



Roots Magic (Pololla / De Fabritiis / Tedeschi / Spera): Take Root Among The Stars (Clean Feed)

Mining the area between the blues and creative jazz with pieces by Charles Tyler, Ornette Coleman, Phil Cohran and Sun Ra, this is the 3rd album from the Italian quartet of Alberto Popolla on clarinets, Errico De Fabritiis on saxophones, Gianfranco Tedeschi on double bass, and Fabrizio Spera on drums & percussion, joined by Eugenio Colombo on flute and Francesco Lo Cascio on vibes.



Who Trio (Wintsch / Hemingway / Oester): Strell (Clean Feed)

The collective Who Trio of pianist Michel Wintsch, bassist Bänz Oester and drummer Gerry Hemingway take on the music of Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington in eight studio recordings and one live performance, interpreting in a collective fashion rather than straight readings of each work, allowing a unique level of freedom to be applied to these essential jazz compositions.



Larry Ochs / Aram Shelton Quartet (w/ Nordeson / Dresser / Walton): Continental Drift (Clean Feed)

Key artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, composers and bandleaders Larry Ochs on tenor and sopranino saxophones and Aram Shelton on alto saxophone join together with Swedish drummer Kjell Nordeson, joined by either double bassist Mark Dresser or Scott Walton, in an album drawn from two sessions featuring exhiliarating pieces of unique approach from both composers.



Warriors of the Wonderful Sound Expanded Ensemble, The: Soundpath (Clean Feed)

AACM legend Muhal Richard Abrams was commissioned by Philadelphia saxophonist Bobby Zankel to compose for Zankel's large ensemble Warriors of the Wonderful Sound, this monumental piece premiered in 2012, but only in 2018 was a 2nd performance possible, conducted by Marty Ehrlich and receiving 2 standing ovations, the band recording this studio version the next day at Drexel University.



Courvoisier / Rothenberg / Sartorius: Lockdown (Clean Feed)

Recording in the studio in Switzerland, the trio of Sylvie Courvoisier on piano, Ned Rothenberg on alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet & Shakuhachi, and Julian Sartorius on drums & percussion perform a mix of compositions, with 3 from Courvoisier and 1 by Rothenberg, and 4 collective improvisations; a unified and accomplished album of diverse approaches to free improv.



Cortex (Hoyer / Nilssen / Alberts / Johansson): Legal Tender (Clean Feed)

Seriously joyful and consequential "avant-garde party music" from the Norwegian Cortex quartet of Ola Hoyer on double bass, Gard Nilssen on drums & percussion, Kristoffer Berre Alberts on saxophone, and Thomas Johansson on trumpet, in their 6th album of irresistible, upbeat free jazz.



Hearth (Silva / Rasmussen / Rave / Draksler): Melt (Clean Feed)

Meeting for the 1st time at the 2016 October Meeting in Holland, the quartet performance there of Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Mette Rasmussen on alto sax, Ada Rave on tenor sax & clarinet and Kaja Draksler on piano, inspired the formation of Hearth to develop soundscapes focusing on moods and textures, as heard in these six rich, explorative collective improvisations.



Mario Pavone / The Tampa Quartet: Isabella (Clean Feed)

In the final stages of cancer, late double bassist and composer Mario Pavone recorded this lyrically warm and beautifully sincere album of modern jazz in a quartet with his son Michael Pavone on guitar, Mike DiRubbo on alto saxophone and Michael Sarin on drums, written as a tribute to his granddaughter Isabella, who died in 2020 when she was only 23 years old.



Sten Sandell / Lisa Ullen: Double Music (Clean Feed)

The first duo album by pianists Sten Sandell and Lisa Ullén, recorded in their home country of Sweden, performing eight freely improvised piano works which include the two-part "Double Music" and two-part "Onyx", each recording contrasting complex interplay of discord and harmony with beautiful passages of introspection and intellectual depth; a remarkable merging of masterful talent.



Friends & Neighbors (Roligheten / Johansson / Gronberg / Rune Strom / Ostvang): The Earth Is # (Clean Feed)

Referencing 60s free jazz (the band's name is from an Ornette Coleman album) and structuring their tunes with melodic heads that develop into intricate structures giving the players room for impressive soloing, this is the 5th album from the Scandinavian quintet of Andre Roligheten (winds), Thomas Johansson (trumpets), Oscar Gronberg (piano), Jon Rune Strom (bass), and Tollef Ostvang (drums).



Tarbaby feat. Oliver Lake: Dance Of The Evil Toys (Clean Feed)

The Tarbaby trio of pianist Orrin Evans, drummer Nasheet Waits and double bassist Eric Revis, is joined by trumpeter Josh Lawrence and as with previous albums, featuring acclaimed alto saxophonist Oliver Lake (+ percussionist Dana Murray on track) in an album mixing post-bop, free and lyrical approaches to jazz, with compositions from all four plus a Prince cover.



Eve Risser / Red Desert Orchestra: Eurythmia (Clean Feed)

The rhythmically rich Red Desert Orchestra assembled by pianist and composer Eve Risser is an ensemble made up of nine European musicians joined by African musicians and configured in several distinct ensembles, here as Eurythmia, collaborating with three Burkinabe musicians living in France for irresistible music at the intersection of jazz, West African and dance music.



Elliott: Sharp Sharp? Monk? Elliott Sharp Plays the Music of Thelonious Monk (Clean Feed)



Various Artists: I Never Meta Guitar - Solo Guitars for the XXI Century (Clean Feed)

An encompassing modern guitar compilation curated by Elliott Sharp with pieces from Henry Kaiser, Nels Cline, Scott Fields, Mary Halvorson, Janet Feder, Kazuhisa Uchihashi, Mick Barr &c. &c.!



Various Artists: I Never Meta Guitar Too (Clean Feed)

An ongoing compilation organized by Elliott Sharp that is dedicated to solo guitar with 16 original tracks by various artists ranging from acoustic, electro-acoustic, electric, all the way to electronic.



Cecil Taylor Quintet: Hard Driving Jazz + Looking Ahead! (Mad About Records)

Reissuing Cecil Taylor's 1958 album with John Coltrane, an incredible forward thinking and inspired session; and Taylor's 2nd studio album from 1958, "Looking Ahead", in a quintet setting.





The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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