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.



Joe Morris : Instantiation: Versioning (Glacial Erratic)

The 2nd album in guitarist Joe Morris' "Instantiation" series, where each part is composed with specific notated and operational components such that it is impossible to perform any part the same way twice, performed with the quintet of Daniel Klingsberg on bass, Alex Quinn on trumpet, Michael Sabin on trombone, Raef Sengupta on saxophone.



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.



Neumann / Smith / Graham / Rosenthal / Fujiwara / Ewen : Quartet:Quartet:Trio [2 CDs] (Balance Point Acoustics)

A double album of electroacoustic improv sessions from Sommerville, MA, centered around electronic artist Andrew Neumann on the Buchla Music Easel--a complex additive analogue synth--heard in quartet and trio sessions with Forbes Graham (trumpet), Sandy Ewen (guitar & objects), Junko Fujiwara (cello), Damon Smith (double bass) and Eric Rosenthal (drums & percussion).



Wolf Eyes / Anthony Braxton: Live At Pioneer Works, 26 October 2023 (ESP)

A monumental meeting between legendary saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton and noise pioneers Wolf Eyes (Nate Young & Johnny Olson), recorded live at Pioneer Works in Red Hook, NY, merging Braxton's expansive approach with the duo's visceral electronics, hypnotic textures, and raw energy in a collision of free improvisation, structured chaos, and uncompromising sonic exploration.



Peter Brotzmann / Paal Nilssen-Love: Butterfly Mushroom (Trost Records)

The 2nd volume following Chicken Shit Bingo from a two-day 2015 studio session in Antwerp, capturing the deep rapport and evolving artistry of multi-reedist Peter Brötzmann and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love through eight powerful and explorative improvisations, reflecting their nearly two-decade collaboration as they experiment with new instruments and demonstrate profound musical expression.



Matthew Shipp Trio: World Construct (ESP)

The fourth album from pianist Matthew Shipp's Trio with Michael Bisio on bass and Newman Taylor Baker on drums, a well-sequenced studio recording from short lyrical works leading to diverse moods of creatively unique abstractions and powerfully grooving passages, a wealth of styles and magnificent playing from one of the most interesting piano trios active.



Okuden Quartet (Mat Walerian / Matthew Shipp / William Parker / Hamid Drake): Every Dog Has Its Day But It Doesn't Matter Because Fat Cat Is Getting Fatter [2 CDs] (ESP-Disk)

Reed player Mat Walerian's 4th album as a leader, in a quartet with Matthew Shipp on piano, William Parker on double bass & shakuhachi, and Hamid Drake on drums, the name "Okuden" meaning "inner teachings, as Walerian's compositions vary from a fully free introspective opener to joyful jazz idiom, a perfect set for this versatile and enlightened set of musicians.



Amado / Mcphee / Kessler / Corsano: A History Of Nothing (Trost Records)

Following up their 2015 Not Two album "This is Our Language", the quartet organized by tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado with Joe McPhee on soprano saxophone and pocket trumpet, Kent Kessler on double bass, and Chris Corsano, a superb album of intense communication and soloing from a collective that merges free and lyrical playing, from ballads to full-on fury.



Wadada Smith Leo: String Quartets Nos. 1-12 [7-CD BOXSET] (Tum)

Since 1965 Wadada Leo Smith has developed string quartets influenced by a diverse set of composers including Ornette Coleman, Claude Debussy, Howlin' Wolf, Scott Joplin, Olly Wilson, &c. heard here in 12 Quartets from 3 major periods of his work, compositions exploring the African-American experience, with scores that leave room for interpretation and expression from his players.



Wadada Smith Leo: The Emerald Duets [5 CD BOX SET] (Tum)

Part of his 80th Anniversary celebration and subtitled "The Art Of The Trumpeter And Drummers", this 5-CD box set brings legendary improviser Wadada Leo Smith together with four long-time collaborators and masterful drummers--Andrew Cyrille, Jack DeJohnette, Pheeroan akLaff and Han Bennink--with Smith performing on both piano and trumpet.



Elias Stemeseder / Christian Lillinger (+ Peter Evans / Russell Hall / DoYeon Kim / Brandon Seabrook): Umbra (Intakt)

The other shaded region to their 2022 Penumbra album, keyboardist Stemeseder and drummer Christian Lillinger explore "utopias in sound production" through acoustic and electronic composition, creating evolving melodies and sonic tapestries in performance with Peter Evans on Piccolo trumpet, Russell Hall on bass, DoYeon Kim on Gayageum and Brandon Seabrook on banjo & guitar.



Aki Takase / Alexander von Schlippenbach: So Long, Eric! Homage to Eric Dolphy (Intakt)

Alexander von Schlippenbach and Aki Takase assembled an ensemble of Dolphy interpreters that includes bass clarinetist Rudi Mahall, saxophonist Tobias Delius, vibraphonist Karl Berger, trumpeter Axel Dorner, trombonist Nils Wogram, &c, for a fresh take on compositions from one of free jazz's most iconic composers -- Eric Dolphy -- captured live in Berlin, 2014.



Udo Schindler / Korhan Erel : leben | nebel (Creative Sources)

Live at the 66th SALON fur Klang+Kunst in Krailling, Munich, Germany finds festival leader Udo Schindler on cornet, bass, contrabass clarinet, soprano saxophone in a duo with Berlin-based Istanbul-born computer musician Korhan Erel, who designs his own unique instruments with unusual controllers, performing 9 singular dialogs of ethereal and unorthodox sound.



Udo Schindler / Georges-Emmanuel Schneider: Kontergesang (Counter-Singing) (Creative Sources)

Eleven instrumental works with each piece based on and emulating the sound characteristics of blackbirds, such as "whistling", "squealing", or "flutes", captured in a live concert at multi-reedist Udo Schindler's Salon fur Klang+Kunst in Krailling in Berlin, from the duo of Schindler and long-time musical collaborator, violinist Georges-Emmanuel Schneider, also on live electronics.



Birgit Ulher / Gino Robair: Sputter (Creative Sources)



Udo Schindler / Georges-Emmanuel Schneider / Gunter Pretzel: Rhizome (Creative Sources)

Live recordings of the performance on March 1st, 2018 at the Galerie arToxin in Munich, presenting compositions from Udo Schindler performing on bass clarinet, soprano saxophone & euphonium, Gunter Pretzel on viola, and Georges-Emmanuel Schneider on violins & live electronics, three artists of diverse background crossing boundaries to create something unique and exciting.



Udo Schindler / Ernesto Rodrigues / Guilherme Rodrigues : Mycelial Studies [2 CDs] (Creative Sources)

Two complete live performances in Munich at Galerie arToxin, and at Udo Schindler's Salon fur Klang + Kunst Krailing in 2018, with Schindler on bass clarinet, soprano saxophone and cornet, Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, and Guilherme Rodrigues on cello, balancing active and introspective dialog of advanced harmonics, (a)rhythmic approaches, and extraordinary technique.



Gerhard Uebele / Ernesto Rodrigues / Guilherme Rodrigues : Con versa tions (Creative Sources)

Recordings from the Maeng Museum in Berlin, Germany from the free improvising string trio of father/son collaborators Ernesto Rodrigues on viola and Guilherme Rodrigues on cello with Berlin musicologist and violinist Gerhard Uebele, very much in a sophisticated chamber jazz mode that borrows from contemporary classical approaches and free improvisation.



Birgit Ulher / Rodrigues, Ernesto / Santos, Carlos: Doppelganger (Creative Sources)

Delicate nuance and fascinating textures from the minimal improvisations of trumpeter Birgit Uhler, violist Ernesto Rodriguez and live sampling from Carlos Santos.



Lawrence Casserley / Jeffrey Morgan: Exoplanets (Creative Sources)

Two enounters between UK electroacoustic composer and performer Lawrence Casserly on his Signal Processing Instrument and American free jazz alto saxophonist Jefrrey Morgan, recording both in the studio in Cologne, Germany in 2016, and in concert at The Loft; a rich, subtle, and detailed astronomical encounter blending stellar electronics and responsive extended playing.



Erhard Hirt / Richard Scott / Klaus Kurvers / Willi Kellers: Trails (Creative Sources)

Recording at Kuhlspot Social Club in Berlin, the quartet of Erhard Hirt (e-guitar & electronics), Richard Scott (live electronics), Klaus Kurvers (double bass), and Willi Kellers (drums & percussion) perform assertive and exploratory electroacoustic improvisations, taking listeners on 7 journeys that flow through dense forests, deep into watery worlds or traverse unearthly trails.



Jeb Bishop / Matthias Muche: Duo (Creative Sources)

Two trombones free improvising in the studio in Koln from the Duo of Chicago's Jeb Bishop and Cologne's Matthias Muche, both members of the trombone trio Bone-Crusher with Matthias Muller, this album recorded in the studio in Koln just before Bone-Crusher's "Konzert Fur Hannes" (NotTwo), elucidating this facet of the trio in 10 insightful dialogs of awesome technique and wit.



Ernesto Rodrigues / Guilherme Rodrigues / Maximilian Glass: Beyond The Mist And The Unforeseen Encounters (Creative Sources)

An intimate, texturally rich trio session recorded in Berlin between Ernesto Rodrigues on viola & crackle box, Guilherme Rodrigues on cello, and Maximilian Glass on percussion, navigating misty lowercase atmospheres, glitch-box coloration, and finely balanced interactions that unveil subtle surprise and collective improvisation within a tight, exploratory sound world.



Bleak House: Dark Poetry (Creative Sources)

The Norwegian free-improvising trio of prepared pianist Dag-Filip Roaldsnes, alto saxophonist Kim-Erik Pedersen, and percussionist Tore Sandbakken in 14 darkly graceful and succinct works.



Gallio / Girod / Ulrich: Day & Bus (Creative Sources)

A play on the Percaso band name "Day & Taxi", the trio of Christoph Gallio on soprano & alto saxophones, Dominique Girod on double bass and Dieter Ulrich on drums & bugle recorded this extended improvisation, a combination of scrambling, determined expression and post-bop creative jazz, part of the series "Life At The Zoo" at Studio the Zoo in Berne, Switzerland.



Rodrigues / Rodrigues / Torres / von Schlippenbach / Kellers: Conundrum (Creative Sources)

Part of the 2022 trio tour of violinist Ernesto Rodrigues, cellist Guilherme Rodrigues and saxophonist Nuno Torres is this studio recording in Berlin with free jazz legendary pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and drummer/percussionist Willi Kellers, each of the 9 improvisations named for mythical beasts, appropriate to the fearsome force of these five masterful players.



Rodrigues / Abdelnour / Dorner: NIE (Creative Sources)

A beautiful and subtle album presenting 3 extended improvisations from the patient and masterful hands of trumpeter Axel Dorner, violist Ernesto Rodrigues, and alto saxophonist Christine ABdelnour.



Houben / Rodrigues / Rodrigues / Santos: Falling into wide spaces (Creative Sources)

Four improvisations recorded iteratively during the pandemic and assembled into this exquisitely subtle two-part composition with Eva Maria Houben's piano & organ recorded in Berlin in 2020, Guilherme Rodrigues's cello recorded in Berlin and Ernesto Rodrigues's zither recorded in Lisbon in 2021, merged with nocturnal recordings from Carlos Santos captured in Spain & Portugal.



Floros Floridis / Ernesto Rodrigues / Guilherme Rodrigues / Michael Vorfeld: Dots And Dashes (Creative Sources)

The quartet of Floros Floridis, Ernesto Rodrigues, Guilherme Rodrigues, and Michael Vorfeld crafts a sparse and texturally open electroacoustic performance where pointillistic percussion replaces bass grounding, allowing clarinet-centered lines, subtle string interplay, and crackling electronics to unfold in shifting, time-dilated continuities in a refined, contemporary approach to free improv.



Ernesto Rodrigues / Jung-Jae Kim / Guilherme Rodrigues / Eric Bauer / Stephen Flinn: Crossing The Floor (Creative Sources)

Emerging from Ernesto Rodrigues' post-Cage investigations, this quintet with Jung-Jae Kim, Guilherme Rodrigues, Eric Bauer, and Stephen Flinn shapes sparse, deeply relational music where strings, winds, electronics, and percussion hover in spectral balance, forming a quiet "ghost dance" of held tones and subtle motion that blurs interior and exterior spaces while sculpting time through restraint and resonance.



Udo Schindler / Paul Rogers / Ardhi Engl : Ephemeral Essences Of LowTone Studies (For Trio) (Creative Sources)

Recorded live in Munich in December 2024, this trio performance brings together Udo Schindler, bassist Paul Rogers, and sound-builder Ardhi Engl in an expansive LowTone Studies session where shifting instrumental roles, theatrical interplay, and esoteric timbral variety generate a richly dynamic music rooted in transition, texture, and collective exploration.



Altenburger / Blondy / Gauguet: vers l'ile paresseuse (Creative Sources)

Incredible understated improvisation from the trio of cellist Martine Altenburger, pianist Frederic Blondy,and saxophonist Bertrand Gauguet, exceptional journeys from three accomplished players.



Ernesto Rodrigues / Jung-Jae Kim / Guilherme Rodrigues / Eric Bauer / Stephen Flinn: 5 In The Afternoon [2CDs] (Creative Sources)

Recorded live in Berlin by Bryan Eubanks, Ernesto Rodrigues, Guilherme Rodrigues, Jung-Jae Kim, Eric Bauer, and Stephen Flinn shape six long-form improvisations from bowed grain, air tones, faint circuitry, and brushed resonance, letting micro-events and room sound accumulate into a patient, quietly luminous architecture of texture and space.



Christmann / Schipper / Frangenheim: Core (Creative Sources)

A free improvisation session with Gunter Christmann on cello and trombone, Alexander Fragenheim on double bass, and extended free vocalist Elke Schipper.



Vasco Trilla / Vilhelm Bromander / Alex Zethson / Martin Kuchen: Up North (Creative Sources)

Blending solo and ensemble free improv, percussionist Vasco Trilla joins Vilhelm Bromander, Alex Zethson, and Martin Kuchen in a Stockholm session where drones, elastic bass textures, and intricate percussive detail evolve through responsive interplay, culminating in a resonant solo performance that reflects a dynamic exploration of texture, tension, and transformation.



Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra: GIO poetics (Creative Sources)

Glasgow's Improvisers Orchestra from the CCA Glasgow performing three free improvisations and a discretely structured piece by Raymond MacDonald.



Rotor (Rodrigues / Torres / Santos): Pulses and Paradox (Creative Sources)

Recorded live at Sistema Smop in Lisbon across two performances in late 2023, the trio of Ernesto Rodrigues (viola, crackle box), Nuno Torres (alto saxophone), and Carlos Santos (digital electronics) are captured sustained improvisations where acoustic timbre and electronic gesture converge in an expansive dialogue that alternates between subtle textural pulses and unpredictable sonic paradoxes.



Leimgruber / Phillipp / Gerold: Hin (Creative Sources)

Radio Bremen, Germany recording from the 2009 MIBNIGHT JazzFestival of the trio of saxophonist Urs Leimgruber, bassis Ulrich Phillip and flautist Nils Gerold.



Casserley / Lash / Magee / Marks: Livingry (Creative Sources)

Recorded live in London, this electroacoustic quartet unites Lawrence Casserley's real-time signal processing with bass, reeds, and percussion in a fluid free improv setting, where subtle textures, shifting densities, and collective listening guide an evolving dialogue that blurs acoustic and electronic boundaries into a richly detailed and dynamically responsive sonic environment.



Studer / Strinning / Weber: Cut (Creative Sources)

Austere yet deeply communicative, this trio session pairs Swiss double bassist Daniel Studer's articulate resonance with Swiss/Swedish Sebastian Strinning's expansive reed textures and German drummer Daniel Weber's perceptive, responsive interaction, forging improvised soundscapes defined by attentive gesture, shifting timbres, and the eloquence of silence itself.



Stephen Flinn / Sylvain Monchoce / Jung-Jae Kim : Quark (Creative Sources)

Through delicately balanced free improvisation, American percussionist Stephen Flinn, French reed and flute player Sylvain Monchocé, and South Korean tenor saxophonist Jung-Jae Kim cultivate a finely grained sonic environment shaped by breath, touch, and resonance, where small gestures, spatial awareness, and attentive silence coalesce into quietly immersive and meticulously detailed acoustic forms.



Ernesto Rodrigues / Claudia Risch / Grgur Savic / Guilherme Rodrigues: Past Dreams In Rust (Creative Sources)

Recorded in Berlin in 2022, this quartet of violin, flute/bass clarinet, alto saxophone, percussion, and cello unfolds a restrained improvisation focused on fragile textures, breath-driven tones, and microtonal tension, as shifting timbres and sparse gestures accumulate into a patient, weathered soundscape shaped by decay, resonance, and collective listening.



Signal Lapidaire (Sanchez / Loubatiere): Signal Lapidaire (Creative Sources)

Minimal yet potent, Spanish cellist Paula Sánchez and French percussionist Rodolphe Loubatière engage in a direct, viscerally charged interplay that foregrounds extended techniques, physical resonance, and deep listening, forging an intimate, exploratory sound world where texture and gesture outweigh convention and form.



Kahn / Millioud / Wiget / Weber: sin asunto (Creative Sources)

Inspired by Albert Ayler's work for strings, Jason Kahn wrote this graphical score for amplified percussion, Vincent Millioud on violin, Bo Wiget on cello, and Christian Weber on contrabass.



Marty: Ehrlich OPEN AIR: The Complete Saxophone Quartet Compositions of Julius Hemphill [2 CDs] (Out Of Your Head Records)

Marty Ehrlich directs a rotating cast of leading reed players through the forty known saxophone quartet compositions of Julius Hemphill, combining works written for the World Saxophone Quartet with previously unrecorded pieces recovered through Ehrlich's archival research, revealing Hemphill's singular language of layered counterpoint, blues-rooted melody, rhythmic invention, and chamber precision.



David: Virelles Continuum (Pi Recordings)

Cuban-born pianist David Virelles in a collaborative effort with legendary drummer Andrew Cyrille, bassist Ben Street, and Cuban folkloric percussionist/poet Roman Diaz, inspired by various aspects of Afro-Cuban religious practices.



Miles: Okazaki Trickster (Pi Recordings)

Intricate interplay in modern jazz from guitarist Miles Okazaki in a quartet with fellow New Yorkers Craig Taborn on piano, Anthony Tidd on bass, and Sean Rickman on drums--Tidd and Rickman his compatriots in Steve Coleman and Five Elements--performing Okazaki's playfully complex and innovative compositions that drive some serious grooves.



David: Virelles Igbo Alakorin (The Singer's Grove) Vol. I & II (Pi Recordings)

Cuban born NY pianist David Virelles documents the musicians of his birthplace, Santiago de Cuba, home to musical styles such as son, changui, nengon, and conga, in two distinct projects: Volume I, where Virelles introduces Orquesta Luz de Oriente tracing the roots of the Cuban big band tradition; and Volume II, reinterpreting the piano music of iconic pianist Antonio Maria Romeu.



Miles: Okazaki The Sky Below (Pi Recordings)

An album of intelligent modern jazz that twists contemporary bop forms through unusual time signatures and highly interactive playing, in the 5th album from composer and bandleader Miles Okazaki, retaining his rhythm section of Anthony Tidd (bass) and Sean Rickman (drums) and here with Matt Mitchell on piano and keys; forward-thinking and embraceable.



Henry Threadgill (Ross / Frisell / Besile-Che / Okazaki / Harris / Takeishi / Keren / Carlberg): Listen Ship [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

Composer Henry Threadgill conducts a suite for six acoustic guitars and two pianos, bringing together Bill Frisell, Miles Okazaki, Brandon Ross, Gregg Belisle-Chi, Jerome Harris, Stomu Takeishi, Maya Keren, and Rahul Carlberg in an intricately orchestrated work whose intervallic syntax and meticulous counterpoint entwine with unexpected timbres to reveal his singular and sublime vision.



Fieldwork (Iyer / Lehman / Sorey): Thereupon [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

Seventeen years after their last recording, the New York trio of Steve Lehman (alto saxophone), Vijay Iyer (piano, Rhodes), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums) reunite with dense, high-impact compositions and fearless interplay, blending complexity with groove as they reaffirm their status as one of the most vital ensembles in contemporary improvised music.



John Bruschini (Bruschini / Nolet / Aries / Reed / Hirschfield): As You Were (Cathexis Records )

Blending avant-garde sensibilities with groove-driven electric jazz, guitarist John Bruschini leads a New York quintet through compositions that shift from soulful ballads to funk-infused energy, balancing expressive lyricism and dynamic interplay with a flexible ensemble that bridges fusion, improvisation, and melodic depth.



Barry: Guy Frogs [VINYL 7-inch PICTURE DISC] (Trost Records)

A 7" limited vinyl picture disc made to celebrate legendary European Free Jazz bassist Barry Guy's 70th birthday, with Guy providing "acoustic sounds" along with his collaborating frogs, Wasserfrosch (Rana Esculenta) and Laubfrosch (Hyla Arborea), side A presenting Frogs & Barry Guy, and side B, Barry Guy & Frogs; quirkly and wonderful free improv.



Peter Brotzmann / Heather Leigh / Fred Lonberg-Holm: Naked Nudes (Trost Records)

Part of Peter Brötzmann's 80th birthday concerts in his hometown of Wuppertal, the saxophonist assembled a trio from his typically duo partner, pedal steel guitarist Heather Leigh (Charalambides, Dream/Aktion Unit) and Chicago cellist and electronic improviser Fred Lonberg-Holm, performing the extended title track at INSEL | Kultur im ADA, along with two succinct improvisations.



Peter Brotzmann / Fred Van Hove / Han Bennink: Jazz in der Kammer Nr.71 (Trost Records)

Recorded for radio for the series Jazz in der Kammer Nr 71, this 1974 concert was the first in East Germany for Peter Brötzmann, Fred Van Hove, and Han Bennink, bridging the divided German states through an energetic set of improvisations that extended traditional jazz with outrageous approaches to improv in an exciting, quirky and profoundly masterful set of European Free Jazz.



Mats Gustafsson And Friends: MG 50 - Peace & Fire [4 CD BOX SET] (Trost Records)

A box set documenting the October 2015 3-day event held at Porgy and Bess in Vienna for the 50th birthday of saxophonist Mats Gustafsson (The Thing, Fire! and innumerable duo/trio/ensemble formations) with a who's-who of collaborators invited to join in various formations.



DKV Trio + Gustafsson / Nilssen-Love / Pupillo: Schl8hof (Trost Records)

Chicago's leading free jazz DKV Trio of Ken Vandermark (reeds), Hamid Drake (drums) and Kent Kessler (bass) are joined by European Free Jazz leaders Mats Gustafsson (reeds), Paul Nilssen-Love (drums) and Massimo Pupillo (bass).



Pat: Thomas Hikmah (Tao Forms)

An extraordinary solo piano album from UK pianist Pat Thomas, recorded at London's Fish Factory Studio, presenting eight deeply focused improvisations and compositions reflecting Thomas's lifelong engagement with Sufism and spiritual expression through sound; a luminous, exploratory work that unites the traditions of jazz and mysticism into a transcendent, profoundly human statement.



Mars Williams presents (w/ Berman / Lonberg-Holm / Baker / Kessler / Sandstrom / Hunt): An Ayler Xmas: The Music of Albert Ayler & Songs of Christmas (Soul What Records)

Chicago saxophonist Mars Williams directs his Albert Ayler tribute band, Witches and Devils, to merge Ayler-esque compositions with Christmas songs, performed by Josh Berman (cornet) Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), Jim Baker (keys, viola), Kent Kessler (bass), Brian Sandstrom (bass, guitar, trumpet); an unexpected and welcome present for your free jazz festivities!



Ava Mendoza : Alive Alone, Alive Together (Burning Ambulance Music)

Merging solo performances from the US and Italy with fiery duets alongside drummer Hamid Drake at Antwerp's Summer Bummer Festival, guitarist/vocalist Ava Mendoza delivers eight live tracks of charged blues, rock, free improv and psychedelic intensity, her bold electric sound moving from raw riffs and declarative vocals to spiralling abstraction and ego-free guitar heroics.



Wooley / Rempis / Niggenkemper / Corsano: From Wolves To Whales (Aerophonic)

The free improvising quartet of Nate Wooley (trumpet), Dave Rempis (sax), Pascal Niggenkemper (bass), and Chris Corsano (drums), bridging ridiculously great technical skills with creative curiosity and forward thinking concepts for superb results.



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.



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.



Rempis / Rosaly Duo: Codes / Myths [2 CDs] (Aerophonic)

Chicago percussionist Frank Rosaly relocated to Amsterdam in 2016, but his 20+ year collaboration & friendship with Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis continues, as evidenced in this live performance at Elastic Arts in 2018 during Rosaly's visit back to the Windy City, rewarding listeners with 2 CDs experiencing the two reacquaint through beautifully paced, adventurous dialog.



Kuzu (Rempis / Dorji / Damon): All Your Ghosts in One Corner (Aerophonic)

Touring the South and Midwest US just before the pandemic lockdown, the assertive Chicago trio Kuzu of Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, Tashi Dorji on guitar and Tyler Damon on drums, processed and echoed the sense of uncertainty they encountered, capturing it in depth during two concerts and reflecting it in this powerful, almost ritualistic free jazz album.



Boneshaker (Williams / Nilssen-Love / Kessler): Fake Music (Soul What Records)

Masterful, fervent free jazz from trans-Atlantic trio of Mars Williams on saxophones, Kent Kessler on bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, captured live at Elastic Arts, in Chicago in 2017 for three impressive collective improvisations of intense energy, articulate and extended expression, and ecstatic improvisation in an exceptional and cohesive concert.



Marion Brown (Brown / Hampel / Phillips / McCall): Live in Europe 1968 & 1972 (NoBusiness)

Alto saxophonist Marion Brown leads a remarkable quartet with Gunter Hampel on vibraphone, Barre Phillips on bass and Steve McCall on drums, revealing two rare European performances from 1968 and 1972 in which lyrical free jazz, chamber-like openness, shimmering percussion, bass mobility and Brown's searching melodic voice converge with quiet intensity.



Sam Rivers Trio (feat Joe Daley / Dave Holland / Thurman Baker ): Braids: Archive series Volume 4 (NoBusiness)

The fourth volume in the NoBusiness Records Sam Rivers Archive series is this live recording from Hamburg, Germany during River's 1979 tour of Europe, with the multi-instrumentalist performing on tenor & soprano saxophones, flute & piano in a quartet with Joe Daley on tuba, euphonium, Dave Holland on bass, cello, and Thurman Barker on drums.



Sam Rivers Trio feat Dave Holland / Barry Altschul: Ricochet (NoBusiness)

Captured live in San Francisco in 1978, the lastest in the NoBusiness Sam Rivers Archive series finds the masterful wind player in peak form with the trio of Dave Holland on bass & cello, and Barry Altschul on drums, Rivers on tenor & soprano sax, flute & piano, in the 52 minute free jazz epic "Ricochet", a high-energy work of diverse mood and character; superb!



Arthur Blythe Quartet (Blythe / Booth / Abdullah / Reid): Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 2 (NoBusiness)

One of alto saxophonist and composer Arthur Blythe's earliest recordings as a leader, this 1976 session at Sam & Bea Rivers' Studio Rivbea in New York City features four Blythe compositions performed by an exemplary quartet: Steve Reid on drums, frequent Blythe collaborator Muhammad Abdullah on congas, and long-time Sun Ra bassist Juini Booth.



Dave Burrell / Sam Woodyard: The Lost Session, 1979 Paris (NoBusiness)

Unearthed from Dave Burrell's personal archive, this long-rumored 1979 Paris session with legendary Ellington drummer Sam Woodyard finally emerges, presenting a rare and intimate duo performance sourced from a cassette dub of the original tape — an essential historical document capturing two master musicians in a spontaneous and deeply expressive exchange.



Jimmy: Lyons Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 3 (NoBusiness)

Continuing NoBusiness' series of historic loft concerts at Sam Rivers' Studio Rivbea, alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons leads a quintet featuring bassoonist Karen Borca, bassist Hayes Burnett, and drummers Henry Letcher and Syd Smart in two electrifying 1970s performances, delivering fervent free jazz marked by intricate interplay and dynamic improvisation.



The Group (Abdullah / Brown / Bang / Sirone / Hopkins / Cyrille): Live [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

A previously unreleased concert recording from 1986 of a group of leading out jazz artists (Billy Bang, Fred Hopkins, Andrew Cyrille, &c.) playing original compositions as well as a cover of Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat".



Bobby Bradford / Hafez Modirzadeh / Mark Dresser / Alex Cline: Live At The Open Gate [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

West Coast cornetist Bobby Bradford captured live in 2013 for a superb set at the Center for the Arts in Los Angeles, part of the Open Gate Theatre Sunday evening concert series, in a quartet with Hafez Modirzadeh on alto sax, Mark Dresser on bass, and Alex Cline on drums.



Anemone (John Butcher / Peter Evans / Frederic Blondy / Clayton Thomas / Paul Lovens): A Wing Dissolved in Light [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

A brilliant quintet brought together for the Tampere Jazz Happening, in Finland in 2013, with NY trumpeter Peter Evans, UK saxophonist John Butcher, Australian bassist Clayton Thomas, German drummer/percussionist Paul Lovens, and French pianist Frederic Blondy for a phenomenal extended improvisation presented in parts: "Une Aile Dissoute Dans La Lumiere".



Kaoru Abe / Sabu Toyozumi: Banka [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

NoBusiness continues their essential 70's reissue series of renowned Japanese free improvisers, here in an LP and extended CD edition of the live duo of percussionist Sabu Toyozumi and saxophonist Kaoru Abe on alto, soprano & sopranino saxophones, the LP presenting their 1978 concert at Gaja, Hatsudai in Tokyo, the CD extended with a live set at Minor, Kichijoji the same year.



Frode Gjerstad / Kent Carter / John Stevens: Detail-90 [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

The second incarnation of the Detail trio of saxophonist Frode Gjerstad and drummer John Stevens with Kent Cart taking the role of double bass, is heard in this studio recording from 1990 at NRK-studio in Stavanger, Norway, a superb example of the nearly telepathic freedom four years of playing together afforded them, as heard in two extended, energetic improvisations.



Billy Bang Survival Ensemble: Black Man's Blues [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

Never before released material from 1977 of Billy Bang's seminal NY loft band, Survival Ensemble: 1 LP and a 40 page booklet of essays, images and flyers - essential!



Karl Berger / Jason Kao Hwang: Conjure (True Sound Recordings)

Subtle, beautiful, haunting, masterful and delicately commanding, the duo of pianist and vibraphonist Karl Berger and Jason Kao Hwang on violin and viola recorded these 8 dialogs in Berger's Woodstock studio, their familiarity from Hwang's participation in Berger's Creative Music Orchestra summoning lyrical and sensitive music, finding profundity in restraint.



Jason Hwang Kao / Andrew Drury / Ken Filiano: Human Rites Trio (True Sound Recordings)

Longtime bandmates Ken Filiano (bass) and Andrew Drury (drums) join violinist Jason Kao Hwang for 6 original compositions, each a progression of gestures, songs, movements and locations that bring the musicians into a state of discovery and compassion, completed during the COVID-19 pandemic and honoring healthcare workers and those tragically lost to the disease.



Nate: Wooley Battle Pieces 4 (Relative Pitch)

"Battle Pieces" uses trumpeter Nate Wooley's "social music" system, where each piece is constructed for a soloist who improvises with no score while the remaining player choose at will from over 75 compositions over which the soloist must find their path; here at Roulette in NYC with Nate Wooley, Sylvie Courvoisier, Ingrid Laubrock, & Matt Moran.



Tim Berne / Michael Formanek: Parlour Games (Relative Pitch)

With an extensive discography of collaboration together in a wealth of groupings, New York bassist Formanek and alto saxophonist Tim Berne are heard in this 1991 live duo performance at The Parlour in Providence, Rhode Island, a powerfully confident concert of informed dialogs captured seven years before their only other duo album from 1998, Ornery People.



Camila Nebbia / Kit Downes / Andrew Lisle: Exhaust [CD + DOWNLOAD] (Relative Pitch)

Recorded live in Berlin, the debut from Camila Nebbia's working trio with Kit Downes and Andrew Lisle captures six dynamic, unrestrained pieces that navigate shifting textures and rhythms, fractured lyricism, and tightly woven interplay, avoiding individual soloing as the group explores contrast and transformation through raw energy, deep listening, and collective momentum.



Columbia Icefield (Nate Wooley / Mary Halvorson / Ryan Sawyer): Ancient Songs of Burlap Heroes (Pyroclastic Records)

The second outing for trumpeter and composer Nate Wooley's Columbia Icefield band with Mary Halvorson on guitar, Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar, Ryan Sawyer on drums, plus violist Mat Maneri and bassist Trevor Dunn joining for one track; an album of sublime and subtly complex sondscapes in beautiful abstractions that evolve to exceptional group and solo interplay.



Patricia Brennan (w/ Herrera / Cass / Gilmore): More Touch (Pyroclastic Records)

Three drummer/percussionists and bass make up vibraphonist, marimbist, improviser and composer Patricia Brennan's sophomore album, reimagining the percussion quartet through jazz, new music and latin influences including Mexican folkloric roots, working with deceptively relaxed, highly interactive grooves that turn angular melodies into warmly irresistible music.



Angelica Sanchez Nonet: Nighttime Creatures (Pyroclastic Records)

Assembling a masterful set of New York jazz luminaries including Michael Attias, Ben Goldberg, John Hebert, Thomas Heberer, Sam Ospovat, Chris Speed, Omar Tamez and Kenny Warren, pianist Angelic Sanchez tailors her compositions to these players through nine original compositions, along with Ellington's "Lady of the Lavender Mist" and "Tristeza" by Amarndo Carvajal.



Patricia Brennan Septet (Irabagon / Shim / O'Farrill / Gilmore / Herrera / Cass): Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic Records)

For her third album as a leader, NY vibraphonist and composer Patricia Brennan expands her band to a septet with bassist Kim Cass, drummer Marcus Gilmore, percussionist Mauricio Herrera, saxophonists Jon Irabagon and Mark Shim and trumpeter Adam O'Farrill also on electronics, for an exciting, widely embracing and fully modern album of compelling modern jazz, bound to be a 2024 top 10!



Taborn / Cline / Gilmore: Trio of Bloom (Pyroclastic Records)

A formidable first meeting between keyboardist Craig Taborn, guitarist Nels Cline, and drummer Marcus Gilmore, where three singular voices of modern creative music converge in assertive, Downtown-NY-steeped, genre-defying interplay — originals, reimagined works, and spontaneous improvisations blooming into a vibrant, exploratory dialogue of texture, rhythm, and imagination.



Sophie: Hassfurther Kaleidoscope - Empathy (ezz-thetics now)

Viennese saxophonist Sophie Hassfurther leads an octet blending contemporary jazz, chamber music, and free improv across ten original compositions inspired by ideas of empathy, identity, and transformation, weaving intricate horn arrangements, shifting rhythmic patterns, and expressive solos into richly layered ensemble passages that balance composed structures with spontaneous and collective exploration.



Simon: Lucaciu Torsion, Solo Piano (ezz-thetics now)

German pianist Simon Lucaciu explores the transformative possibilities of grand piano and electronics through 14 original compositions, investigating variations in tempo, register, direction, and musical structure, drawing on contemporary classical composition, experimental processes, and free improvisation to create a series of contrasting studies in sound, form, and the reshaping of musical ideas.



Cecil Taylor Unit: Live at the KiMo Theater Albuquerque 1979 [VINYL 2 LPs] (Black Editions Archives)

An extraordinary 1979 recording of Cecil Taylor's Unit performing live with Jimmy Lyons on alto saxophone, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Alan Silva on bass and cello, and Jerome Cooper on drums, capturing a rare quintet configuration in a powerful exploration of free jazz, collective improv, and expansive compositional structures, previously unissued and originally intended for NPR's Jazz Alive program.



Mikolaj Trzaska / John Edwards / Mark Sanders: Because It Happens / Not So Late (gusstaff records)

Polish saxophonist and bass clarinetist Mikołaj Trzaska joins UK improvisers John Edwards on double bass and Mark Sanders on drums for a dynamic live performance at London's Cafe OTO, moving between explosive free jazz, intricate rhythmic exchanges, and lyrical passages across 9 spontaneous compositions marked by intense collective interaction, shifting textures, and masterful improvisational dialogue.



Francois Houle / Georg Graewe: Music For Clarinet And Piano (Random Acoustics)

A chamber-like duo meeting clarinetist François Houle with pianist/composer Georg Graewe in ten concise pieces that balance compositional form and spontaneous interaction, moving between lyrical passages, angular exchanges, and playful references to historical dance forms in an intimate dialogue between clarinet and piano.



Joelle Leandre / Phillip Greenlief: That Overt Desire of Object (Relative Pitch)

Relative Pitch Records debuts with the excellent duo of bassist Joelle Leandre and Bay Area woodwind improviser Phil Greenlief in 11 variations for contrabass and woodwinds.



Tomas Fujiwara Trio: Variable Bets (Relative Pitch)

Merging different sub-genre of NYC's rich jazz and creative music scene, drummer Tomas Fujiwara's trio with Brandon Seabrook on guitar and Ralph Alessi on trumpet furtively builds into a free jazz album of contrasting dynamics and superb playing.



Joe: Morris Shock Axis (Relative Pitch)

A limited edition release of guitarist Joe Morri's new NY-area aggressive improvising trio with younger players Dave Parmelle on drums and Chris Cretella on electric bass, shredding with awesome technical skill and intense harmonic and melodic force, really powerful stuff!



Ab Baars / Ig Henneman / Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey: Perch Hen Brock & Rainy | Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere (Relative Pitch)

Crossing Netherland and New York players, Ab Baars on reeds, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrcok on sax and Tom Rainey on drums present an album of insightful improv that borrows approaches to sound from natural world, performed live at Tampere Jazz Happening, Finland in 2014.



Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey: Utter (Relative Pitch)

After their 2016 tour of the US West Coast, husband and wife free improvising duo Ingrid Laubrock (tenor & soprano sax) and Tom Rainey (drums) entered a Brooklyn studio with a set of co-written compositions, which they weave together with free improv, relying on cues that can trigger a given composition at any time, adding a unique layer of communication to their exuberant playing.



MARANATA (Wesseltoft / Stiberg / Escalante): Ugly Euphoria (Relative Pitch)

An album of brutal improvisation in the Borbetomagus mold as the longstanding Maranata duo of Dag Stiberg on alto and baritone saxophones and Jon Wesseltoft on electronics join forces with Mexican saxophonist Martín Escalante, creating an unrelenting sonic assault of frenzied saxophone interplay and harsh electronics, fueled by a visceral intensity and high-pressure chaotic energy.



Marty Ehrlich / Julius Hemphill : Circle the Heart [CD + DOWNLOAD] (Relative Pitch)

An archival recording from 1982 at The Piedmont Center For The Arts in Worcester, MA captures visionary saxophonist Julius Hemphill and multi-reedist Marty Ehrlich in a deeply intuitive exchange across soprano and alto saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet, blending open exploration with blues-rooted lyricism as their long-standing creative dialogue unfolds in richly expressive improvisation.



Jon: Rose Rosenberg Museum [4 CDs] (Relative Pitch)

A five-CD survey of Jon Rose's Rosenberg Museum, the violinist's decades-long Gesamtkunstwerk of invented, altered and repurposed string instruments, documenting a practice that treats the violin as a limitless field for acoustic experiment, cultural critique and sonic invention, with John Oswald contributing to this expansive archive of new instruments, new sounds and unstable musical histories.



Derek Bailey / John Stevens: The Duke of Wellington (Confront)

Seminal figures in the evolution of free or nonidiomatic improvisation, guitarist Derek Bailey and percussionist/pocket trumpeter John Stevens are heard in a 1989 London performance vividly captured by Michael Gerzon at The Duke of Wellington, their restless and enthusiastic interplay shifting from angular invention to lyrical reflection in a compelling document of their remarkable rapport.



IST (Davies / Fell / Wastell) + John Butcher / Phil Durrant: A More Attractive Way [5 CD BOX SET + 20 page booklet] (Confront)

A comprehensive album of live performances from IST (Rhodri Davies: harp, preparations; Simon H. Fell: double bass, preparations; Mark Wastell: violoncello, preparations) between 1996 and 2000, beginning with their concert at Club Orange in London and including concerts in London, Billericay, Norwich and Cambridge, with a 20 page booklet of photos and text from the band & collaborators.



Sei: Miguel Viva! O Carro de Fogo de Sei Miguel [2 CDs] (Clean Feed)

Featuring Sei Miguel on trumpet and direction with Fala Mariam, Nuno Torres, Pedro Lourenco, Bruno Silva, Andre Goncalves, Raphael Soares and Luis Desirat, documenting the final performances of O Carro de Fogo in two 2023 Portuguese concerts, where spacious ensemble architecture, microtonal phrasing and tightly controlled collective interplay affirm Miguel's singular late-period vision.



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.



Sei: Miguel The Original Drum (Clean Feed)

Four unique compositions from Portuguese trumpeter Sei Miguel, whose work embraces jazz history while incorporating his own music systems, here each piece varying the size of each grouping with one constant, his frequent sideman, alto trombonist Fala Mariam; plus luminaries including Rodrigo Amado, Ernesto Rodridgues, Helena Espvall, Nuno Torres, Rafel Toral, Paulo Curado, &c.



Elliott: Sharp Octal Book 3 (Clean Feed)

The 3rd volume in NY guitarist Elliott Sharp's "Octal" project, using a Koll 8-string guitar/bass, an electroacoustic hollow-bodied guitar with 2 extra bass strings, presenting unedited improvisations of technical and sonic power.



Fred Frith / Darren Johnston: Everybody's Somebody's Nobody (Clean Feed)

Bay Area trumpeter Darren Johnston meets improvising guitar legend Fred Frith for an incredibly well-paced series of duos, remarkable improv that uses space, skill, extended techniques and unexpected approaches to both instruments in vivid and beautiful discourse.



Joao Lencastre's Communion 3 (w/ Sacks / Opsvik): Song(s) Of Hope (Clean Feed)

The 2nd release on Clean Feed by drummer Joao Lencastre's Communion, a shape-shifting ensemble here configured with 2 New York improvisers from Lencastre's associations over 15 years in NYC--pianist Jakob Sacks and bassist Eivind Opsvik--for 10 studio recordings which include the 4-part "Magnetic Frequency", blurring lyrical avant jazz and chamber forms; beautiful.



Bernardo: Sassetti Unreal: Sidewalk Cartoon (Clean Feed)



Anthony Braxton : Solo (Victoriaville) 2017 (Les Disques Victo)

On the 30th anniversary of the Victo Festival Anthony Braxton took to the stage for a magnificent solo performance on the alto sax, performing 8 spontaneous compositions and an 8+ minute version of "Body and Soul", seamlessly crossing lyrical and complex approaches to the horn using his unique intervallic, trimbral and diagrammatic language, a stunning and embraceable accomplishment.



Barre Phillips / Joelle Leandre / William Parker / Tetsu Saitoh : After You Gone (Les Disques Victo)

A 2003 Victoriaville tribute to bassist Peter Kowald bringing together Barre Phillips, Joelle Leandre, William Parker and Tetsu Saitoh on four double basses and voices, uniting musicians shaped by free jazz, European new music, Japanese traditions and free improvisation in a deeply resonant collective performance reflecting Kowald's ideal of cross-cultural communication through improvised music.



Jean Derome / Louis Sclavis Quartet: Un Moment De Bonheur (Les Disques Victo)

Reuniting Montreal reedist Jean Derome with French clarinetist and saxophonist Louis Sclavis alongside bassist Bruno Chevillon and drummer Pierre Tanguay, this live performance from the 2001 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville blends elegant compositions, playful motifs, and adventurous improvisation, the quartet weaving jazz-rooted interplay with inventive textures and spirited rhythmic drive.



Lindsay: Cooper Oh Moscow (Les Disques Victo)

Lindsay Cooper and singer/lyricist Sally Potter lead an exceptional septet at the 1989 Victoriaville Festival, joined by Alfred 23 Harth, Hugh Hopper, Marilyn Mazur, Phil Minton and Elvira Plenar in a politically charged suite combining intricate composition, free improvisation, cabaret and European folk influences, moving from stark ensemble passages and ferocious reed work to Weill-like songs, Balkan inflections and darkly theatrical vocals.



Bill: Dixon Envoi (Les Disques Victo)

The late trumpeter Bill Dixon's final performance at the 2011 Victo Festival, performing with and directing an incredible group including Taylor Ho Bynum, Rob Mazurek, Stephen Haynes, Graham Haynes, &c. &c.



Marilynn: Crispell Labyrinths (Les Disques Victo)

Recorded live at the 1987 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, pianist Marilyn Crispell delivers a powerful solo performance that moves between explosive free improvisation and lyrical introspection, weaving dense clusters, driving rhythmic passages, and delicate melodic reflections into a deeply expressive exploration influenced by Cecil Taylor while asserting Crispell's own distinctive voice.





The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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