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.



Matt: Mitchell Illimitable [2 CDs] (Obliquity)

"100% improvised, one take, no edits" from New York pianist Matt Mitchell's solo album in four extended improvisations of impressive detail and creative direction, eschewing any particular style while crossing many, Mitchell's technical skills making complex passages clear even when he names them as abstruse, an impressive accomplishment and an absorbing album of solo piano improv.



Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra Featuring Roscoe Mitchell: Matter Anti-Matter, Sixty-Three Moons Of Jupiter & Electronic Works [2 CDs] (RogueArt)

Chicago cornetist/composer Rob Mazurek leads his Exploding Star Orchestra featuring Roscoe Mitchell with Nicole Mitchell, Matana Roberts, Steve Swell, Matt Bauder, Jason Adasiewica, &c. through a colossal 8 part work, and also provides a single CD of cosmic electronics.



Berlin Art Quartet (Schubert / Bauer / Muller / Bruggemann): Live At B-Flat (Unisono Records)

Inspired by and using the same instrumentation as John Tchicai's seminal 60's free jazz band New York Art Quartet, since 2013 the Berlin Art Quartet of Matthias Schubert on saxophone, Matthias Bauer on bass, Matthias Muller on trombone, and Reinhard Bruggemann on drums, has carried on the spirit of NY Free Jazz, here in a live concert at B-Flat, in Berlin in 2019.



Butcher / Hemingway: Buffalo Pearl (Auricle)

Percussionist Hemingway with John Butcher on tenor and soprano sax performing live in 2005, demonstrating their extended language in a brilliant and eccentric dialog.



Tom & Gerry (Thomas Lehn / Gerry Hemingway): Kinetics (Auricle)

Thomas Lehn & Gerry Hemingway's 3rd "Tom & Gerry" release presents tracks recorded in Europe from 2003-2006, incredible electro-acoustic improvisations.



Gerry Hemingway / Jin Hi Kim : Pulses (Auricle)

Captivating improvisational journeys with drummer and percussionist Gerry Hemingway and Jin Hi Kim performing on the Korean komungo black zither .



Terrence McManus / Gerry Hemingway: Below the Surface Of (Auricle)

The duo of percussionist Gerry Hemingway and guitarist Terrence McManus in seven absorbing improvisations on rhythm, melody, harmony, and sonic exposition.



Gerry: Hemingway Kernelings [CD + DVD] (Auricle)

Drummer Gerry Hemingway in a CD & DVD release, 15 audio tracks and accompanying video and interview, dividing the program into "mist, dust, light, and sex", highlighting aspects of this prominent percussionist that expand our understanding of his prodigious abilities.



WHO Trio (Hemingway / Wintsch / Oester): Zoo [2 CDS] (Auricle)

Percussionist Gerry Hemingway's Who Trio with Michel Wintsch on piano and synth, and Banz Oester on double bass and lamp, in an outstanding 2 CD release contrasting their work in acoustic improvisation with "electric" improv, albeit an unusual take on the latter.



Scott Amendola / Henry Kaiser / Michael Manring: Haunted by Eternity [2 CDs] + Trouble with the Treble (Agren / Colby / Kaiser) (Fractal)

The West Coast power trio of Scott Amendola on drums & live electronics, Henry Kaiser on guitar and Michael Manring on bass are heard in this double album of 15 assertive tracks that balance heavy electronics and effects with intense soloing amidst unusual "soundtracks for quite a number of films that do not exist in our homeworld version of the Earth's infinite timelines."



Henry: Kaiser Mahalo Nui (Metalanguage)

Ten exceptional solo improvisations performed live without overdubbing on electric & acoustic guitars, using effects to expand the expressive capabilities of each guitar, as Henry Kaiser endeavors to sound like more than a single musician, inspired by improvisers like Evan Parker, Cecil Taylor or Derek Bailey, each improv providing a dedication or influence.



Renzoku (Kondo / Kaiser / Goodman / Oswald): Jump (Metalanguage)

Revealing 40 years of collaborations between late trumpeter Toshinori Kondo and West Coast guitarist Henry Kaiser, in configurations of duos between Kondo & Kaiser--most notably a beautiful and extended 2016 improvisation--then earlier duos from 1978, a 1980 trio with pianist Greg Goodman, a 1979 trio with saxophonist John Oswald, ending with a wonderfully idiosyncratic 2020 duo.



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.



Stian Larsen / Colin Webster / Ruth Goller / Andrew Lisle : Temple of Muses (Relative Pitch)

Norwegian guitarist Stian Larsen joins UK musicians Colin Webster on alto sax, Ruth Goller on bass, and Andrew Lisle on drums in a high-energy fusion of free jazz, post-rock, and noise, weaving dynamic improvisation that moves from sparse textures to explosive climaxes, embracing ecstatic intensity, cathartic interplay, and expansive creative exploration.



Thurston: Moore Flow Critical Lucidity (Daydream Library Series)

A diverse and interesting set of songs in Thurston Moore's ninth solo record, recorded in Europe & The UK with contributors including Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab and Deb Googe of My Bloody Valentine, many of the songs reminiscent of Sonic Youth but uniquely Moore through unpretentious communication that references topics including lucid dreaming, nature and the changing planet.



Barre Phillips / Motoharu Yoshizawa: Oh My, Those Boys! (NoBusiness)

Two bass players--European free improv legend Barre Phillips and Japanese master Motoharu Yoshizawa--met at Cafe Amores in Yamaguchi, Japan in 1994, with Phillips on an amplified acoustic upright and Yoshizawa using an electric vertical 5-string bass of his own design, as the two weave and merge their unique sounds and approaches in a brilliant concert.



Sam Rivers Quartet (feat. Jerry Byrd / Rael Wesley Grant / Steve Ellington) : Archive series. Volume 5 - Undulation (NoBusiness)

During the early 80s saxophonist and wind improviser Sam Rivers formed his quartet around electric instruments, with the core rhythm section of drummer Steve Ellington and electric bass guitarist Rael Wesley Grant, the other lead instrument on guitar during that time, sometimes with Kevin Eubanks, and on this previously unreleased, superb live performance in Florence, Italy, guitarist Jerry Byrd.



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.



Choi Bae Sun / Junji Hirose / Motoharu Yoshizawa / Kim Dae Hwan: Arirang Fantasy (NoBusiness)

A 1995 live concert at Romanisches Cafe in Tokyo from the South Korean and Japanese free improvising quartet of Choi Sun Bae on trumpet, Junji Hirose on tenor & soprano saxophones, Motoharu Yoshizawa on electric vertical five strings bass, and Kim Dae Hwan on percussion, in five collective improvisations including an homage to Charlie Parker.



Evan Parker / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton: Concert In Vilnius (NoBusiness)

Three British free jazz giants, having worked in a number of configurations and as a trio over many decades, are caught live in the Russian Drama Theater during the 2017 Vilnius Jazz Festival--Evan Parker on soprano & tenor saxophones, Barry Guy on bass, and Paul Lytton on drums, for four improvisations of nuance and surprise, incredible mastery, and profound conversation.



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.



Alexander Schlippenbach von / Aki Takase: Live At Cafe Amores (NoBusiness)

Legendary free jazz pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, founder of Globe Unity Orchestra and Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, met masterful Japanese pianist Aki Takase in 1995 for a live concert at Cafe Amores, in Hofu, Yamaguchi, Japan, for a concert of intricate interplay and uniquely creative approaches, taking on work by Mingus, Monk, and even Frank Zappa.



Julius Hemphill and Peter Kowald: Live at Kassiopeia [2 CDs] (NoBusiness)

The late great saxophonist Julian Hemphill and bassist Peter Kowald, essential free jazz players from NY and Germany, performing solo and as a duo live at Kassiopeia, Wuppertal in 1987.



Szilard Mezei Tubass Quintet: Canons - 2nd Hoisting [VINYL] (NoBusiness)

Four extended compositions from the Tubass Quintet led by Szilard Mezei (performing on double bass instead of his usual viola) performing with a heavy group of 4 double bassists and tuba.



Evan Parker / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton: Live at Maya Recordings Festival [VINYL 2 LPs] (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.



Keiji Haino / Natsuki Tamura: What Happened There? (Libra)

An electrifying 1st-time meeting between guitarist Keiji Haino and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, captured live at Tokyo's Shinjuku Pit Inn, where the duo shape an unpredictable set that veers from reflective stillness to wildly passionate outbursts, their extended techniques and visceral vocals — sometimes urgent, sometimes outrageous — fueling an exhilarating and uncompromising sonic adventure.



Satoko Fujii New Trio: Spring Storm (Libra)

A set of new trio compositions from pianist Satoko Fujii with bassist Todd Nicholson and drummer/percussionist Takashi Itani, a magnificent set of compositions for the transformative season.



This Is It! (Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura / Takashi Itani): 1538 (Libra)

Part of pianist Satoko Fujii's "Kanreki" (60th Birthday) tour and monthly album release, the "This Is It!" Trio with trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and drummer/percussionist Takashi Itani is heard at Koendori Classics, in Tokyo, Japan, in January 2018, for an incredible album of Fujii's compositions that include quirky asides in coherent and effusive playing.



Harri: Sjostrom SoundScapes #4 Festival Berlin 2023 [3 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A remarkable live document of Finnish saxophonist Harri Sjöström's SoundScapes #4 festival in Berlin, bringing together 19 extraordinary musicians from across Europe, Australia, and the U.S. for a series of improvised performances from intimate duos to expansive octets, highlighting spontaneous collaborations all driven by creative risk-taking, deep listening, and a profound sense of musical trust.



Ivo Perelman / Tyshawn Sorey: Paralell Aesthetics [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A fearless and fluid exchange between saxophonist Ivo Perelman and drummer/pianist Tyshawn Sorey, this double album captures the duo's extraordinary chemistry, shifting between blistering intensity and spacious, exploratory passages as Sorey alternates between drums and piano, forging intricate dialogues with Perelman's masterful phrasing in a boundless and deeply expressive sonic journey.



Agusti Fernandez feat. Barry Guy, Don Malfon, John Butcher, Jordina Milla, Liudas Mockunas, Lucia Martinez, Torben Snekkestad, Zlatko Kaucic: Agusti Fernandez @70 - Aesthetic Of Prisms. [7 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Honoring Agustí Fernández's 70th birthday, this 7-CD box set captures his innovative artistry through live and studio collaborations with performers including Barry Guy, John Butcher, Lucía Martínez, &c., recorded across global venues, showcasing his mastery of the piano, free improvisation, and profound creative dialogue with fellow improvisers.



Leandre / Lotte Anker / Kersten Osgood: Worlds (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A riveting live performance from the 2023 Copenhagen Jazz Festival by Joëlle Léandre, Lotte Anker, and Kresten Osgood, whose trio of bass, saxophones, and drums delivers an enthralling journey through three improvisational worlds, blending spontaneity, profound interplay, and virtuosic intensity in a masterful exploration of sound and emotion.



Cecil Taylor Ensemble: Gottingen [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

A double CD of the complete Cecil Taylor Ensemble's 1990 performance at Junges Theater in Gottingen, Sweden, with personnel similar to his 1989 Cecil Taylor Workshop Ensemble album Legba Crossing, here in an adventurous concert of large group improvisation with Taylor performing on piano while directing and conducting the extended orchestration that includes balafon & elephanthorn!



Parker / Trzaska / Edwards / Sanders: City Fall [2 CDs] (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Part of Evan Parker's 70th birthday in 2014, this album captures the super-charged quartet of Evan Parker on tenor saxophone, Mikolaj Trzaska on alto sax, bass clarinet, John Edwards on double bass, and Mark Sanders on drums, in two sets for two extended improvisations of both power playing and powerful communication, along with one shorter final statement.



Frode Gjerstad / Fred Lonberg Holm / Steve Swell / William Parker: Tales From (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

After a tour through upstate New York State with Chicago cellist and electronic artist Fred Lonberg-Holm, saxophonist Frode Gjerstad headed to New York City for a planned trio recording which evolved into this informed quartet with Steve Swell on trombone and William Parker on bass, tuba, cornet & flutes, an outstanding example of Transatlanic collective improvisation.



Joe Fonda / Bass of Operation: w/ Rabinovitz / Lederer / Sorgen (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

Performing the lyrical compositions from the band's leader, this quartet — featuring Joe Fonda (bass), Michael Rabinowitz (bassoon), Jeff Lederer (clarinets & flutes), and Harvey Sorgen (drums) — explores a uniquely chamber-like soundscape, blending jazz and classical influences through intricately arranged compositions and inspired improvisations with a distinctively rich and unexpected ensemble voice.



Joel Futterman / Chad Fowler / Steve Hirsh: Ebb & Flow [2 CDs] (Mahakala Music)

Continuing the connections from prior Mahakala Music albums Warp & Weft, (Futterman/Hirsch) and Two Five None (Fowler/Hirsch) this album brings the three together as a dynamic trio recording the two-part "Ebb & Flow", a spectacular convergence that, true to the title, shows tremendous momentum and moments of great introspection, an incredible collective free encounter!



Christopher Parker / The Band of Guardian Angels: Soul Food (Mahakala Music)

An open and free album of modern jazz evoking loft-style collective improvisation but controlled under the compositions of pianist Christopher Parker, in his debut album as a leader with the incredibly talented sextet of Kelley Hurt on vocals, Daniel Carter on winds, Jaimie Branch on trumpet, William Parker on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums



Tani Tabbal Quartet (w/ McPhee / Bisio / Siegel): Intentional (Mahakala Music)

Drummer with some of the most significant of free jazz icons--Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, &c.--Tani Tabbal's own trio with fellow New Yorkers Michael Bisio on bass and Adam Siegel on alto sax are joined by Joe McPhee on tenor sax, with compositions from each of Tabbal, Bisio and Joe McPhee, plus four collective improvisations.



Chad Fowler / William Parker / Anders Griffen: Thinking Unthinking (Mahakala Music)

Focusing on lyrically inclined grooves with a relaxed pace, the details and thoughtfully "unthought" playing from the NY trio of Chad Fowler on stritch, saxello & alto flute, William Parker on bass and Anders Griffen on drums, are heard in the Park West Studios in Brooklyn for three extended collective improvisations of passionate, expressive and empathetic playing.



Chad Fowler / William Parker / Anders Griffen: Broken Unbroken (Mahakala Music)

Led by New York wind and reed player Chad Fowler, who performs here on stritch, saxello & alto flute, this collective free jazz album brings together frequent collaborators, bassist William Parker (with whom Fowler plays in Dopolarians) and drummer & trumpeter Anders Griffen (heard on Thinking Unthinking and the Music of Frank Lowe) for two extended improvisations from contemplative to assertive.



Rob Brown / Brandon Lopez / Juan P. Carletti: Walkabout (Mahakala Music)

An energetic trio session of collective free improvisation from NY alto saxophonist Rob Brown, bassist Brandon Lopez, and drummer Juan Pablo Carletti, recorded in the studio and driven by an intense energy that maintains a powerful swing, with Brown's incisive phrasing, Lopez's commanding bass, and Carletti's dynamic percussion merging into a spontaneous and deeply expressive musical force.



Butcher / Charles / Dorner - The Contest of Pleasures: Tempestuous (Another Timbre)

Live recordings of this incredible improvising trio as influenced by a 'tempestuous' storm buffeting & rattling the windows of the church in which the performance took place.



Morton Feldman played by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas: Two Pianos And Other Pieces 1953-1969 [2 CDs] (Another Timbre)

"Two Pianos" is one of Morton Feldman's most experimental and radical works, performed here by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas; plus lesser known works including 'Piece for Four Pianos', 'Between Categories', 'False Relationships and the Extended Ending' and 'Two Pieces for Three Pianos'.



Morton Feldman (Philip Thomas): Piano [5 CD BOX SET] (Another Timbre)

Containing the majority of minimalist composer Morton Feldman's compositions for solo piano, 3 CDs of short works and 2 for the magnificent "For Bunita Marcus" and "Triadic Memories", performed by one of the foremost interpreters of Feldman's work, Philip Thomas, and presented in a sturdy 5-CD box set with a 52 page booklet of notes from the performer and artwork.



John Cage / Apartment House: Number Pieces [4-CD BOX SET] (Another Timbre)

A 4-disc box-set with a 44-page booklet of extensive notes, presenting John Cage's Number Pieces which he wrote in the last five years of his life, adapted for mid-size ensembles and performed by the London-based ensemble Apartment House, compositions 'Five' to 'Fourteen' along with alternative versions of three of the pieces; significant and essential.



Terry Riley played by John Tilbury: Keyboard Studies (Another Timbre)

There is uncertainty of when pianist John Tilbury recorded these three solo keyboard works by his associate and friend, legendary minimalist composer Terry Riley, performing "Keyboard Study #1" and #2, along with "Dorian Reeds" using piano, electric organ, harpsichord & celesta, captured with excellent quality in superb performances from Tilbury at the height of his powers.



Linda Smith Catlin: Flowers of Emptiness (Another Timbre)

The 6th album on Another Timbre from Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith, a leading voice in contemporary chamber music, presents eight exquisite works performed by Apartment House, including the 1st recordings of three string quartets, alongside a violin duo, a clarinet quartet, an early string trio, a cello and piano duo, and a bass clarinet solo; evocative and deeply expressive artistry.



Julius Eastman / Apartment House: Femenine (Another Timbre)

A live recording of Julius Eastman's 1974 work "Femenine" performed by Apartment House led by cellist Anton Lukoszevieze, with Simon Limbrick on vibraphone, Kerry Yong on piano, Mark Knoop on keyboard, Mira Benjamin on violin, and Gavin Morrison and Emma Williams on flute, an ecstatic and intricate work using a repeating figure contrasted with both asynchronous and complementing backgrounds.



Catherine Lamb / Harmonic Space Orchestra: Prisma Interius VII 7 VIII (Sacred Realism)

Two hauntingly beautiful works in microtonal composer and violist Catherine Lamb's "Prisma Interius" series, the first a duo with violinist Johnny Change and Xavier Lopez on the "secondary rainbow synthesizer", which channels the sound outside of the performance space as a generator of ambient sound; then a sextet of strings and winds with two secondary rainbow synthesizers.



Oceans Roar 1000 Drums: [VINYL] (Sacred Realism)

Their first proper vinyl release since forming in 2008, this studio album recorded in Berlin finds Berlin saxophonist and electronic artist Bryan Eubanks, double bassist Andrew Lafkas, and NY drummer & cymbal player Tod Capp in an extended and dark improvisation, with Catherine Lamb's "secondary rainbow synthesizer" interacting and filtering their work as a 4th member.



Jamie Branch / Isaiah Collier / Gilles Coronado / Tim Daisy: Stembells (The Bridge Sessions)

As part of the transatlantic network The Bridge connecting creative musicians for performance, the quartet of Jaimie Branch on trumpet, synthesizer & electronics, Isaiah Collier on soprano & tenor saxophones, Gilles Coronado on electric guitar and Tim Daisy on drums, recorded this wildly building live performance after a 2022 tour across Chicago and the Midwest.



KnCurrent (Brennan / Cooper-Moore / Davis / Hwang): KnCurrent (Deep Dish)

An electrifying and richly textured electroacoustic quartet of NY improvisers — Patrick Brennan on alto saxophone, Cooper-Moore on diddley-bo, On Ka'a Davis on electric guitar, and Jason Kao Hwang on electric violin — weaving active improvisations where timbre, pitch, and rhythm share equal weight, as KnCurrent channels dynamic musical interaction into a polyglot, collective voice.



Biota: Measured Not Found (Recommended Records)

A deeply immersive and meticulously crafted work from the reclusive Biota collective, blending microtonal instruments, electroacoustic techniques, and a wide array of ancient and modern timbres into a richly layered and human sound-world of instrumental and delicate song forms, unfolding across shifting textures and suspended time-the result of more than seven years of collaborative studio experimentation.



Ayumi Tanaka / Johan Lindvall / Christian Wallumrod: 3 Pianos (Nakama Records)

This trio joins 3 disparate approaches to composition and improvisation--Japanese improviser Ayumi Tanaka, Oslo composer Johan Lindvall, and ECM artist Christian Wallumrod-developing the engaging material on this album by focusing on elements like tuning, register, intervals and dynamics, for an absorbing album of compatible and concentrative playing.



Ayumi Tanaka / Johan Lindvall / Christian Wallumrod: 3 Pianos [VINYL LP] (Nakama Records)

This trio joins 3 disparate approaches to composition and improvisation--Japanese improviser Ayumi Tanaka, Oslo composer Johan Lindvall, and ECM artist Christian Wallumrod-developing the engaging material on this album by focusing on elements like tuning, register, intervals and dynamics, for an absorbing album of compatible and concentrative playing.



Katariin Raska / Christian Meaas Svendsen: Finding Ourselves In All Things (Nakama Records)

Two distinctive tracks from the Norwegian duo of Katariin Raska-Torupill on Estonian bagpipe and Christian Meaas Svendsen on double bass: "Melting With Butterflies" is a work of ecstatic repetition, filled with chaos and joy, building in intensity; "The Way Mountains Make Love" is an immense, profoud and potent lower register work of dark solidity.



Yong Yandsen / Christian Meaas Svendsen / Paal Nilssen-Love: Hungry Ghosts (Nakama Records)

Chinese Buddhism defines "Hungry Ghosts" as beings who are driven by intense emotional needs in an animalistic way, an apt description of this trio's dynamic and often bristling collective free jazz, with Malaysian saxophonist Yong Yandsen and Norwegians, Christian Meaas Svendsen on bass and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, performing live in Kuala Lumpur, 2018.



Sult (Dryer / Heule / Moe / Skaset): Svimmelhed (Conrad Sound-Humbler Records)

West Coast/Oslo acoustic improvising ensemble Sult is the quartet of bassist Tony Dryer, percussionist Jacob Felix Heule, bassist Guro Skumsnes Moe, and acoustic guitarist Havard Skaset, playing subdued, informed and textured work with a dark intent.



Sekstett: Sekstett (Conrad Sound)



Nakama: Worst Generation [VINYL] (Nakama Records)

Freely improvised and unusual collective improv from the quintet of Christian Meaas Svendsen (double bass), Andreas Wildhagen (drums), Ayumi Nataka (piano), Adrian Loseth Waade (violin) and Agness Hvizdalek (voice), an abstract yet energetic album with Hvizdalek's voice adding an exotic edge to extended techniques based in free jazz strategies.



Re-Ghoster Extended: The Zebra Paradox [VINYL] (Konnekt)



[ism] (Pat Thomas / Joel Grip / Aontonin Gerbal): Maua [VINYL] (577 Records)

Recordings from the Berlin club Au Topsi Pohl where the [ism] piano trio of Pat Thomas on piano, Joel Grip on double bass and Antonin Gerbal on drums played 4 nights in a row, May 18-21, 2022, Thomas performing on a Bösendorfer grand piano, creating an omnipresent and precise sound that drove the band to great heights of interactive, warmly diverse playing.



Federico Ughi feat. Rachel Musson: Transoceanico [VINYL] (577 Records)

"Transoceanico" signifies the global reach of Rome, Italy-born improvising drummer Federico Ughi, celebrating 20 years since his first album recorded in London while residing there, leading to his current Brooklyn launchpad for many global tours and albums, this impressive LP realized in a superb free jazz trio with bassist Adam Lane and tenor saxophonist Rachel Musson.



Room 31 (Sinibaldi / Patton): Crazy Town (Positive Elevation / 577 Records)

Room 31's debut explores the sonic possibilities of avant-rock, jazz, beats, experimental sounds, and ambient textures, as drummer Marlon Patton and saxophonist Greg Sinibaldi, inspired by their NYC experiences, transform six improvisations into intricately edited compositions, blending spontaneous creativity with a unique and evocative sonic footprint.



Ayumi: Ishito Wondercult Club (577 Records)

An album of lyrical electric jazz from Japanese sax player based in NYC Ayumi Ishito, a frequent collaborator with Daniel Carter, here with her own band of Hajime Yoshida and Yana Davydova on guitars, Yoshiki Yamada on bass and Carter Bales on drums, for eight fusion-oriented, upbeat melodic original works that yield great soloing and band interaction.



Daniel Carter / Patrick Holmes / Matthew Putman / Hilliard Greene / Federico Ughi: Electric Telepathy, Vol. 1 (577 Records)

Multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter's Telepathic Band with Patrick Holmes (clarinet), Matthew Putman (keyboards), Hilliard Greene (bass) and Federico Ughi (drums) present their first volume of "psych-jazz", in actively mesmerizing music that explores the border between the "default world" and the "dream world", a meditation on electricity through profound playing.



FDF Trio: Possibility And Prejudices From Within A Cup [VINYL] (Konnekt)



Charlemagne Palestine / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [VINYL] (Konnekt)

A mystical microtonal encounter between Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers on four grand pianos — two tuned to 428Hz and two to 440Hz — recorded live in Geneva's Fonderie Kugler, where the duo's passion for unusual tunings and multi-piano performance unfolds in deeply resonant, transcendent layers of sound and silence.



Charlemagne Palestine / Seppe Gebruers: Beyondddddd The Notessssss [NEON GREEN VINYL] (Konnekt)

A mystical microtonal encounter between Charlemagne Palestine and Seppe Gebruers on four grand pianos — two tuned to 428Hz and two to 440Hz — recorded live in Geneva's Fonderie Kugler, where the duo's passion for unusual tunings and multi-piano performance unfolds in deeply resonant, transcendent layers of sound and silence.



Anthony: Braxton Solo Bern 1984 First Visit (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Thirteen years after his breakthrough solo saxophone album For Alto, Anthony Braxton is heard in an inventive solo concert on the same instrument, performing at the Altes Schlachthaus Theatre in Bern, Switzerland for a set of original numbered compositions, the standards "Alone Together" and "I Remember You", and two Coltrane pieces: "Giant Steps" and "Naima".



Russ Johnson / Christian Weber / Dieter Ulrich: To Walk On Eggshells (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

In a spontaneously assembled 2009 session at Zürich's DRS studio, trumpeter Russ Johnson, bassist Christian Weber, and drummer Dieter Ulrich sculpt a dynamic and intuitive trio performance, threading balladic lyricism with abstract tension in a deft interplay of trust, fragility, and risk that transforms improvisation into captivating and timeless art.



Ellery Eskelin Trio New York: About (or On), First Visit [2 CDs] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Reuniting for two powerful studio sessions recorded in 2011 and 2013, tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, organist Gary Versace, and drummer Gerald Cleaver form Trio New York, navigating an intuitive path between free improvisation and jazz standards with soulful depth, rich allusions, and a shared language that reimagines the classic organ trio.



Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton [VINYL] (Pi Recordings)

Alto saxophonist Steve Lehman leads his trio with bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Damion Reid, joined by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, in a vibrant live homage to Anthony Braxton's small ensemble works, blending intricate modern jazz interplay with searing emotional expression in a bold, high-energy celebration of Braxton's enduring influence.



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.



Laura Cocks: FATHM (Relative Pitch)

An intimate and exploratory solo recording from NY flutist Laura Cocks, known for their work with TAK Ensemble, presenting a poetic and deeply focused album where breath, silence, and sound merge into fragile, resonant gestures — Cocks bends time and expectation with extended technique and stillness, inviting the listener into a space of presence and emotional depth.



AYCH (Jim Hobbs, Mary Halvorson, Taylor Ho Bynum): As The Crow Flies (Relative Pitch)

From NY and Boston the Aych group (pronounce as "H", a letter shared by all 3's names) presents three improvisers representing some of the best of the new breed of modern jazz based players in a trio without bass and drums.



Joey Baron / Bill Frisell: Just Listen (Relative Pitch)

The duo of long-time collaborators guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Joey Baron, two of Downtown NY's finest players, performing 9 tracks of original numbers and work by Sam Cooke, Ray Noble, Ron Carter, and Charlie Parker.



Mary Halvorson / Kirk Knuffke / Matt Wilson: Sifter (Relative Pitch)

Presenting compositions from all three players, the NY-based trio of Kirk Knuffke (cornet), Mary Halvorson (guitar) & Matt Wilson (drums) this exceptional trio play a stripped down, rocking blend of free form improvisation.



Tomas Fujiwara / Ben Goldberg / Mary Halvorson: The Out Louds (Relative Pitch)

The first release from the NY/West Coast trio of Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Ben Goldberg on clarinet, and Mary Halvorson on guitar, a collaborative improv of lyrical and nuanced improv, using great skill and sophistication in dialog that takes unexpected twists and turns.



Sylvie Courvoisier / Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles (Relative Pitch)

A studio encounter between pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and electric guitarist Mary Halvorson, both using sophisticated techniques giving unique voices to their playing styles, in a set of improvisations that balance playful, subtle, energetic, and emotional playing.



John Butcher / John Edwards / Mark Sanders: Last Dream Of The Morning (Relative Pitch)

A studio album between three UK master improvisers -- John Butcher on sax, John Edwards on double bass, and Mark Sanders on drums -- the trio pushing the envelope in technique and dialog in nearly telepathic playing that transports the listener into their environment, as the music builds and releases in effortless ways that are stunning and exulant; highly recommended.



Susan Alcorn Quintet: Pedernal (Relative Pitch)

An innovator in integrating pedal steel guitar into modern improvised music, Cleveland-born, Baltimore-based pedal steel guitar player Susan Alcorn's quintet enlists a superb set of New York players--Mark Feldman on violin, Michael Formanek on double bass, Mary Halvorson on guitar, and Ryan Sawyer on drums--taking on a diverse set of Alcorn compositions.



Lopez Trio (Brandon Lopez / Steve Baczkowski / Gerald Cleaver): Matanzas (Relative Pitch)

"Matanzas" translates to "Killings", an apt description of this fiercely dark and propulsive free improv album from the NY trio led by bassist Brandon Lopez with saxophonist Steve Baczkowski and drummer/percussionist Gerald Cleaver, drawing unexpected and often malevolent sound from their instruments, particularly on the extended "Dithyramb, Sodomy, Salt".



Dietrichs (Camille Dietrich / Don Dietrich): Catch the Leaves (Relative Pitch)

Definitely of the Borbetomagus mold, the duo of tenor saxophonist Don Dietrich and cellist Camille Dietrich, his daughter who grew up under the influence of that band's relentlessly aggressive free jazz, here in a live performance at Tubby's in Kingston, New York for four burning improvisations that take apart a tree, leaving the audience to catch the fragments; terrifyingly intense!



Bloomers (Efternoler / Dybbroe / Goodwin): Cyclism (Relative Pitch)



Sophie: Agnel Song (Relative Pitch)



Dietrichs: No Bahdu (Relative Pitch)

An uncompromising and electrifying studio set from father-daughter duo Don and Camille Dietrich, whose ferocious blend of distorted tenor saxophone and overdriven cello pushes sonic boundaries through four intense improvisations, merging free jazz, noise, and amplified effects into a blistering, high-voltage assault of raw energy and experimental fire.



Jim Denley / Dale Gorfinkel / Peter Farrar: Vents (Relative Pitch)



Paul: Flaherty A Willing Passenger (Relative Pitch)

A solo saxophone album from legendary free improviser Paul Flaherty, recorded at Pete's Basement Studio in Massachusetts in 2021, presenting a deeply personal and expressive journey through alto and tenor saxophone explorations that juxtapose raw turbulence and lyrical beauty, continuing Flaherty's legacy of shaping sound into emotionally resonant sonic narratives



Masayo Koketsu / Nava Dunkelman / Tim Berne: Poiesis (Relative Pitch)

A first-time meeting in the studio for alto saxophonists Tim Berne and Masayo Koketsu with percussionist Nava Dunkelman, captured in a dynamic session of collective free improvisation where contrasting approaches — Berne's grounded tone, Koketsu's extended techniques, and Dunkelman's textural percussion — intertwine with clarity and spontaneous expression.



Elliott Sharp / Scott Fields : Reimsi Geara (Relative Pitch)

A vital and inventive meeting between NY guitarist Elliott Sharp and Chicago guitarist Scott Fields, two visionary electric guitarists whose longstanding collaboration finds them weaving complex textures, sharp counterpoint, and dynamic interplay into a seamless blend of free improvisation, experimental composition, and nuanced sonic dialogue.



Ernesto Rodrigues / Olaf Rupp / Guilherme Rodrigues : Man Is Wolf To Man (Creative Sources)

Guitarist Olaf Rupp recorded this trio session with violist Ernesto Rodrigues and cellist Guilherme Rodrigues, capturing five improvisations from around 8 minutes to 18 in length, the first three demonstrating intense interaction with an overall sense of restraint, closing with two more reflective works, a beautiful balance of reductionist sensibility amid superb technique.



Dubost / Matthews / Rives / Zach: Dining Room Music (Creative Sources)



Stackenas / Rodrigues / Rodrigues / Torres: Wounds Of Light (Creative Sources)

Tense textures and shadowy interplay brought to 'light' from the quartet of father/son Rodrigues, guitarist David Stackenas, and saxophonist Nuno Torres; remarkably subtle sonic improvisation.



Watt: Smith / Marshall / Flinn: Alter Egos (Creative Sources)

Active and interactive percussion using extended techniques from the London trio of trumpeter Ian Smith, percussionist Stephen Flinn, and cellist Hannah Marshall.



Schindler / Harnik: Empty Pigeonhole (Creative Sources)

Elisabeth Harnik on piano and Udo Schindler on bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, soprano saxophone and cornet in a free interchange of subtle nuance and strong dynamics recorded live at SALON fur Klang + Kungst in 2009.



Ricardo Arias / Gunter Muller / Hans Tammen: Intersecting a Cone with a Plane (Creative Sources)



Markus: Eichenberger Halbzeit (Half Time) (Creative Sources)

Clarinetist Markus Eichenberger's beautiful solo work "Half Time" work is a foray into a landscape of memory using the instrument in traditional and unconventional ways.



Udo Schindler / Max Arsava / Gunnar Geisse : Sightings And Stratifications - 2nd Investigation For Trio (Creative Sources)

A live document of free improvisation from Udo Schindler (clarinets, cornet, soprano sax), Max Arsava (piano, tapes, sampler, objects), and Gunnar Geisse (laptop guitar, virtual instruments), in a performance of pointillistic exchanges and layered textures that blend intricate acoustic and electronic timbres into a cohesive, exploratory sonic tapestry.



Udo Schindler / Werner Dafeldecker / Gunnar Geisse: Travelling Sound Images - Cognitive Transfers [Trio] (Creative Sources)

In this live recording from Munich's Schnitzer& Studio, Udo Schindler's "Low Tone Studies" series expands through a collaboration with Werner Dafeldecker on double bass and Gunnar Geisse on laptop guitar, blending deep-register improvisations across double bass clarinet, cornet, saxophones, and electronic manipulations, exploring the convergence of acoustic resonance and digital textures.



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.



String Theory: Tin (Creative Sources)

The Portuguese String Theory ensemble led by violist Ernesto Rodridgues explores the element "Tin" in this live performance at CreativeFest XIII at O'Culto da Ajuda, in Lisbon, 2019, leading a 10-piece ensemble of strings — violin & violas, cellos, double basses, guitars and piano — through an extended improvisation of remarkably detailed yet controlled interaction.



Muche / Zoubek / Tang: Excerpts From Anything (Creative Sources)

An acoustic trio using ea approaches in a set of distinct tracks using trombone, prepared piano and double bass, a fascinatingly diverse set of improvisations that alternately lull and jar the listener.



Vorfeld / Scott / Gratkowski: Sieben Entruckte Lieder (Creative Sources)

The trio of Frank Gratkowski on clarinets and alto sax, Michael Vorfeld on percussion, and Richard Scott on modular synthesizer, also known as Spectre, freely improvising in dramatic and generally reserved ways, intently focusing on sound and interchange.



Dietrich Petzold / Ernesto Rodrigues / Guilherme Rodrigues / Jan Roder: Get Your Own Picture (Creative Sources)

An improvising string quartet with Creative Sources label leader Ernesto Rodrigues on viola, Guilherme Rodrigues on cello, German violinist and violist Dietrich Petzold and German double bassist Jan Roder, recording in the studio in Berlin in 2018 for seven active improvisations with a chamber feel, each named by the letters making up the word "PICTURE".



Denzler / Guionnet / Kinoshita / Unami: Vasistas (Creative Sources)



Nate: Wooley Wrong Shape to be a Story Teller (Creative Sources)



Tristan Honsinger & The House Of Wasps: Noisy Sadness (Creative Sources)

A personal and evocative suite written during the isolation of the COVID-19 period, bringing together the legendary Tristan Honsinger (cello, vocal, narration) with his long-standing Tokyo-based ensemble, The House of Wasps — Yuriko Mukojima (violin, voice), Takashi Seo (double bass), and Shuichi Chino (piano) — in a performance that seamlessly blends chamber improvisation, storytelling, and emotional intensity.



Marie Takahashi / Maria do Mar / Ernesto Rodrigues / Helena Espvall / Joao Valinho: Queen Triot (Creative Sources)

A remarkable album of masterful and wide-ranging string interaction from improviser and Creative Sources label leader Ernesto Rodrigues (viola) with active contemporary Portuguese performers Maria do Mar (violin), Helena Espvall (cello) and Berlin-based violinist of Japanese origin Marie Takahashi, accompanied by Joao Valinho on percussion & piano.



Jeremy: Baysse In C (Creative Sources)

Recording in live conditions and multitrack, French guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Baysse performs a version of Terry Riley's classical minimalist composition "In C" using electric guitar, acoustic guitar, twelve string guitar, effects, banjo, bass, glockenspiel, maracas, cymbal, mandolin, synthesizer, percussion, and drum machine.



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.



Sophie Agnel / Joke Lanz: Ella (Klanggalerie)

An exciting meeting of French pianist Sophie Agnel, known for her extended and prepared piano techniques, and Swiss turntablist Joke Lanz, renowned for his work in noise, experimental music, and performance art, presenting a dynamic and playful duo of spontaneous improvisation blending percussive textures, sonic collage, and energetic interaction revealing a sense of humor and awe.



Un Drame Musical Instantane: Tchak (Klanggalerie)

The final recordings of Un Drame Musical Instantané with co-founder Bernard Vitet, compiling sessions from 1998 to 2000 with the Machiavel Quartet and guests including Baco Mourchid and Nem, blending free jazz, electroacoustic experimentation, and multimedia spontaneity into cinematic improvisations that showcase the ensemble's enduring commitment to collective creation and sonic innovation.



Various Artists: 13 Miniatures For Albert Ayler (RogueArt)

A large excerpt from the tribute to Albert Ayler concert presented at Fondation Cartier, Paris on December 2nd 2010 with Joe Mcphee, Evan Parker, Barre Phillips, John Tchicai, Jean-Luc Cappozzo, Jean-Jacques Avenel, &c. &c.



Fred Frith : Woodwork / Live At Ateliers Claus (Klanggalerie )

Fred Frith's solo performances are amongst some of his most fascinating, and this live album at Ateliers Claus in Brussels, 2018 does not disappoint, Frith using every inch of his guitar and an arsenal of objects, in tandem with his masterful creative intent, to present an extended and fascinating journey in sound, remarkable in its breadth and bold inventive power.



Rodrigo Amado / Dirk Serries: Jazzblazzt (Klanggalerie)

Portugese tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado met Belgian electric & acoustic guitarist Dirk Serries for this live performance at Jazzblazzt in The Netherlands in 2018 for two extended conversations, the first set finding Serries on electric and the 2nd on acoustic, as the two push and pull each other, intertwining or finding complement in their discourse.





The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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