This nine piece klez funk rock jazz ensemble performs original compositions and arrangements combining West African influenced rhythms with Eastern European Klezmer melodies.
Two live recordings by master improvisers John Tilbury (piano) and Eddie Prevost (percussion) playing two emotional sets that are quiet at just the right times and allow for a balanced amount of white space, creating beautiful music.
Barnyard Drama continues their Christmas Singalong series, here in the 7th volume with an amazing lineup of Jean Martin, Christine Duncan, John Southworth, Justin Haynes, John Oswald, &c. &c.
The 8th eclectic Christmas Singalong from Toronto's Barnyard Drama with performers and guests including Jean Martin, Christine Duncan, John Southworth, Justin Haynes, Paul Dutton, Jim Lewis, Scott Thomson, &c.
Chris Dadge (drums, percussion) and Andre Bourgeois (saxophones) play two sets of mostly straightforward free jazz with reasonably fixed outlines throughout the structure of each piece.
UK saxophone phenomenon John Butcher in 10 live solo recordings using the unique sonic environments of Richmond Hall, a Houston art gallery that has been compared to a bowling alley, and Issue Project Room's high-ceilinged marble room in Brooklyn, NY.
Drummer and percussionist Chris Dadge plays a personal set that was recorded live and includes a variety of percussive stylings varying from minimal ideas to junk-oriented textural play.
Double tandem brings the dual reeds of Dutch multi-reedist Ab Baars and Chicago multi-reedist Ken Vandermark together with Norwegian drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love for a powerful live performance at the Novara Jazz Winter Session.
Marc Ducret's Tower series continues, skipping a beat as we jump from Vol 2. to Vol. 4, in this live solo acoustic guitar release from his 2012 Baltic tour, where he reassembles and builds bridges to offer a new vision of the Tower's cycle.
First-time CD releases of three Pierre Favre solo albums from 40 years ago: Drum Conversations [originally an LP from Calig-Verlag label]; Abanaba [LP on Futura]; Mountain Wind [LP on Gemini].
Insanely great free improvisation for the West Coast in this quartet of Vinny Golia (multi-reeds), Marco Eneidi (alto sax) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass), and Vijay Anderson (drums).
A new collective group of Chad Taylor (drums), Darius Jones (sax), Alex Harding (sax), and Sean Conly (bass) with each track composed by a different group member, creating distinct pieces that are essential to the complete album.
The dynamic duo of drummer Yoshida Tatsuya (Ruins, Korekyojin, Koenji Hyakkei) and guitarist Uchihashi Kazuhisa (Altered States, Ground Zero) meet in the studio with pianist Mishiba Satoshi for ten multi-tracked rock improvisations of great diversity, power and beauty.
The fifth album by composer and cellist Peggy Lee with her gifted band of Canadian musicians playing a range of creative arrangements varying from haunting melodies to energetic sonic voyages.
Performed as part of the AMPLIFY 2011 festival at The Stone in NYC, the duo of trombonist Radu Malfatti and electronic/visual artist Taku Unami presented this long, minimal and dramatic soundwork in a pitch-black room lit only by Unami's visuals.
Hal Rammel plays a collection of solo works for amplified palette, an instrument he created, that were recorded in realtime using multiple palettes arranged as a tabletop instrument and played with a variety of mallets.
The Ratchet Orchestra is a large ensemble of 30 fringe musicians from Montreal headed by director Nicolas Caloia whose compositions allow for improvised chamber jazz and showcase the talents of the orchestra's most passionate players.
Saxophonist Simon Rose, a member of Badland with Steve Noble and Simon Fell, in a duo with drummer Pascal Nichols, label leader of Krayon Recordings, for an understated set of extended improvisations.
British improvising guitarist Keith Rowe in a solo set from the Amplify 2011 festival at The Stone in NYC, performing a stunning piece on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 titled "September".
Modern improv and Bebop innvoative legends combine in this solo album from European pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach peforming the music of Thelonious Monk, 20 of the pianist's favorite works including several rarely performed pieces.
Saxophonist Brian Settles' quartet with pianist Neil Podgurski, bassist Corcoran Holt, drummer Jeremy Carlstedt, jazz that freely moves towards and away from the rhythm, with bursts of raw Ayler-like blowing.
San Francisco' Jacob Heule (known for his work with Ettrick & Barn Owl) and Tony Dryer join Euro improvisers Havard Skaset and Guro Skumsnes Moe for seven free improvisations using extended techniques and unusual approaches to their instruments.
Since the late 80s saxophonist and bass clarinetist Mikolaj Trzaska has been a leader in the Polish free improvisation scene, heard here in this hard-blowing studio album with UK drummer Mark Sanders and Dunmall side-kick bassist Olie Brice.
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.
A quartet of thoroughly modern and innovative improvisers - violinist Carlos Alves "Zingaro", trumpeter Jean Luc Cappozzo, flutist and bass clarinetist Jerome Bourdellon, and percussionist Nicolas Lelievre - performing at "Live At Total Meeting", 2010.
Using mostly unprocessed electric guitars, the duo of Elliott Sharp and Scott Fields' latest release presents eight dueling guitar works using dynamic, angular tones and textures, from extremely aggressive work to clean avant-jazz with twisted technical intent.
The trio of bassist Gary Peacock, pianist Paul Bley, and trumpeter Franz Koglmann interpret and improvise on the music of avant song-writer Annette Peacock.
The quartet of Cosottini, Melano, Pisani, Miano (EAQuartet Electroacoustic) in compositions referring to the 4 cardinal map points using graphic scores, games, open readings, &c.
Legendary trumpeter, composer and educator Bill Dixon in a 17 piece orchestra playing original compositions live at the 12th Vision Festival in New York City.
An explosive mix of rock, jazz, noise and free improv when the guitarists from The Ex (Terrie Ex, Andy Moor) come together with Ken Vandermark (saxophone, clarinet) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) for their 3rd inspired release.
Live electronic compositions from 1993-2005 by composer Agostino Di Scipio, using acoustic instruments and digital sound processing to create unusual and previously unheard sound worlds.
West Coast's Tin Hat with clarinetist Ben Goldberg, violinist Carla Kihlstedt guitarist Mark Orton, and trumpeter Ara Anderson in live recordings from Mallorca & Berkeley.
A limited LP from the trio of European improvisers Giovanni Di Domenico on piano and Peter Jacquemyn on double bass with American drummer Chris Corsano, recording in the studio in Belgium, 2013, for 3 free improvisations of dexterous and expressive playing.
San Francisco's Tigon play a hard-edged form of rock, avoiding the cliches of hardcore through intelligent use of dissonance and channeled power, with a Fugazi-like vocal approach over super-heavy riffing and sound.
Two free improvisers - guitarist John Russell and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm - meet for a deep exploration of their instrument's ability for tone and timbre in four challenging and rewarding recordings.
A vigorous performance by Charles Gayle (saxophone, clarinet, voice), Michael Bisio (bass) and Michael Wimberly (drums) that was recorded live in 1994 and features lively gospel music.
A composition for string quartet and trumpet in 9 parts by German composer Bojan Vuletic, a work inspired by and dedicated to Paul Celan, performed with the MIVOS String Quartet & Nate Wooley, and premiered in NYC's Issue Project Room.
A masterful fountain of melodic ideas, intriguing rhythms, and exceptional technical skill from the duo of Hamid Drake on drums and frame drum, and Sylvain Kassap on clarinets and chalumeau, recording live at the France Musique at Studio Theatre dÕAlfortville and in the studio.
A live performance at Judson Church in Manhattan as part of the 20th Vision Festival from the NY/France free improvising trio of Joelle Leandre on double bass, Mat Maneri on viola, and Gerald Cleaver on drums and percussion, two tracks of steadily building, incredibly compatible dialog.
The Swedish duo of percussionist Andreas Pollak and prepared pianist Johan Graden (Adam & Alma) in an album of references and innuendo, clandestine and furtive sounds that evoke great mystery and drama in beautifully shaped sound; evocative music that deceives to emerge from the electronic realm while in actuality coming from all acoustic sources.
The second volume of the project heard in the previous Creative Sources album, "Suspensao", here in a 9-piece electroacoust ensemble with viola, cello, doublebass, alto sax, trombone, piano, electric guitar, computer and percussion, suspenseful lowercase music that unfolds in mysterious, beautiful and rewarding ways.
Live recordings at LOFT in Cologne, Germany from the trio of George Wissel on prepared saxophone, Achim Tang on doublebass, and Simon Camatta on drums & percussion, performing seven "Movements" that use prodigious technique with reserve and direction, revealing the structure of their work as the pieces build and recede in fascinating ways.
An all-improvised transnational collaboration recorded in the studio and live at Les Instants Chavires in France, between Mike Ladd (vocals/synthi), Carol Robinson (clarinets/voice), Dave Randall (guitar) and Dirk Rothbrust (drum/percussion).
Stream of consciousness improvisation in voice, violin harmonics, and unidentifiable percussive sounds, all over a NY neighborhood traffic drone, from the duo of violinist Natalia Steinbach and drummer/percussionist David Grollman, reporting from a strange dream.
Captured during a Japan tour by the duo of Tim Olive (one-string electric guitar) and Alfredo Costa Monteiro (electro-acoustic devices), this live studio recording showcases the duo's attunement and dramatic sense of structure.
The sextet of Jorrit Dijkstra (sax), Pandelis Karayorgis (piano), Jeb Bishop (trombone), Mary Oliver (violin), Nate McBride (bass) and Han Bennink (drums) take on the music of Steve Lacy in unexpected and impressive ways.
Having previously worked together with Joe McPhee and Kent Kessler, this album distills the Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado and NY drummer/percussionist Chris Corsano to a concentrated sax and drum duo of earnest and edgy playing, bending jazz, free and blues idioms to their will with magnificent technique and power, both clearly elated in their meeting.
Recorded live at Silence Sounds in Guelph Canada, the duo of Xavier Charles on clarinet and Eric Normand on electric bass & objects eschew idiom in favor of their unique natural language on their instruments, applying patient development of truly idiosyncratic and fascinating command through a single extended work punctuated in seven diverse passages.
From 2008-16 until drummer Frank Rosaly moved to Amsterdam, alto saxophonist Nick Mazzarella's Trio was an active part of Chicago's creative jazz scene; in early 2018 Rosaly returned for a visit and Mazzarella composed a suite of 6 new pieces to commemorate the trio's tenth anniversary, the exuberant result this excellent concert recorded at Co-Prosperity Sphere!
Denmark to NY transplant Dam Eckardt Jensen blends her vocals, saxophone and flute work with Texan/NY bassist Tom Blancarte's furious playing to create unique sound worlds, including 5 hallucinatory and musical dreams.
A beautiful solo set of 12 improvisations, Michael Attias performing on alto sax with his left hand and piano with his right, captured in the natural reverberation of La Maison en Bois in Abeville-La-Riviere, France; surprisingly his 1st solo album, developed over 12 years yet played in under an hour with no retakes, a wonderful nuanced reflection in tone, melody & color.
A beautifully hypnotic album of saxophone, accompanied by Pan-Ney, Shruti Box and Organ, recorded in overdubs by composer/wind player Werner Durand in this 2nd chapter of his trilogy focused on the Pan-Ney, a self-built instrument for repetitive foundations, as Durand draws on elements of nature, mythology, dance, religion, literature and folklore.
Recording in Toronto, the core trio of drummer Nick Fraser, saxophonist Tony Malaby and pianist Kris Davis are joined on four tracks by tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and trumpeter Lina Allemano, in an album of composed and collective improvisation, merging Toronto, NY and European influences in an accomplished album of diverse approaches and orchestrations.
The 5th release from the trio of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Keiji Haino, guitarist Jim O'Rourke and Oren Ambarchi on wineglass and percussion is an introspective and beautifully developed set recorded live at their March 2013 concert at SuperDeluxe.
An extended and rich confluence of strings from R Keenan Lawler and John Krausbauer, using resonator guitar and banjo, sustained tones that intertwine in a beautiful and optimistic drone, minimalistic yet drenched in a profusion of harmonic detail; a beautiful and elusive dream mixing between an Indian raga and an alien electronic environment.
Recorded in the mid-90s, Livebatts! was a project of John White (Cornelius Cardew, Scratch Orchestra) developed to exploit "toy" keyboards of the 80s--cheap battery-driven instruments that hold tremendous potential for "serious" music-making--used here in a playful quartet with vocalist MJ Coldiron, Andrea Rocca (guitar & samples) and Nancy Ruffer (electrified flute).
Quietly lurking as it prepares to attack, this Kobra is the free improvising quaret of Aurora Nealand on accordion, alto saxophone, voice & objects, Steve Marquette on acoustic & electric guitars, Anton Hatwich on bass, and Paul Thibodeaux on drums, captured live at Chicago's Hungry Brain during the Instigation Festival for a mysterious 2-part "New Omens" and some "Telly Attire".
'Spilla' means 'to play' in the language of Neapolitan musicians, and playing here are NY guitarist and composer Elliott Sharp and Italian guitarist Sergio Sorrentino, presenting world premier recordings of 4 works recorded live in Vercelli, Italy: two improvisations and two graphic scores performed on electric guitar with incredible technique and passion.
Stochastic music for percussion and synthesizers from New York avant conceptualist and keyboardist Charlemagne Palestine, here on piano & electronics, with the Italian duo Trrma' of Giovanni Todisco on percussion and Guiseppe Candiano on synth, in two side-long works of irregular rhythm, complexity and dissonance that build and recede in a suspenseful journey.
Marks and Lebzelter's 1968 complex Columbia Masterworks LP is a mix of spoken word, electronics, experimental psychedelia, cut ups, tape loops and processed excerpts of interviews, with contributors including Alan Silva, Andrew Cyrille, Roswell Rudd, &c.