Drummer Barry Altschul's first release as a leader in 25 years finds him in a trio with Jon Irabagon (Mostly Other People Do the Killing) and Joe Fonda (FAB Trio) for 9 Altschul compositions plus Carla Bley's "Ictus".
Rosco Blur's groove-based jazz album with a great set of players including Paul Plimey (piano), Dylan van der Schyff (drums), spirited music with the occasional sung-spoken lyric, an album that harkens to the world of Roland Kirk with a modern edge.
Italian pianist Alberto Braida in a duo with Netherlands bassist Wilbert de Joode, a set of freely improvised works of intense dialog both technical and sensitive, with a playful give and take that incorporates magnificent use of both players instruments.
Limited edition DVD plus audio files of two extended sets bringing saxophonist Anthony Braxton and cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum together live at Bezanson Recital Hall in Amherst, MA in 2010, performing compositions by both artists.
Distilling the trio of Brotzmann/Noble/Edwards into a duo, saxophonist Brotzmann and drummer Noble recorded this powerful set of free improvisations live at Ateliers Claus, Brussels on January 19th, 2013.
Oboist & english horn player Kyle Bruckmann brought together this Chicaco group with Tim Daisy (drums), Jeb Bishop (trombone), Kurt Johnson (bass) and Jen Clare Paulson (viola) to integrate non-traditional instruments in the ever-evolving intersection of modern jazz.
A thoroughly modern and bizarre two-act opera about three struggling roommates in Brooklyn performed with Jason Cady, Mary Halvorson, Tomas Fujiwara, Jessica Pavone, Tim Dahl, Ben Holmes, Katie Young, &c.
Shofar, a ram horn, is the unifying sound in these experimental compositions performed by Alvin Curran, who also uses electronics, in a NY quartet with Arnold Dreyblatt (accordion), William Winant (large tam tam), Michael Riessler (clarinet).
A hauntingly beautiful set of solo piano works from Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii, subtle work that belies her incredible techincal skill through beautifully paced and meditative music.
Trumpeter & cornetist Dennis Gonzalez' Yells At Eels with sons Aaron Gonzalez on bass and Stefan Gonzalez on drums adds Aakash Mittal (Rudresh Mahanthappa, Ravish Momin) on alto sax for a dynamic studio release of Gonzalez and Mittal compositions.
Long-time collaborators, the duo of pianist and prepared pianist Achim Kaufmann and trumpeter Thomas Heberer recorded this set of 9 intimate and incredibly well informed duos in Berlin, 2011.
A beautiful and diverse set of duos from clarinetist Francois House and pianist Marilyn Crispell, with a two part title track based on a poem by Catriona Strang, and an instrumental song for Jeanne Lee.
An early album from Vancouver clarinetist Francois Houle with frequent collaborators Tony Wilson (guitar) and Dylan van der Schyff (drums & percussion), performing original compositions and a unique version of Duke Ellington's "Frustration."
With two trumpets, drums and piano, Kaze's 2nd release with Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura, and Muzzix members Christian Pruvost and Peter Orins, hits like the album title, but surprises with contrasts from torrential power to beautiful melodic interplay.
Recorded among the Alps, "Refugio" is Laboule's (Paolo Novellino) disclosure of an ancient, dusty and seaside soundscape where it's possible to discover the necessary asylum to grow and find a refuge for melancholy.
An intense duo performed live in Guelph, 2004 between bassist Joelle Lenadre and violinist India Cooke, frequent collaborators who bring intense drama and incredible technical skill to the 7 part "Firedance".
The West Coast trio of Michael Vatcher on drums & percussion, Steuart Liebig on electric bass, and Vinny Golia on reeds and winds recording live in Los Angeles, 2001, astonishing free improvisation from three seasoned players.
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.
Turbulent and rugged free improvisation live in Berlin from the trio of electric guitarist Caspar Brotzmann, E-Bassist Marino Pliakas, and drummer Michael Wertmuller, with FM Einheit joining on steel for two tracks.
Five recordings, 2 from 1977 at Tempo Natural and 3 from 1993, where Tony Oxley leads various permutations of improvisers Derek Bailey, Paul Rutherford, Pat Thomas, Matt Wand, Phillip Wachsmann, Ian Brighton; outstanding!
Montreal saxophonist Charles Papasoff's first album as a leader and the 1st release on the Red Toucan label, presenting Papasoff solo, and in a quartet with trumpeter Baikida Carroll, bassist Santi Debriano, and drummer Pheeroan Aklaff.
The duo of pianist Dana Reason and drummer & sampler player Peter Valsamis in an album crossing boundaries of jazz, classical, and creative new music from two exceptional players involved in a rich dialog.
This extraordinary improvisation quartet joining NY and London improvisers made it's debut over the course of 3 concerts in Europe in 2012, with Evan Parker on sax, Peter Evans on trumpet, Craig Taborn on piano, and Sam Pluta on laptop.
Tenor saxophonist Matthias Schubert leads a quartet with Claudio Puntin (clarinet) Carl Ludwig Hubsch (tuba), and Tom Rainey (drums), integrating New Orleans jazz forms into modern improvisation, including covering Jelly Roll Morton's "Shreveport Stomp".
Bassist Simon Fell presents two SFQ projects, "Three Quintets" with Alex Ward (clarinet), Gail Brand (trombone), Alex Maguire (piano) and Steve Noble (drums); and the Liverpool Quartet with Alex Ward, Guy Llewellyn (french horn) and Mark Sanders (drums & electronics).
Irish trumpeter Ian Smith in an eclectic quintet of improvisers: Brian Godding (guitar synth), Marcio Mattos (bass, cello), then-emerging Mark Sanders (drums, percussion), and Thebe Lipere (percussion).
A mix of jazz and rock, the 2nd Talking Pictures CD brings Vancouver artists Ron Samworth (guita), Peggy Lee (cello), Bill Clark (trumpet) and Dylan van der Schyff (percussion) into unusual and compelling avant territory.
An excellent introduction to the early years of Red Toucan in 2 CDs with 22 tracks from master improvisers including Peter Brotzmann, Pheeroan Aklaff, Tony Wilson, Peggy Lee, Gerry Hemingway, Dave Liebman, Kyle Bruckman, Frank Gratkowski, &c. &c.
The trio of reedist Peter Brotzmann, drummer Nikolai Yudanov and guitarist Sakari Luoma performing at Kerubi Club in Joensuu, Finland during their 1999 in Finland, passionate and powerful improvisation.
"Dreamachines" takes Zorn's fascination with Gysin and Burroughs further in 9 compositions combining improvised and compositional techniques, performed by the amazing quartet of Joey Baron (drums), Trevor Dunn (bass), John Medeski (piano) and Kenny Wollesen (vibes).
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.
With the stellar lineup of Landon Knoblock (keyboards), Oscar Noriega (sax) and Jeff Davis (drums), the NYC futurist jazz trio CACAW blends avant-jazz and synth rock in exhilarating and unorthodox ways on this impressive debut release.
LARK is the NYC improvising ensemble of Ingrid Laubrock (tenor sax), Ralph Alessi (trumpet) on Kris Davis (piano) and Tom Rainey (drums) striving to spontaneously compose music in as many ways possible.
A double CD of UK's experimental music ensemble Apartment House performing 14 chamber pieces composed by and under the supervision of Laurence Crane, beautiful and informed minimal work from a unique voice in modern composition.
Kaze brings together Japan's incredible improviser-composers, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and pianist Satoko Fujii, with trumpeter Christian Pruvost and drummer Peter Orins from the French improvisers collective Muzzix.
Keith Wood's Hush Arbors with bassist Jason Ajemian, guitarist Leon Dufficy, and drummer Ryan Sawyer, in their 2nd Ecstatic Peace album of driving avant-folk songs and instrumental sections.
Germany's Fragment Factory released this compilation to celebrate their 4th anniversary, with artists Joachim Montessuis, AMK, Aaron Dilloway, Philip Marshall, Krube., Michael Barthel, GX Jupitter-Larsen, Michael Muennich, Giuseppe Ielasi, Leif Elggren and Michael and Basil Esposito.
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.
A split 7" release between Cremaster (Alfredo Costa Monteiro (electronics) and Ferran Fages (feedback mixing board and electroacoustic devices); and the Komora A trio of Karol Koszniec (electronics), Dominik Kowalczyk (laptop) and Jakub Mikolajczyk (modular synth).
British saxophonist Simon Rose uses extended and evocative techniques in this exceptional set of duos with Paul Stapleton, who plays a Bonsai Sound Sculpture, an assemblage of unusual electronic and acoustic components allowing a wide range of expression.
1987 recordings from tenor saxophonist Glenn Spearman (Emergency) with Lisle Ellis on bass, Donal Robinson on trap drums, and James Routhier on electric guitar, creative avant jazz with a unique drive and determination.
A work for eight glockenspiels and organ, a beautiful percussive work in the vein of Reich and Glass that creates hallucinatory illusions in sound as the piece progresses, testing "the science of attention and the counterpoint of daydreams".
Acoustic instruments and feedback devices in old stone spaces, rich multi-layered music recorded during a residency in the Czech Republic by the trio of George Cremaschi (double bass and electronics), Irene Kepl (violin and electronics) and Petr Vrba (trumpet, clarinet and electronics).
A composition written for collaboration between Charles Evans and David Liebman, an unusual pairing of soprano and baritone saxophones, in a quartet with pianist Ron Stabinsky and bassist Tony Marino.
Pianist Nechusthan leads his powerful trio of bassist Ken Filiano & drummer Bob Meyers, plus clarinet legend Harold Rubin, in a Jackson Pollack-influenced action suite, 10 pieces of free improvisation following a larger structured process.
Using Gato Libre's music as the direction for his first solo album since 2004, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura releases an album of powerful and personal playing with a surreal flow of ideas, impish humor, and restrained joy.
Connecticut bassist and Braxton alumni Carl Testa works with live sampling and granular synthesis performance systems to interact with his acoustic bass, creating these unusual and uniquely unfolding works for solo bass.
TLASILA was an experimental music collective founded in 1990 by composer Tom Smith; this 3 CD + download releases finds a massive cast of artists restructuring the improvisations from the "Noon and Eternity" album into a massive 240 minute work.
Thunderous and intense free improvisation from Natsuki Tamurao's Quartet with Satoko Fujii playing sythesizer. 2003 release, first time in stock at Squidco.
Trumpeter Gonzalez's band with sons, bassist Aaron Gonzalez and drummer Stefan Gonzalez, joined by saxophonist Tim Green and legendary UK/South African drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo.
A collection of performances by Diego Chamy (dance), improvising in duo with Tamara Ben-Artzi (dance), Axel Dorner (trumpet), Nikolaus Gerszewski (piano and guitar), Robin Hayward (tuba) & Christof Kurzmann (electronics).
Reissue of pianist Copland in a trio with bassist Drew Gress and drummer Jochen Rueckert performing ballads including pieces by Coltrane, Waldron, Porter and Sting.