Peter Ablinger's works for three pianos are made up of overlapping sound-layers, repeated octaves, and barely audible sounds made by fingers darting across keys; played by Hildegard Kleeb.

Live recordings from 1973-74 from the trio of drummer John Stevens, guitarist Derek Bailey, and saxophonist Trevor Watts, dynamic works performed "impromptu" with a wealth of ideas as these innovators demonstrate the skills that helped define them as masterful players.

Known for his more abstract Memorize the Sky project, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Matt Bauder's band Day in Pictures adheres to jazz traditions with the superb quintet of Nate Wooley (trumpet), Kris Davis (piano), Jason Ajemian (bass) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums).

Dutch percussionist Han Bennink meets tenor saxophonist Evan Parker for their first duo release recorded in the studio in Gateway Studios, London, 2000.

The trio of John Butcher on saxophones (acoustic and feedback), Leonel Kaplan on trumpet and Christof Kurzmann on ppooll, performing live at the 2012 Ulrichsberg Kaleidophon Festival, a subtle yet rich dialog from 3 players who complement each other in surprising ways.

The 2nd of 3 releases documenting composer/cornetist Taylor Ho Bynums' Navigation project, in 2 LPs of studio recordings with his Sextet: Jim Hobbs on saxophone, Bill Lowe on trombone & tuba, Mary Halvorson on guitar, Ken Filiano on bass, and Tomas Fujiwara on drums & vibraphone.

A set of playful, upbeat duos from West Coast-born bassist Greg Cohen and NY guitarist Bill Frisell, celebrating Cohen's home state of California in 6 originals and 3 California covers.

West Coast trombonist and electronic artist Michael Dessen's electroacoustic trio with bassist Christopher Tordini and drummer Dan Weiss, balancing detailed compositions and radically open improvisation that equally embraces groove-based improv and soundscape.

Saxophonist & flutist Paul Dunmall continues his Atmospheres series with these 3 varied improvisations performed with Philip Gibbs on electroacoustic guitar and Trevor Taylor on acoustic and electronic percussion.

Bridging the East and West, with Miya Masaoka on koto and Xu Fengxia on guzheng representing the East, and Larry Ochs on sax, Didier Petite on cello, and Sylvain Kassap on clarinet representing the West; exhiliarating and exotic global improvisation.

The trio of Carl Michael von Hausswolff, Jason Lescalleet, and Joachim Nordwall use extreme electronics with an industrial bent and processed field recordings in this dark yet riveting release.

A mixed work for ensemble revolving around the sequences of video and electronic composition, showing a series of Chilean and Argentine landscapes and cityscapes.

Two reed players, Frode Gjerstad from Norway and Luis Conte from Buenos Aires, in studio recordings of improvised interactions using unusual and extended techniques through eleven short and incisive tracks.

The large Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, led by Raymond MacDonald, met trombonist George Lewis in 2012 at CCA in Glasgow to record this two part work based on a set of instructions presented graphically, plus an extended free improvisation.

Two amazing wind players - saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist Vinny Golia and saxophonist Urs Leimgruber - in a series of free improvising duos pushing their instruments into unusual and captivating territories.

Pianist Richard Grossman in a trio with double bassist Ken Filiano and percussionist Alex Cline, playing freely improvised jazz in a live setting.

Ensemble Recherche plays chamber music pieces by Polish composer Roman Haubenstock-Ramati that are dynamically explosive and allow for the free communicating of the musicians.

A series of musical "mobiles" from European composer Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, sonic transformations of the visual experiences of Alexander Calder's dynamic sculptures.

Bassist John Hebert continues to explore his Louisana/Cajun roots with his trio of Benoit Delbecq on piano (plus synth & electronics) and drummer Gerald Cleaver, challenging and enigmatic improvisation with a solid rhythmic center.

The quartet of two drummers (Paal-Nilssen-Love & Pika) and two noise artists (JoJo Hiroshige and Lasse Marhaug) performing live at Osaka Chika-Ikkai for six intense, powerful and informed noise improvisations.

The free improvising trio of saxophonist Kidd Jordan, drummer Alvin Fielder, and bassist Peter Kowald performing at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center in New Orleans in 2002.

The free improvising trio of saxophonist Kidd Jordan, drummer Alvin Fielder, and bassist Peter Kowald performing at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center in New Orleans in 2002, plus the duo of Jordan and Fielder in the studio in 2005 and live, 2012 in Texas.

German composer Bernd Konrad masterfully balances composed and improvised parts in these pieces of construction and decay that constantly change texture.

The saxophone trio of Jonas Kullhammar, bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg and drummer Espen Aalberg, the 2nd release in their Basement Sessions merging bop and free European forms in masterful ways.

Unusual electroacoustic improv from the duo of Christof Kurzmann on lloopp and Irena Tomazin on voice and dictaphone, recording at Radio Student and at Amann Studio in 2012 and 2013.

After many years collaborating together, New York saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and drummer Tom Rainey present their debut as a duo in a series of improvisations, from subtle interaction to rousing interplay.

John Law (piano) in a quartet with Jon Lloyd (saxes), Tim Wells (bass) and Gerry Hemingway (drums) playing jazz compositions modeled on a baroque suite.

The exceptional improvising duo of Daunik Lazro (saxophone) and Joelle Leandre (bass, voice) in a live recording from Hasparren of dark and beautiful free improvisation.

Although she has probably become known as one of Australia's best-known composers, Liza Lim's compositions undermine centuries-old Eurocentrism and are largely inspired by Asian culture.

During Paal Nilssen-Love's July 2013 solo gig at Auido Rebel's Quintavant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he was joined by Arto Lindsay performing on electric guitar and voice, recording these two impressive improvisations released on a 180 Gram 33/45 RPM record.

Composer and saxophonist Jon Lloyd comes together for the first time as a quartet with Stan Adler (cello), Marcio Mattos (bass), and Paul Clarvis (percussion) in a series of loosely composed works with a lot of room for improvisation.

Composer and pianist Russ Lossing explores the eloquence of silence as his music grows out of silence and the space between thought and gesture in this trio with Ed Schuller (bass) and Paul Motian (drums).

After recording Stroomtoon in December 2011, electronic sound artist Rutger Zuydervelt wanted to capture more of the roughness and spontaneity of his live performances, so he recorded more material for this second installation.

Pianist/composer Myra Melford's first solo album, original compositions inspired by Sacramento artist Don Reich, with a 16-page booklet that includes full color photographs of Don Reich's artwork and liner notes by Melford and Charles Johnson.

Six works recorded in Amsterdam from electric guitarist Enrique Mendoza, performed by himself or saxophonist Boglarka Nagy, or flutist Jos Zwaanenburg, each track featuring live electronics.

An amazing band led by bassist Harry Miller, representing some of the finest players in the 70s London improv scene, 3 tracks from the studio and 3 live at the '76 Chateauvallon Jazz Festival, with Louis Moholo-Moholo, Chris McGregor, Mike Osborne, Keith Tippett, &c. &c.

The trio of Joe Morris on guitar, Fausto Sierakowski on alto sax and Nigel Taylor on trumpet in a spirited studio release of collective improvisation using superb technique in beautifully dovetailed dialog.

The trio of Jim O'Rourke on guitar, Paal Nilssen-Love on drums and Lasse Marhaug on electronics in an album of beautiful psychedelic noise recorded at Gok Sound Studio in Tokyo.

Sound artist Annabelle Playe blends electroacoustic, experimental and electronic noise music in her debut album.

Focusing on amplified percussion via Hal Rammel's percussion palettes, and Chris Burns' work with electric guitar, this Milwaukee area duo has been improvising together for many year, as heard in this engaging dialog of unusual interjection and tone.

Bringing together masterful players Paul Dunmall (sax), Hilary Jeffery (trombone), Alexander Von Schlippenbach (piano), Paul Schuber (sax), Mike Majkowski (bass), and Yorgos Dimitriadis (drums) for a studio release of incredibly well-balanced and insightful improvisation.

Showcasing the working trio of saxophonist Dave Rempis, Joshua Abrams on bass, guimbri and small harp, and percussionist Avreeayl Ra, in a uniquely voiced trio balancing beauty and power.

Since 1997 drummer Tim Daisy and saxophonist Dave Rempis have worked together as part of the vital Chicago improvising scene, heard here in these superb duo sessions of great technical, musical, and inventive skills.

Rich electronic space explorations in the tradition of Ash Ra Tempel, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, &c.

The duo of Bryan Day (Eloine, Shelf Life) and instrument builder Jay Kreimer in what they describe as "confrontational gamelan theatre", a form of amplified metal/object-based improvisation.

Splatter's 3rd CD resulted from a meeting between the London-based quartet Splatter (Noel Taylor-clarinet; Anna Kaluza-sax; Tom Greenhalgh-drums; Pedro Velasco-electric guitar) and Polish bassist Rafal Mazur after their successful collaboration at Cafe Oto in 2010.

The longest lasting and most controversial edition of the SME was that featuring John Stevens (percussion, cornet, voice) with two vastly under-rated acoustic musicians: Nigel Coombes (violin) & Roger Smith (guitar); plus 3 concerts from 1980 and 1991.

The 1977 Derby concert performance by the SME quartet with John Stevens (percussion, cornet, voice), Nigel Coombes (violin), Colin Wood (cello) & Roger Smith (guitar), with a tribute to Anton Webern, plus concert recordings as a trio.

Concert and studio recordings of peace music organised by John Stevens for himself and Trevor Watts with numerous workshop musicians and audience people on saxophones, percussion and voices mostly contributing a flexible drone.

Outrageous sounds produced by a workshop orchestra directed by John Stevens - an SME-type improvisation; instrumental & vocal drones; a mechanically rhythmic yet unpredictable piece; and an all-out improv featuring non-vocal mouth sounds, vocal sounds & instruments.

Composer Ernstalbrecht Stiebler presents three solo pieces, one for accordion (Teodoro Anzellotti) one for piano (Marianne Schroeder) and the third for organ (Huub Ten Hacken).

Prisme is the music for a sound installation by sound artist Franck Vigroux and a collaboration with Fabien Zocco in a live audiovisual performance.

An hour of improvised duo music by Per Henrik Wallin (piano) and Sven-Ake Johansson (drums) on one CD, and another hour of exceptional playing by the trio of Wallin, Peter Janson (double bass) and Leif Wennerstrom (drums) on the second CD.

Calgary's saxophonist Darren Williams, who has worked with Mats Gustafsson, Cody Oliver, Eugene Chadbourne, and Han Bennink, in a solo album of remarkable power using extended techniques in composed and improvised pieces that push Williams into astounding territory.

Wire's annual survey of the past 12 months, including their Top 50 Releases, Top 50 Archive Releases, and commentary from Simon Reynolds, Clive Bell, Agata Pyzik, &c. &c.

A live recording from Le Carre Bleu, France, of the superb improvising trio of Christine Wodrascka (piano), Jean Luc Cappozzo (trumpet), and Gerry Hemingway (percussion).

Acclaimed free improvising saxophonist Jack Wright is joined by his son Ben on double bass for these exceptional duos that balance space and color through extended techniques and an impecable sense of timing.

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.

Sound artist Nathaniel Bartlett electronically processes the marimba and a variety of metal objects in an extended composition commissioned by sculptor Andree Valley for an exhibition featuring metallic sculptures.