Norwegian drummer Dag Magnus Narvesen's octet with Kristoffer Alberts, Jorgen Mathisen and Andree Roligheten on reeds, and Hayden Powell and Kristoffer Kompen on brass, merging New Orleans and free jazz traditions in creative and lyrical jazz of embraceable compositions and exceptional soloing.

Masterful NY double bassist in a trio with vibraphonist Kevin Norton and clarinetist Wendell Harrison, in an exquisite jazz album with what Linberg describes as a "post-industrial rust belt aesthetic", alongside a 3 part tribute to the late trumpeter Roy Campbell.

Recordings of an installation piece built in Iles-de-la-Madeleine in the summer of 2013, a large sculpture made of resonant metal pipes with propane torches and whale bones, used as a huge musical instrument allowing three people to play simultaneously from different sides.

Transcendental and exceptional improvisation in the 2nd release from the Fenetre Ovale project, with composer Karl Naegelen and improvisers Eve Risser (piano) and Joris Ruhl (clarinet), expanded with the arrival of percussionist Toma Gouband and violinist Amaryllis Billet.

An absorbing album of solo drum work from French drummer/percussionist Antonin Gerbal, recording in the studio and demonstrating his profound sonic and technical approaches to the drums, isolated from projects like Peeping Tom, Bertrand Denzler/ONCEIM or Zoor.

Based on Canadian physician & author Jacques Ferron's book "Gaspe Mattempa", bassist Eric Normad leads a quintet into a mythological audio world with Raphael Arsenault (violin), Philippe Lauzier (bass clarinet), Alexandre Robichaud (trumpet) & Antoine Letourneau-Berger (percussion).

Cologne pianist and composer Simon Russell wrote these compositions, melding jazz, classical, electronic, even tango music into lyrical and joyfully quirky works, performed by his ensemble with Goerg Wissel, Matthias Muche, Udo Moll, Carl Ludwig Hubsch, &c.

A diverse and engrossing solo album from NY-based, global travelling trombonist Steve Swell, showing vast creative and technical skills through unusual techniques that balance with inventive and lyrical approaches to the horn, a tour-de-force of modern playing.

Trumpeter Nate Wooley's major 3-part work makes oblique reference to dodecaphony, ambient tape music, and the minimalist rock of Terry Riley, conceived as a tribute to Wooley's mentor Ron Miles, who performs alongside Devin Gray & Rudy Royston (drums), Cory Smythe & Jozef Dumoulin (piano).

An album of improvised electronics from frequent collaborators Paul Dunmall on a Yamaha WX11 electronic wind instrument, and Philip Gibbs performing on electric guitar, in 9-parts exploring the unusual tonalities in both expansive and highly technical approaches.

A wild dialog between Swiss trumpeter Marco von Orelli and saxophonist Udo Schindler, recording live at the 58th SALON for Klang+Kunst in Krailing/Munich in 2015, using an insanely advanced set of techniques and approaches to their horns for intense and exultant effect.

Barcelona drummer and percussionist Vasco Trilla, know for his work with Planeta Imaginario, Filthy Habits Ensemble, Cows On Trees, &c. in a solo album that takes the listener through a myriad of tones and emotions along a varied and tonally hybrid journey of prepared drums, assorted percussion

A stunning example of collective free improvisation from the quartet of frequent collaborators and superb improvisers, Paul Dunmall on tenor & soprano sax, Liam Noble on piano, Mark Sanders on drums, and John Edwards on bass, recording in the studio in Birmingham.

Instant compositions on from Nicola L. Hein on guitar and Mia Zabelka on violin, both versed in soundscape and sonic sculptures, using extended techniques to create dense but dynamic sonic landscapes with significant room for silence.

Since 2012 the improvising trio of saxophonist Ntshuks Bonga, bassist Andy Champion and Corey Mwamba have met to perform at concerts and festivals, here captured in the studio in a dynamic dialog balancing fervent and contemplative playing with commanding skill.

An exhilarating and unusual set of duos for drum and cello from Daniel Pierce and Teddy Rankin-Parker, the latter known for Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble, ICE, and work with Primus; together they deliver intense and captivating polyrhythms and unexpected string sonics.

The Chicago trio of Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Paul Giallorenzon on keys, and Frank Rosaly on drums, performing a joyful album of lyrical jazz, blending compositions and free playing with modern creative skills and unpredictable, enthusiastic soloing; superb!

Trumpeter Peter Evans' first solo release in over 5 years, presenting two demanding and impressive live performances from 2015/16, during Evan's residency at Roulette, and at Bop Stop in Cleveland, presented on a USB credit card drive in mp3 and wav formats, with liner notes.

The Norwegian trio of guitarist Even Helte Hermansen, drummer Gard Nilssen, and bassist Rune Nergaard in their 8th Bushman's Revenge album, bridging free improvisation and 70s style prog-oriented rock, non-histrionic, outstanding instrumental music with great depth.

Originally released in a limited edition of forty copies for a solo/duo show with Jason Lescalleet in 2013, this 10" release remasters the original album; a disorienting and melodic album of tape loops and dark ambient drone.

NY trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson's 2nd Pi album, in a quintet with pianist Matt Mitchell, bassist John Hebert, guitarist Miles Okazaki, and drummer Craig Weinrib, for 6 original lyrical compositions with captivating progressions and top notch soloing making great modern jazz.

The 5th album for Sao Paulo Underground with Rob Mazurek, bringing Brazilian drummer/percussionist Mauricio Takata and keyboardist Guilherem Granado together with the Chicago cornetist, also on keys, and here with Swiss/Brazilian transplant Thomas Rohrer on winds.

Simulacrum's 5th CD, with John Medeski on organ, Kenny Grohowski on drums and Matt Hollenberg on guitar, powerful playing that blends heavy rock, blues, funk and jazz with modern classical music, here performing composer John Zorn's 10 part suite on decscending into madness.

The 4th collaboration between electronic artists Michel Banabila and Machinefabriek (Rutger Zuydervelt), in captivating music exploring the concepts of macro and micro: how insiginificant we become when zooming out, and how small worlds can be found when zooming in.

Jerome Noetinger was commissioned by the Ensemble Phoenix Basel, a challenge for a non-notational conceptualist, which he accepted, creating this work in collaboration with the Ensemble, and based on the book by Pascal Quignard, "La haine de la musique" (The hate of music).

Seven "hyperactive and urgent improvisations" of the reunited trio of guitarist Sandy Ewen, double bassist Damon Smith and drummer Weasel Walter, performing at the NMASS festval in Austin, Texas, and two venues in Houston, Texas; rugged and rewarding exploratory playing.

A live concert at Festival PiedNu, in Le Havre, France in 2015 by guitarist Terrie Ex and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love, three improvisations using exemplary technique and unusual approaches to their instrument, cathartic improv from two well-travelled players.

Free improvisations and a few fascinating covers of work by Cecil Taylor, Chico Hamilton, and Johnny Dyani from the duo of double bassist Damon Smith and legendary drummer Alvin Fielder, showing intense and unusual approaches in great rhythmic dialog.

A fragile and powerful album of double bass from Australian-born, Berlin-based Mike Majkoswki, in two long works that use repeating structures that morph over time, one demonstrating the beautiful tone of the bass, the other effected and punctuated with thick harmonics.

A record of vicious improvisation from the trio of Paal Nilssen-Love (drums), Lasse Marhaug (electronics) and Massimo Pupillo (bass guitar) performing at the Next Festival in Bratislava in 2011, a superb example of electric improv and noise with urgent rhythmic propulsion.

An excellent 4-CD set from a UK tour of the long-running London monthly concert series Mopomoso, featuring improvisations from various grouping of John Russell, Evan Parker, John Edwards, David Leahy, Pat Thomas, Alison Blunt, Benedict Taylor, Kay Grant & Alex Ward.

The duo of French clarinetist Isabelle Duthoit and Viennese pianist Georg Graewe in a subtle and sophisticated set of improvisations with chamber music inclinations, using impressive technique that serves their beautiful and mesmerizing dialog.

Without referencing typical genre or style, the collaboration of sound artists Tim Barnes and Jeph Jerman moves a step forward with this 45 RPM LP release of texture and atmosphere, with assistance from Ken Vandermark, Jacob Duncan, Aaron Michael Bulter, Sara Saltau & Bret Berry.

Unusual instrumentation and a very diverse set of improvising backgrounds from pianist Alexander Hawkins Ensemble, with Orphy Robinson on steel pan, Otto Fischer on electric guitar, Dominic Lash on double bass, Hannah Marshall on cello, and Javier Carmona on drums.

Derek Rogers sculpted these six compositions from live performances, organizing them using strings and synthesizers, and employing digital processing and granular synthesis with concert and field recordings, creating richly complex works that evolve with beautiful pacing.

Reflections on the loss of traditional structures in the rural landscape of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, composed of field recordings, tape manipulations, & digital resynthesis; the first in a series of works by Mirande inspired by impressionist painter Daniel Garber.

The new release from Italy's excellent electroacoustic experimental band Ossatura led by Elio Martusciello takes the band into new territory, detailed and more luminous, more acoustic, with vibes and clarinet (Michael Thieke) and even a lovely song surprising long-time fans.

Another twisted, complex and irresistible album from multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Bob Drake, practically presenting a history of the rock genre in 20 short pieces that twist and turn in inventive, humorous, peculiar, mesmerizing, and masterly songs.

Using a diverse set of instruments and percussive devices, from tennis balls to Jupiter 80 keyboards, electronics artist and performer Steve MacLean presents an exotic set of compositions using microtonal, poly-rhythmic and deeply engaging structures in unusual and captivating music.

A cooperative band of mostly NY improvisers-- Mary Halvorson on guitar, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet & flugelhorn, and French pianist Benoit Delbecq, recording in the studio for a album of uniquely unusual and rewarding compositions from all players.

An almost ceremonial release in percussive approaches to improvisation from the trio of William Parker on double bass, shakuhachi, thumb piano & more, Hamid Drake on drums, cymbals and gongs, and Joe Morris on guitar, banjo, bass, pocket trumpet, fiddle & whistles.

Chicago flautist Nicole Mitchell presents a work inspired by photographs from scholar and leader of social justice, W.E.B. Dubois, about African American prosperity after the civil war, a rich and compelling set of compositions performed in an ensemble of superb Chicago improvisers.

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.

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!

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.

Dark and demanding improvisation, each side of this album an extended foray into dark and dangerous explorations from the Los Angeles trio of Peter Kolovos on guitar, Patrick Shiroishi on saxophone, and Noel Meek on electronics and tapes, Shiroishi's sweeping tones matching the electronics and effected guitar in a glorious nightmare of darkly imaginative sound.

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).

An excellent first meeting of two guitarists recording on a February afternoon and released in the sequence recorded with no edits or changes, from Jim McAuley on guitar and Scot Ray on lap steel slide guitar with effects, an innately lyrical blending of styles masking the strong technical skills and long histories of these two superlative players.

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.