The Squid's Ear Magazine
Compact Discs


 
Persson, Rasmus / Lee Noyes : Ratios
Persson, Rasmus / Lee Noyes :
Ratios

(Idealstate Recordings -- Sweden )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

The collaboration between sound artists Lee Noyes and Rasmus initiated during their 2021 residency at Elementstudion in Goteborg, blending feedback electronics to explore balance, restraint, and precision; navigating the unpredictability of their instruments, they use improvisation, negative space and perceptual phenomena to develop these fascinating compositions.

Room 31 (Sinibaldi / Patton): Crazy Town
Room 31 (Sinibaldi / Patton):
Crazy Town

(Positive Elevation / 577 Records -- USA )


Price: $16.00    




In Stock

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.

Catalogue (Berrocal / Pauvros / Artman): Assassins
Catalogue (Berrocal / Pauvros / Artman):
Assassins

(Fou Records -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Trumpeter Jac Berrocal's 80's underground avant-garde band Catalogue with drummer Gilbert Artman (Lard Free, Urban Sax) and electric guitarist Jean-Francois Pauvros were known for their merging of experimental and boundary pushing forms of improvised jazz, punk, and rock (Think Etron Fou or This Heat); these early recordings by Jean-Marc Foussat find the band at their most assertively eclectic.

Crossfire Duo (Fullex / Bauers): Vellum
Crossfire Duo (Fullex / Bauers):
Vellum

(Infrasonic Press -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Showcasing Buffalo-based percussionist Bob Fullex and Jason Bauers' innovative mastery as Crossfire Duo in an album that features Jacob Gotlib's "Portrait Sequence", performed without striking objects, Matt Sargent's "Small Stones" played entirely on metallophones, Richard Richard Festinger's high-speed "Crossfire", and Christian Wolff's "Flutist (and) Percussionist" as an intricate rhythmic dialogue.

Hockley, Liam (Avram / Chrysakis / Dumitrescu / Radulescu): Pulse Tide
Hockley, Liam (Avram / Chrysakis / Dumitrescu / Radulescu):
Pulse Tide

(Aural Terrains -- UK )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Canadian clarinetist Liam Hockley, a dedicated advocate for new and experimental music, performs compositions on a relatively obscure member of the clarinet family, the basset horn, alone and in layers of up to seven horns, in pieces from Romanian spectral composers Ana Maria Avram, Iancu Dumitrescu, and Horatiu Radulescu, along with a contemporary work by Thanos Chrysakis.

Hwang, Jason Kao: Soliloquies
Hwang, Jason Kao:
Soliloquies

(True Sound Recordings -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

Honoring the courage of the survivors of atrocities experienced in China during World War II, including that of his own father, New York improvising violinist Jason Kao Hwang presents twelve solo pieces performed on the pizzicato violin, works that embrace the struggle of his antecedents with a narrative sense of presentation and extraordinary technique.

Reeder / Seward / Weathers : Two Ballads from the High Plains
Reeder / Seward / Weathers :
Two Ballads from the High Plains

(Editions Glomar -- USA )


Price: $9.95    




In Stock

Recording on an afternoon in Andrew Weather's studio Wind Tide, in Littlefield, Texas in 2023, from the electroacoustic trio of Kory Reeder on double bass, electronics & gongs, Ryan Seward on psaltery & electronics and Andrew Weathers on lap steel & tenor saxophone, the final compositions assembled from two improvisations using two different tunings that Seward brought with him.

Williams, Jamison: The Lesser Key of Solomon-Bael
Williams, Jamison:
The Lesser Key of Solomon-Bael

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Appropriately recorded at Le Sauvage Cathedral in France, the region name dating to the legend of a wild woman who only ate raw meat, had a double row of teeth, lived under a rocky promontory and was buried by a landslide, as baritone saxophonist Jamison Williams darkly burns in an extended improvisation of outside technique while referencing the Lemegeton, a 17th century book of magic.

Coleman, Steve & Five Elements: PolyTropos / Of Many Turns [2 CDs]
Coleman, Steve & Five Elements:
PolyTropos / Of Many Turns [2 CDs]

(Pi Recordings -- USA )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

Drawn from two absolutely energetic and exciting concerts in France, saxophonist and composer Steve Coleman's Five Elements ensemble — Jonathan Finlayson on trumpet, Sean Rickman on drums, and new electric bassist Rich Brown — blend spontaneous rhythmic and tonal transformations with Coleman's inventive, biologically-inspired compositions; exhilarating!

Democ, Adrian: Zamat
Democ, Adrian:
Zamat

(Another Timbre -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Highly-regarded Slovakian composer Adrian Demoč, known for his delicate and introspective approach to contemporary music, presents three chamber works: "Zamat," a 10-minute quartet for clarinet, bass clarinet, and cello exploring Korean unisons; "Gebrechlichkeit," a 25-minute string quartet; and "...o proton jasu...," a 30-minute piece commissioned by Another Timbre, for two clarinets, viola, and cello.

Dunmall, Paul Quartet (w/ Noble / Edwards / Sanders): Here Today Gone Tomorrow
Dunmall, Paul Quartet (w/ Noble / Edwards / Sanders):
Here Today Gone Tomorrow

(RogueArt -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

UK saxophonist Paul Dunmall, on tenor and soprano, leads a remarkable quartet with pianist Liam Noble, bassist John Edwards, and drummer Mark Sanders, delivering free improvisation rooted in deep collective interaction and sophisticated dialogue, with Dunmall's melodic originality complementing Noble's textural ideas and Edwards and Sanders providing intense, dynamic rhythms.

Gush (Gustafsson / Sandell / Strid) + Guests: Gush 30 - Krakow 2018 [3 CD BOX SET]
Gush (Gustafsson / Sandell / Strid) + Guests:
Gush 30 - Krakow 2018 [3 CD BOX SET]

(Not Two -- Poland )


Price: $34.95    




In Stock

The Gush trio — Mats Gustafsson on reeds and flute, Sten Sandell on piano, and Raymond Strid on drums — celebrate 30 years since their original formation, in extraordinary concerts at Alchemia and Manggha Hall in Krakow, joined by guests in three dynamic configurations — two sextets and a septet — for an unforgettable series of performances of irrepressible collective improvisation.

Coltrane, John Quartet (w/ Tyner / Garrison / Jones): Impressions From Graz 1962, Revisited [2 CDs]
Coltrane, John Quartet (w/ Tyner / Garrison / Jones):
Impressions From Graz 1962, Revisited [2 CDs]

(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd -- Switzerland )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

Expanding and remastering the 2019 single CD of John Coltrane's Quartet from its European tour in the fall of 1962, with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on double bass, and Elvin Jones on drums, performing at Stefaniensaal in Graz, Austria, beautifully recorded by ORF Steiermark and now presented in both volumes, showcasing Coltrane's lyrical roots and growing free inclinations.

Lonsdale, Eden: Dawnings [2 CDs]
Lonsdale, Eden:
Dawnings [2 CDs]

(Another Timbre -- UK )


Price: $24.95    




In Stock

A double CD presenting five intricately composed works that blend systematic processes with an intuitive musicality: Apartment House performs three string-based studio pieces on the first disc, including the meticulously harmonic "Aurora" for solo cello, while the second disc features live recordings by Oerknal and Ensemble Ipse, showcasing spatial and textural explorations.

Lotus Crash (Marco von Orelli / Tommy Meier / Luca Sisera / Sheldon Suter): First Visit
Lotus Crash (Marco von Orelli / Tommy Meier / Luca Sisera / Sheldon Suter):
First Visit

(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd -- Switzerland )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Swiss quartet Lotus Crash — trumpeter Marco von Orelli, saxophonist Tommy Meier, bassist Luca Sisera, and drummer Sheldon Suter — continue their compelling blend of individuality and unity, through refined simplicity that draws on jazz roots while evoking the spirit of Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry in dynamic interplay that rewards repeated and careful listening.

Mitchell, Roscoe: One Head Four People
Mitchell, Roscoe:
One Head Four People

(Wide Hive -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

"Following his 2024 grant from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Chicago saxophonist, percussionist, composer, and AACM legend Roscoe Mitchell recorded this quartet with bassist Damon Smith, guitarist Sandy Ewen, and drummer Weasel Walter, delivering nine uniquely fascinatingly approaches to free improv, bringing "Ruckus," "Ripples," "Shivers," and "The Final Bell."

Morris, Joe / Jeb Bishop / Nathan McBride : Tells Or Terrier
Morris, Joe / Jeb Bishop / Nathan McBride :
Tells Or Terrier

(Not Two -- Poland )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Inspired by Joe Morris's terrier, Scout, and the beautiful Connecticut woods surrounding his Riti Studios, the trio of Morris on drums, Jeb Bishop on trombone, and Nate McBride on bass reunite as old friends, crafting an intimate and deeply connected session that embodies camaraderie, shared experiences, and the effortless flow of their improvisational synergy.

Armaroli, Sergio / Francesca Gemmo / Barry Guy: First Visit At Sotto Il Mar
Armaroli, Sergio / Francesca Gemmo / Barry Guy:
First Visit At Sotto Il Mar

(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd -- Switzerland )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

Italian improvisers vibraphonist Sergio Armaroli and pianist Francesca Gemmo, first heard as a quartet on ezz-thetic's Prismo, collaborate with legendary UK double bassist Barry Guy in this deeply conversational trio recorded at the Sotto Il Mare Studio, blending jazz, classical modernism, and free improvisation in a spontaneous performance of intent listening.

Smith, Linda Catlin: Flowers of Emptiness
Smith, Linda Catlin:
Flowers of Emptiness

(Another Timbre -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

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.

Svobodni III (Bennington / Hunger / Seyler / Thatcher / Jennings): The Return To Catalhoyiik
Svobodni III (Bennington / Hunger / Seyler / Thatcher / Jennings):
The Return To Catalhoyiik

(ThatSwan! -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




Out of Stock

For their third album, Chicago-based Svobodni — co-led by synthesist Phil Hunger and drummer Jimmy Bennington — create an evocative narrative inspired by ancient civilizations, blending layers of Stockhausen- and Kraftwerk-influenced electronics, intimate saxophone, grounded bass grooves, and searching percussion for a rich electroacoustic improvisational work that defies genre.

Gadt, Anna / Marta Grzywacz / Natalia Kordiak / Gosia Zagajewska: VoiceAct
Gadt, Anna / Marta Grzywacz / Natalia Kordiak / Gosia Zagajewska:
VoiceAct

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Recorded at Przeswit in Warsaw, Poland, Voiceact brings together Polish vocalists Anna Gadt, Natalia Kordiak, Marta Grzywacz, and Gosia Zagajewska in an avant exploration of the art of the voice, blending ancient music, contemporary classics, and folk influences across eleven improvised pieces that showcase a captivating range of vocal styles and possibilities.

Schindler, Udo / Paul Rogers feat. Eric Zwang: Ephemeral Locations [2 CDs]
Schindler, Udo / Paul Rogers feat. Eric Zwang:
Ephemeral Locations [2 CDs]

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $23.95    




In Stock

Recorded across two live sessions in Munich, Ephemeral Locations expands Udo Schindler and Paul Rogers' LowToneStudies with the addition of drummer Eric Zwang Eriksson on several tracks, blending Schindler's mastery of bass reed instruments, Rogers' unique 7-string double bass, and Eriksson's dynamic percussion in a captivating exploration of deep tonal textures and spontaneous improv.

Strycharski, Dominik: Ecstasy
Strycharski, Dominik:
Ecstasy

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Polish wind player Dominik Strycharski combines traditional blockflutes (recorders), saxophones spanning sopranino to tenor, and electronic synthesizers to create nine original compositions of distinctive improvisation and captivating soundscapes, recorded at ZPSM im. S. Moniuszki in Bielsko-Biała, a music school named after the celebrated Polish composer Stanisław Moniuszko.

Attias, Michael / Simon Nabatov: Dream Walks
Attias, Michael / Simon Nabatov:
Dream Walks

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Dreamlike and evocative, Dream Walks is the second duo album from Michael Attias and Simon Nabatov, following 2021's Brooklyn Mischiefs, inviting listeners to transcend the physical world through telepathic improvisations, uncanny encounters, and surreal visions, capturing the essence of nocturnal wanderings and the ethereal interplay between two masterful musicians.

Crispell, Marilyn / Harvey Sorgen: Forest
Crispell, Marilyn / Harvey Sorgen:
Forest

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Superlative duo work from pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Harvey Sorgen, recording in the studio in Woodstock, NY, blending deeply attuned free collective dialogs with one composition from each artist, in an album of dynamic and evocative improvisation that moves from vivid storytelling to introspective meditations of vision and masterful artistry.

Dolega, Dominik: Everything Is True
Dolega, Dominik:
Everything Is True

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Blending contemporary, orchestral, and electronic music with global cultural influences, Dominik Dolega presents 11 untitled "Memories" recorded as duets, featuring unconventional instruments like lithophones, stones, aluphone and the bassdesmophon, inviting listeners on a sonic journey that evokes personal emotions and memories through a rich global perspective.

Gayle, Charles / Szilard Mezei Quartet Bass: Oils
Gayle, Charles / Szilard Mezei Quartet Bass:
Oils

(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!) -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

A 2009 live performance at the 15th Magyarkanizsa Jazz Festival in Serbia between Hungarian violist and composer Szilárd Mezei and US saxophonist Charles Gayle, an evocative meeting of transcendent free jazz and compositional precision, weaving Mezei's intricate scores with Gayle's profound, soul-searching improvisations; a dynamic and fiery celebration of freedom and expression.

Neurodivergent Orchestra: Monsters Keep Interrupting My Science
Neurodivergent Orchestra:
Monsters Keep Interrupting My Science

(Evil Clown -- USA )


Price: $11.95    




In Stock

Blending the playful spontaneity of improvised banter with the experimental ethos of Evil Clown, Neurodivergent Orchestra (AKA The Wacky Banter Orchestra) expands to a nine-member ensemble — featuring bass, drums, horns, electronics, and auxiliary instruments — to deliver a dynamic and transformative performance driven by both humor and adventurous collective improvisation.

Turbulence: Agita
Turbulence:
Agita

(Evil Clown -- USA )


Price: $11.95    




In Stock

Expanding the boundaries of the Turbulence aesthetic in a quintet blending wind instruments, electronics, and percussion, with longtime collaborators and new roster member Faruq Hassan introducing a dynamic drum 'n bass vibe via the SP404 MK2, using David Peck's Broad Palette Improvisation concept to unite horns, electronics, and auxiliary instruments.

Regev's, Reut R*Time: It's Now: R*Time Plays Doug Hammond
Regev's, Reut R*Time:
It's Now: R*Time Plays Doug Hammond

(ESP -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Israeli trombonist Reut Regev and drummer Igal Foni join with legendary American composer and percussionist Doug Hammond, blending Hammond's reflective compositions and six-decade legacy — spanning blues, jazz, M-Base, and modernist works — with the boundary-pushing energy of the R*time quartet, for an engaging fusion of bold improvisation and musical insight.

Mezei, Szilard Tul A Tiszan Innen Ensemble: Reveszem [2 CDs]
Mezei, Szilard Tul A Tiszan Innen Ensemble:
Reveszem [2 CDs]

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

Exploring Hungarian folk songs from Vojvodina through the lens of jazz, Révészem, the fifth album from Szilárd Mezei and his exemplary ensemble of musicians from Vojvodina, Serbia, and Hungary, showcases a variety of configurations interpreting and expanding on these strong melodies, transforming them into a fully embraceable set of intricate compositions and inspired arrangements.

Bucher / Countryman: Continuum
Bucher / Countryman:
Continuum

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Continuing their long-standing collaboration, American alto saxophonist Ricky Countryman, based in the Philippines, and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher explore space and time through fourteen succinct improvisations recorded at Strawberry Jams studio in Quezon City, blending pensive moments with dynamic interplay in a compelling journey of evolving musical dialogue.

Dunmall / Noble / Edwards / Sanders : Disappearing Worlds
Dunmall / Noble / Edwards / Sanders :
Disappearing Worlds

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Recorded live at Bristol Music Rooms in March 2024, this hard-hitting modern jazz session brings together Paul Dunmall (tenor & sopranino saxophones), Liam Noble (piano), John Edwards (bass), and Mark Sanders (drums & percussion) two fiery and exploratory conversations that blend free improvisation with structural cohesiveness, a thrilling and boundary-pushing session.

Houtkamp, Luc / Alex Maguire: At Khoen's
Houtkamp, Luc / Alex Maguire:
At Khoen's

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Capturing the live performance of Dutch saxophonist and composer Luc Houtkamp and British pianist Alex Maguire in Senglea, Malta, September 2023, this recording showcases their seamless integration of spontaneous composition through sophisticated, implicitly lyrical collective improvisation, blending reflective passages with dynamic and energetic interplay.

Bucher / Tan / Countryman: Unanimity
Bucher / Tan / Countryman:
Unanimity

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Reflecting their evolution as a trio, Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, Filipino bassist Simon Tan, and American alto saxophonist Rick Countryman present a powerful statement of collective freedom, with the album title capturing their progression as a cohesive and expressive unit, highlighted by Bucher's rhythmic mastery, Tan's solid foundation, and Countryman's soulful, dynamic lead.

Delta Saxophone Qt : France's Gregory Songs Of Ice And Snow [CD EP]
Delta Saxophone Qt :
France's Gregory Songs Of Ice And Snow [CD EP]

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Setting three poems from prize-winning poet and visual artist Gregory Warren Wilson to music composed by pianist Paul Honey, each song based on the experiences and thoughts of people experiencing ice and snow, performed by the Delta Saxophone quartet of Christian Forshaw (soprano sax), Kathryn McGuiness (alto sax), Tim Holme (tenor sax) and Chris Caldwell (baritone sax).

Banks, Dan / Trevor Taylor / Jose Canha : Sonifications 2: Humanity in Conflict
Banks, Dan / Trevor Taylor / Jose Canha :
Sonifications 2: Humanity in Conflict

(FMR -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Transforming 200 years of war data — including defense spending, casualties, nuclear stockpiles, and peace — into a compelling sonic narrative, blending raw data with expressive improvisation as pianist Dan Banks, drummer Trevor Taylor, and bassist Jose Canha perform powerful and evocative improvised explorations while recording at Toucan Tango Studios in Hornchurch, UK.

Aspyrian (Porter / Gillen / Parkinson) : To Explore Vol 2
Aspyrian (Porter / Gillen / Parkinson) :
To Explore Vol 2

(Hidden Threads -- UK )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

Building on the strength of their debut, the London-based trio Aspyrian — featuring Robin Porter on tenor and soprano saxophones, Jack Gillen on guitar, and Matt Parkinson on drums — delivers six vibrant original compositions by Porter and Parkinson, embodying the band's name, derived from Old English, as they explore and discover with a spirited and inventive approach to their craft.

Alva Noto: Xerrox Vol. 5
Alva Noto:
Xerrox Vol. 5

(Noton -- Germany )


Price: $20.95    




In Stock

Carsten Nicolai concludes his Xerrox series with Vol. 5, an emotional work blending conceptual image-to-sound themes and sweeping melodic compositions influenced by classical instrumentation, creating a richly layered and introspective sonic experience that encapsulates his evolution from minimalist glitch aesthetics to ambient neo-classical grandeur.

Fennesz: Mosaic
Fennesz:
Mosaic

(Touch -- UK )


Price: $17.95    




Out of Stock

Working in his new Seven Fountains studio in Vienna, guitarist and sound artist Fennesz developed these six works as a "mosaic" of elements derived from improvisation, composition and experimentation using unexpected influences and time signatures, each piece a richly immersive environment of bright harmonics with turns into intricately shadowed space.

Sharp, Elliott: SysOrk: Occam's Machete
Sharp, Elliott:
SysOrk: Occam's Machete

(zOaR Records -- USA )


Price: $11.95    




In Stock

Assembling a world-class ensemble of 24 string players drawing from the Quartets JACK, Sirius, Flux, and Bergamot, here performing as SysOrk, Elliott Sharp's large-scale algorithmic composition provides simple instructions to the participants, creating a seething sonic tapestry of shifting, swirling tones and acoustic drones, exceptionally immersive and detailed.

Leap of Faith: Solving the Constrained Dynamics
Leap of Faith:
Solving the Constrained Dynamics

(Evil Clown -- USA )


Price: $11.95    




In Stock

Leap of Faith's core duo, David Peck on woodwinds and Glynis Lomon on cello, voice & aquasonic, leads this modular Boston sextet of strings and winds in a live improvisation guided by their Broad Palette Aesthetic to influence improv with varied sonorities, an array of classical, jazz, and global influences, featuring standout guzheng player Jiaxin Wan.

Sharp, Elliott (w/ Coleman / Dulberger / Green II / Insell / Jiang / McKenzie / Salomon / Wooley): H
Sharp, Elliott (w/ Coleman / Dulberger / Green II / Insell / Jiang / McKenzie / Salomon / Wooley):
Hudson River Compositions 1973-74

(zOaR Records -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Inspired by fireflies, birds, and the flow of the Hudson River while living in Germantown, NY, Elliott Sharp developed these compositions using traditional, graphic, & conceptual scores, presented here in a collage of sessions featuring Sharp on reeds & strings with Anthony Coleman, Nate Wooley, Shayna Dulberger, Hao Jiang, Terry L. Greene, Don McKenzie, Terry L. Green II, Sara Salomon, and Judith Insell.

Various Ensembles: Evil Clown Shorties Volume 1
Various Ensembles:
Evil Clown Shorties Volume 1

(Evil Clown -- USA )


Price: $11.95    




In Stock

Presenting 14 concise improvisations from 13 albums performed by 6 ensembles and 27 musicians, Evil Clown Shorties Volume 1 highlights the modular spirit of Evil Clown's roster, blending dynamic sonic concepts into standalone "Shorties" under 10 minutes each, crafted during soundchecks yet fully formed, providing an engaging sampler of the long-form works they complement."

Pied De Poule: Indiscretion
Pied De Poule:
Indiscretion

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Merging jazz, tango, waltz, blues, chanson, and contemporary vocal experimentation, Michèle Buirette (accordion), Geneviève Cabannes (double bass), and Dominique Fonfrède (voice) craft an inventive and modern soundscape, combining traditional melodies with experimental techniques in an album that is melodic yet unpredictable, exploring themes with a blend of humor, depth, and originality.

Sage, Helene: Comme Une Image
Sage, Helene:
Comme Une Image

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

A visionary 1989 release by French multi-instrumentalist and composer Hélène Sage, this 14-track album blends electronic, modern classical, and experimental elements, featuring collaborations with Jean-Jacques Birgé and Bernard Vitet; surreal yet meticulously crafted, the album showcases Sage's eclectic style and innovative compositions in standout pieces like "L'invitation Au Voyage" and "Les Sept Merveilles Du Monde."

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Kind Lieder
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
Kind Lieder

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

The avant-rock and experimental ensemble founded in 1976 by Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, and Francis Gorgé in their first song-based release from 1991, introducing pioneering compositions that intertwine avant-garde instrumentation and emotive vocals across nine tracks, marking the start of a remarkable series of albums exploring new dimensions of their creative vision.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Urgent Meeting 2 : Operation Blow Up
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
Urgent Meeting 2 : Operation Blow Up

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

An eccentric and captivating sonic collage from Jean-Jacques Birgé and the ensemble Un Drame Musical Instantané — with Francis Gorge and Bernard Vitet collaborating alongside extraordinary guests including Brigitte Fontaine, Joëlle Léandre, Luc Ferrari, Henri Texier, Carlos Zingaro, and René Lussier — in an inventive fusion of electronic improvisation, free jazz, and experimental sound art.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Machiavel
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
Machiavel

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

Blending acoustic and electronic elements with an expansive lineup of musicians, the final album from Un Drame Musical Instantané, recorded across multiple French studios, brings together Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, Steve Arguelles, Benoît Delbecq, Yves Robert, DJ Nem, and guest vocalists like Archie Shepp and Otomo Yoshihide in a genre-defying mix of jazz, contemporary, improvised, and experimental approaches.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Trop D'Adrenaline Nuit
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
Trop D'Adrenaline Nuit

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

The groundbreaking 1977 debut of Un Drame Musical Instantané is a fully improvised yet strikingly structured work blending synthesizer, trumpet, guitar, film dialogue, and radio broadcasts into a dynamic sonic collage, here reissued in 2004 with a new master and the bonus track "Sancta Papaverina", the album captures the trio's bold fusion of avant-garde improvisation and experimental composition.

Houellebecq, Michel / Jean-Jacques Birge : Etablissement D'Un Ciel D'Alternance
Houellebecq, Michel / Jean-Jacques Birge :
Etablissement D'Un Ciel D'Alternance

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

A distinctive collaboration uniting writer Michel Houellebecq and composer Jean-Jacques Birgé, with Bernard Vitet providing orchestral compositions, recorded primarily in 1996 at Studio GRRR, this album merges Houellebecq's poetic prose, spoken in French, with Birgé's electronic textures, offering an immersive exploration of narrative and sound.

El Strom : Long Time No Sea
El Strom :
Long Time No Sea

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

Recorded across studios in France and Denmark and at the Festival Les Enchanteuses, the charming and experimental trio of Birgitte Lyregaard (vocals), Sacha Gattino (sampler, percussion, zither, &c.), and Jean-Jacques Birge (Theremin, keyboards, reeds, &c.) blend experimental, jazz, rock, and folk influences, in a genre-defying amalgam of songs, free improv, rare instruments, and cutting-edge technology.

Birge, Jean-Jacques : Centenaire De Jean-Jacques Birge - The 100th Anniversary (1952 - 2052)
Birge, Jean-Jacques :
Centenaire De Jean-Jacques Birge - The 100th Anniversary (1952 - 2052)

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

A retrospective spanning ten decades (1958-2018) celebrating Jean-Jacques Birgé's multifaceted career through compositions reflecting each era, blending archival recordings with new works through a remarkable ensemble of longtime collaborators, from brass and strings to electronics and voice; a sonic journey bridging past, present, and imagined futures with impressive orchestration and narrative.

Birge, Jean-Jacques: Pique-nique Au Labo [2 CDs]
Birge, Jean-Jacques:
Pique-nique Au Labo [2 CDs]

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Jean-Jacques Birgé invited 28 improvising musicians to the studio to perform in duos and trios, the theme for each of the 22 recordings chosen just before each recording, with noted performers including Birgé himself, Sophie Bernado, Pascal Contet, Julien Desprez, Jean-Brice Godet, Alexandra Grimal, Sylvain Kassap, Edward Perraud, Eve Risser, &c.

Doortri (Pellizzari / Mattiello / Copplestone): EEEEELS
Doortri (Pellizzari / Mattiello / Copplestone):
EEEEELS

(zOaR Records -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Expanding their genre-defying vision, the Italian trio Doortri — Tiziano Pellizzari (reeds, electronics), Geoffrey Copplestone (noise, vocals), and Giampaolo Mattiello (percussion) — deliver a bold follow-up with their second zOaR release, fusing free jazz, noise, post-punk, and anarchic wit into an infectious, unpredictable sonic landscape, mixed and mastered by Elliott Sharp.

Taylor, Cecil Unit (w/ Lyons / Silva / Cooper / Murray): Live At Fat Tuesday's February 10, 1980 Fir
Taylor, Cecil Unit (w/ Lyons / Silva / Cooper / Murray):
Live At Fat Tuesday's February 10, 1980 First Visit [CD + POSTCARDS]

(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd -- Switzerland )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

The 2nd night of the superb, extended live performance from 1980 at NYC's Fat Tuesday jazz club, from the outstanding sextet of forward-thinking free improvisers, Jimmy Lyons on alto sax, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Alan Silva on double bass & cello, Jerome Cooper on drums & African Balaphone and Sunny Murray on drums, led by Cecil Taylor on piano in an ecstatic concert never previously released.

Johnson, Max / Neta Raanan / Eliza Salem: I'll See You Again
Johnson, Max / Neta Raanan / Eliza Salem:
I'll See You Again

(Adhyropa Records -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

The debut release from NY bassist Max Johnson's new trio with Neta Ranaan on tenor saxophone and Eliza Salem on drums, featuring five Johnson compositions that explore the post-bop tradition, from the hard-driving "Barbarous Jape" to the sweeping ballad "Tiny Beautiful," plus an elegy originally written for mandolinist Matt Flinner"s trio, and our clear favorite, "Chestnut Squid"!

Koch, Hans / Florian Stoffner: Net
Koch, Hans / Florian Stoffner:
Net

(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd -- Switzerland )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

A limited release capturing the duo of two generations of improvisers — Hans Koch on clarinet and soprano saxophone, and Florian Stoffner on guitar — recorded in Koch's private Swiss studio, presenting six playful dialogs of remarkable mastery and pacing, where space becomes a third element, allowing their conversation to evolve with organic sophistication.

Sharp, Elliott: Mandorle
Sharp, Elliott:
Mandorle

(zOaR Records -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

The companion album to Sharp's Mandocello, a tour-de-force exposition of the mandocello, acoustic and electronic, an instrument evolving out of the 18th century mandalone into a louder instrument intended to take the bass role in mandolin ensembles, here with tributes to Srinivas, Yank Rachell, Alvin Lucier, Frank Wakefeld, Tiny Moore, Ira Louvin, and Benoit Mandelbrot.

Turbulence: Squalls
Turbulence:
Squalls

(Evil Clown -- USA )


Price: $11.95    




In Stock

Led by David Peck, Turbulence brings together its core horn players — Michael Caglianone, Bob Moores, John Fugarino, and Peck himself — alongside bassist Scott Samenfeld and percussionist Michael Knoblach, to explore an evolving palette of sonorities blending jazz-inspired interplay, diverse instrumentation and innovative electro-acoustic sounds through transformative improvisation.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: L'Hallali
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
L'Hallali

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Blending humor, drama, and inventive soundscapes, Un Drame Musical Instantané's n°1 showcases the trio of Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, and Francis Gorgé alongside an eclectic ensemble, weaving synthesizers, samplers, sprechgesang, and orchestral elements into compelling, genre-defying compositions, which Jazz Magazine describes as mind-blowing with Zappa-esque creativity.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Sous Les Mers
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
Sous Les Mers

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

An adventurous and magical dive into the depths of sound by Un Drame Musical Instantané, blending the theatrical and the instrumental through the trio of Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, and Francis Gorgé alongside an ensemble of performers, presenting a five-movement suite inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, ballet scenes, and cinematic miniatures.

Un Drame Musical Instantane: Qui Vive?
Un Drame Musical Instantane:
Qui Vive?

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

A strikingly inventive work from Un Drame Musical Instantané, as Jean-Jacques Birgé, Bernard Vitet, and Francis Gorgé blend synthesizers, trumpet, guitar, voice, and unconventional instrumentation in a satire of television and religion, merging free improvisation, jazz, electronics, and contemporary composition into a provocative and unclassifiable sonic experience.

Birge & Vitet: Carton
Birge & Vitet:
Carton

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Merging electronic experimentation with improvisational spontaneity, Jean-Jacques Birgé's synthesizers and Bernard Vitet's trumpet weave alongside Michèle Buirette's vocals and Hervé Legeay's guitar, constructing a dynamic and unpredictable sonic landscape that blurs the line between composition and free expression, expanding the possibilities of form and texture.

Sage, Helene : Les Araignees
Sage, Helene :
Les Araignees

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

An imaginative and genre-defying return from Hélène Sage in an eclectic blend of songs, jazz-inflected fanfares, and humorous yet critical texts performed in multiple languages, featuring a striking ensemble of avant-garde musicians whose voices, instruments, and unconventional approaches craft a surreal and adventurous sonic world; of interest to RIO fans.

Sage, Helene: Echappee Belle
Sage, Helene:
Echappee Belle

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Consisting of 28 short works, Hélène Sage collaborates with composer and performer Benoît Lavoisier, computer artist Marc Demereau, percussionist Pascal Portejoie, sampler Alex Piques, and vocalist and writer Nathalie Desmarest to craft an avant album blending Dadaist humor with experimental soundscapes, intertwining musical and literary elements to create a distinctive auditory experience.

Birge, Jean-Jacques: Pique-nique Au Labo 3
Birge, Jean-Jacques:
Pique-nique Au Labo 3

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

The 3rd in Jean-Jacques Birgé's collaborative Pique-nique au Labo series, recorded between 2021 and 2023, bringing together Birgé with 20 musicians — including Sophie Agnel, Hélène Breschand, Élise Caron, and François Corneloup — in spontaneous duets and trios, each piece sparked by a randomly chosen theme, creating a rich and exploratory mosaic of improvisation and sonic experimentation.

Birge, Jean-Jacques : Animal Opera
Birge, Jean-Jacques :
Animal Opera

(GRRR -- France )


Price: $19.95    




In Stock

Blending the autonomous compositions of Nabaz'mob, his opera for 100 smart rabbits, with the vibrant naturalism of "Dawn at Shimiyacu", a field recording from Peru's Amazon rainforest, Jean-Jacques Birgé along with Antoine Schmitt juxtaposes minimalist robotic orchestrations with raw environmental soundscapes, creating a genre-defying exploration within his signature sonic universe.

Various Artists: Sarajevo (Suite)
Various Artists:
Sarajevo (Suite)

(L'Empreinte Digitale -- France )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

A profound 1994 GRRR label release, Sarajevo Suite is a conceptual collaboration produced by Jean-Jacques Birgé and Corinne Léonet, featuring a global assembly of jazz and experimental artists-including Lindsay Cooper, Henri Texier, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the Balanescu Quartet-crafted to support Bosnian war victims.

ES Trio (Steyer / Kwan  / Zerang): The Foreign In Us
ES Trio (Steyer / Kwan / Zerang):
The Foreign In Us

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Recorded at Experimental Sound Studios following a powerful and inspired concert at Elastic Arts, this trio captures the distinct musical voices of Edith Steyer (alto saxophone & clarinet), Mabel Kwan (piano), and Michael Zerang (drums & percussion), weaving sound-oriented improvisations and diverse transatlantic influences from Berlin and Chicago.

Parkins, Zeena / Chris Brown / William Winant / Ben Davis: Scree
Parkins, Zeena / Chris Brown / William Winant / Ben Davis:
Scree

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Recording in the Mills College Concert Hall in Oakland, the quartet of Zeena Parkins (harp), Chris Brown (piano and electronics), William Winant (percussion), and Ben Davis (cello) work in an ethereal mode of electro-acoustic improvisation, drawing unconventional sounds from their instruments as they weave a virtuosic and intricately creative sonic tapestry evoking the rugged unpredictability of the album's title.

Roth, Chuck: Document 1
Roth, Chuck:
Document 1

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Displaying remarkable technique on a 6-string electric guitar, New York improviser and composer Chuck Roth, also known as watergh0st, explores a vast palette of sounds and textures, bending and twisting the guitar's raw tones without effects or pedals, across 11 succinct improvisations, Roth delivers an engaging spectrum of styles and moods, showcasing his emotional depth and inventive approach.

Bass, Luciana: Desatornillandonos
Bass, Luciana:
Desatornillandonos

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

With a title roughly translating to "Unscrewed", Argentinian guitarist Luciana Bass dismantles and loosens the bolts on conventional boundaries, blending blues and abstract improvisation in a journey marked by melodic passion and adventurous sonic exploration, crafting a vivid interplay between embraceable beauty and strikingly unexpected contrasts.

Agnel, Sophie / Michael Zerang: Draw Bridge
Agnel, Sophie / Michael Zerang:
Draw Bridge

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




Out of Stock

French classically trained pianist Sophie Agnel and percussionist Michael Zerang explore unconventional techniques in nine captivating improvisations recorded at Chicago's Experimental Sound Studio, blending Agnel's prepared and extended piano methods with Zerang's nuanced percussion to create a strikingly compatible and dynamic sonic dialogue.

Sound the Alarm (Clayton Thomas + Ensemble): Sound the Alarm
Sound the Alarm (Clayton Thomas + Ensemble):
Sound the Alarm

(Relative Pitch -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

A powerful and socially driven project from a large ensemble founded by Clayton Thomas to musically and culturally respond to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, blending composed improvisation with collective human energy; recorded live on June 27, 2024, this performance stands as a sonic act of solidarity, reflection, and bearing witness, with all proceeds donated to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

Parker, Evan: The Heraclitean Two-Step, etc. [4 CDs + BOOK]
Parker, Evan:
The Heraclitean Two-Step, etc. [4 CDs + BOOK]

(False Walls -- UK )


Price: $69.95    




In Stock

Celebrating Evan Parker's 80th birthday in 2024 in a 4-CD set of solo improvisations recorded from 1994-2024, paired with a 120-page book featuring essays, an extended interview with Martin Davis plus visual artwork by Parker, blending profound reflections on space, sound, and artistic evolution while showcasing pivotal recordings and contributions from the improv and art community.

Ishito, Ayumi (feat. Kevin Shea and George Draguns): Roboquarians, Vol. 2
Ishito, Ayumi (feat. Kevin Shea and George Draguns):
Roboquarians, Vol. 2

(577 Records -- USA )


Price: $16.00    




In Stock

Following the digital release of Roboquarians Volume 1, the trio of Ayumi Ishito on saxophone with effects, George Draguns on guitar and Kevin Shea on drums return with four wild jazz compositions by Draguns, their electrified performances infusing ferocious improvisations with an intense psychedelic energy and an avant-punk sensibility; wild!

Seabrook, Brandon : Object of Unknown Function
Seabrook, Brandon :
Object of Unknown Function

(Pyroclastic Records -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

A "solo" guitar album of unparalleled creativity and technical prowess, blending virtuosic banjo and guitar performances with inventive compositions and experimental use of effects and overdubs through multiple instruments and cassette additions, a genre-defying exploration of layered soundscapes, intricate fingerpicking, and bold sonic textures that is absolutely fascinating.

Butcher / Durrant / Wastell: Around the Square, Above the Hill
Butcher / Durrant / Wastell:
Around the Square, Above the Hill

(Confront -- UK )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Two 2024 sessions from the free improvising trio of John Butcher (tenor and soprano saxophones), Phil Durrant (electric mandolin and electronics), and Mark Wastell (drums and percussion): the two-part dialog "Around", recorded live at London's Vortex Jazz Club, and the four-part collective improvisation "Above", captured at The Rose Hill in Brighton, UK.

Hubbard, Nathan / Kyle Motl: Obsidian
Hubbard, Nathan / Kyle Motl:
Obsidian

(Confront -- UK )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Recording live in the studio in San Diego, percussionist Nathan Hubbard and double bassist Kyle Motl engage in four fascinating duets of improvised music, blending extended techniques and unconventional approaches to their instruments to evoke richly textured, unpredictable, and exploratory performances that push the boundaries of traditional bass-and-drum interplay.

Schick / Tuerlinckx / Zoepf: Ensemble A
Schick / Tuerlinckx / Zoepf:
Ensemble A

(Confront -- UK )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Recorded live in Kassel and Cologne, Germany, in May 2023, turntablist Ignaz Schick, prepared pianist Anaïs Tuerlinckx, and bass clarinetist/soprano saxophonist Joachim Zoepf deliver two wild and extended electroacoustic improvisations, blending tactile textures, dynamic interplay, and outside approaches to redefine the sonic possibilities of their respective instruments.

Schindler, Udo / Paul Rogers: Ephemeral Locations
Schindler, Udo / Paul Rogers:
Ephemeral Locations

(Confront -- UK )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

Recorded live in Munich, Germany, Udo Schindler and Paul Rogers unite in a masterful duo performance blending Schindler's clarinet, double bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, and cornet with Rogers' work on the 7-string double bass, crafting an intricate, dynamic improvisation that explores space, texture, and resonance in a profound and sometimes exultant exploration of Recorded live in Munich, Germany, Udo Schindler and Paul Rogers unite in a masterful duo performance blending Schindler's clarinet, double bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, and cornet with Rogers' work on the 7-string double bass, crafting an intricate, dynamic improvisation using space, texture, and resonance in a profound and sometimes exultant exploration of low tones. tones.

Jarret, Paul / Karin Johansson / Donovan Von Martens : Hemisphere / Hemisfar
Jarret, Paul / Karin Johansson / Donovan Von Martens :
Hemisphere / Hemisfar

(Havtorn Records -- Sweden )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Paul Jarret, Karin Johansson, and Donovan Von Martens explore the dynamic interplay of prepared strings through experimental techniques and preparations, blending nature-inspired improvisation with echoes of Feldman, Bailey, and Debussy, creating a sharp, imaginative, and evolving soundscape that bridges improvisation, composition, and sound painting

Brulez les meubles (+ Ingrid Laubrock / Marianne Trudel / Jonathan Huard): FOLIO #5
Brulez les meubles (+ Ingrid Laubrock / Marianne Trudel / Jonathan Huard):
FOLIO #5

(Tour de Bras / Circum-Disc -- France )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Recorded at the Rimouski Music Conservatory in Quebec, the latest from Brulez les meubles of guitarist Louis Beaudoin-de la Sablonnière and bassist Eric Normand expands with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, pianist Marianne Trudel, and vibraphonist Jonathan Huard in a drum-less exploration of jazz and chamber music, blending harmonic textures and patient interplay in a sophisticated and evocative musical conversation.

Taylor, Cecil: The Classic Albums - 8 Remastered LPs [4 CD BOX SET]
Taylor, Cecil:
The Classic Albums - 8 Remastered LPs [4 CD BOX SET]

(Enlightenment -- UK )


Price: $18.95    




In Stock

Reissuing and remastering eight landmark albums released between 1956 and 1962, this collection traces iconoclastic pianist Cecil TaylorŐs evolution from bop-influenced beginnings to the groundbreaking free jazz forms he helped pioneer, featuring collaborations with Steve Lacy, John Coltrane, Kenny Dorham, Archie Shepp, Clark Terry, Roswell Rudd, and others, culminating in his trailblazing trio with Jimmy Lyons and Sunny Murray.



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