Outstanding compositions and performances on a 2 disc set from trumpeter Leo Smith, each piece dedicated to one of the US Great Lakes, with multi-wind player Henry Threadgill, bassist John Lindberg, and drummer Jack DeJohnette, a milestone in a superlative career!

Hypnotic lo-fi space pop from Azalia Snail, whose 20 year career of 4-track era work is heard in this musical journey paying tribute to the power of the sun & the hope it can bring to us all.

Israeli saxophonist Tom Soloveitzik, Turkish electronics player Korhan Erel (Islak Kopek), and US cellist Kevin Davis in an international dialog of rich and sonically charged electroacoustic improvisation.

An album of solo percussion from authoritative European improvising percussionist Gunter "Baby" Sommer, 9 works of exhilarating rhythms performed on drums, tubular bells, hang, gongs, xylophone, an array of unusual percussion instruments, plus his voice.

Gunter Sommer in a solo percussion album that has him following effortlessly from drums to gongs, darabuka, schalmei, hacvkbrett - and back again in melodic and rhythmic ways.

New York drummer Tyshawn Sorey's impressive work for double trio is an ambitious chamber jazz composition using multiple harmonic, formal, rhythmic, and modal vocabularies in an exploratory and improvisational framework, inspired by the work of Lawrence D. Butch Morris.

With members from Fire!, Red Trio, Amado Motion Trio, &c., the trio of Pedro Sousa (sax), Johan Berthling (bass) and GabrielFerrandini (drums) push the envelope in free improvisation that is energetic, argumentative, restless, and ultimately extremely intelligent.

Formed in 2008 Speak Easy brings free vocal improvisers Ute Wassermann and Phil Minton together with drummer Martin Blume and synth player Thomas Lehn for 5 tracks recorded in concert.

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.

1972-73 previously unreleased SME duo recordings of John Stevens on percussion & cornet and Trevor Wattson soprano sax from the cassette archives of Trevor Watts.

Hinting at what was to come, this reissues the first SME LP from 1966 with one additional '67 track, more free jazz than free improv from the quintet of John Stevens (drums), Kenny Wheller (flugelhorn), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Trevor Watts (sax) and Bruce Cale (bass).

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.

Two recordings from the beginning and the end of the longest-lived version of the SME - the trio of John Stevens (percussion, cornet or mini-trumpet, voice), Nigel Coombes (violin) & Roger Smith (guitar).

Reissuing the 3rd release from drummer John Steven's Spontaneous Music Ensemble with 31 minutes of previously unissued material, with participants including Derek Bailey, Kenny Wheeler, Evan Parker, Dave Holland, Maggie Nichols, Trevor Watts, Johnny Dyani, &c &c.

1967 recordings from the duo of John Stevens (percussion) and Evan Parker (soprano & tenor sax), plus Peter Kowald making the group a trio on two tracks; seminal work from three incredibly influential players.

Featuring the earliest published recordings of Barry Guy & Evan Parker, percussionist John Steven's presents transitional sextet and septet performances of his groundbreaking free improv group from 1966 & '67 with Trevor Watts, Paul Rutherford, Kenny Wheeler, and Derek Bailey.

Berlin's Squakk is the quartet of Michael Griener (drums), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet, clarinet, baritone sax), Jan Roder (double bass), and Christof Thewes (trombone), performing free-bop that draws on jazz history transformed into the modern improvised language.

Tense textures and shadowy interplay brought to 'light' from the quartet of father/son Rodrigues, guitarist David Stackenas, and saxophonist Nuno Torres; remarkably subtle sonic improvisation.

Scandinavian and American musicians join together to form this quartet, with Kristoffer Berre Alberts on saxes, Jamie Saft on organ and keys, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, and Gard Nilssen on drums & electronics, for an album of spacey and groove oriented jazz.

Scandinavian and American musicians join together to form this quartet, with Kristoffer Berre Alberts on saxes, Jamie Saft on organ and keys, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten on electric bass, and Gard Nilssen on drums & electronics, for an album of spacey and groove oriented jazz.

Philipp Wachsmann, Charlotte Hug, Marcio Mattos & John Edwards performing live at the Uncool Festival in Switzerland, 2007, and in studio recordings from 2006.

A great set of Downtown NY players led by trombonist Steve Swell, with Jemeel Moondoc on alto sax, Dave Burrell on piano, William Parker on double bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums, a heartfelt and masterfully soulful album of excellent modern jazz in a limited LP.

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).

The 2nd release from the Montreal free improvising trio Joshua Zubot (violin), Bernard Falaise (guitar) and Isaiah Ceccarelli (drums/percussion) is a magnificent example of open-minded improvisation using unusual and sparkling approaches to sound and discourse.

Masterful free improvisation from the quartet of bassist Joelle Leandre, violinist Carlos Zingaro, trombonist Sebi Tramontana and drummer Paul Lovens, referencing jazz tradition while taking it well beyond.

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.

A foundation of the Calgary scene, the trio of Janet Turner, Lyle Pisio, and Mark Dicey improvising live at Weeds on sax, percussion, voice and "oddities".

The duo of Arthur Bull on guitars & harmoia and Eric Normand on electric bass and tenor banjo, and both on voice, taking on American rural songs--delta blues, cajun music, and Quebecois laments, &c--with a modern eye and a good sense of humor.

Since 1998 the SIO have performed their witty and fun-loving style that tickles and dares its audience with subtle surprises, giving improvised music a new name.

Excellent improvisational interaction from rapid scrabbly to lowercase exchange from guitarist Bruce Einsenbeil, bassist Tom Blancarte and drummer Andrew Drury.

Combining composition & improvisation, percussionist Luis Tabuenca based each of these 9 pieces on a print from Goya's critical series "Los Caprichos", orchestrating with saxophone, cello, clarinets, piano, & voice, allowing freedom around determined structure.

Recorded at drummer Vladimir Tarasov's home studio, saxophonist Liudas Mockunas stands out in superb solos on soprano & tenor saxes, clarinet and bass clarinet, while Kanevicisu & Tarasov support on bass and an array of percussive devices including cimbalom and hunting horn.

Tarbaby (Orrin Evans on piano, Eric Revis on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums) is joined by saxophonist Oliver Lake and guitarist Marc Ducret for an album inspired by philosopher, psychologist and revolutionary Franz Fanon, a superb album balancing melodic and intense playing.

Reissuing Cecil Taylor's 1958 album with John Coltrane, an incredible forward thinking and inspired session; and Taylor's 2nd studio album from 1958, "Looking Ahead", in a quintet setting.

Turntable duo of Martin Tetreault and Otomo Yoshihide in a collection of improvised recordings taken for a Spring tour in 2003 around parts of Europe.

Using extended and unsual techniques of cutting up, scratching, scraping, sanding grooves, even ironing his records, turntabilist Martin Tetreault approaches new music in audacious ways.

The sixth studio album from the trio of Mats Gustafsson (saxophones), Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (electric bass), and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums), the first release on their own label, a record that transforms rock, noise, and improv in intense and exultant ways.

The sixth studio album from the trio of Mats Gustafsson (saxophones), Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (electric bass), and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums), the first release on their own label, a record that transforms rock, noise, and improv in intense and exultant ways.

Skronky improv from the trio of Mats Gustafsson (sax), Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (electric bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) in this 180gm vinyl issue of their 2011 Smalltown Superjazz release, recorded in monaural sound for straight-to-your-brain free jazz!

Wild free jazz grooves, another monster of an album from the trio of reedist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love with guests Anna Hogberg on alto sax and Goran Kajfes on cornet; intense, passionate, and precise.

Wild free jazz grooves, another monster of an album from the trio of reedist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love with guests Anna Hogberg on alto sax and Goran Kajfes on cornet; intense, passionate, and precise.

A 2 song EP from The Thing--Mats Gustaffson (sax), Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums)--reprising their "MONO" release, the title track a Bob Weston remix of that hard-hitting number; and "Bruremarsj" an abstract take on a traditional Norwegian wedding march.

A trio of collective-improvisers recording in NYC's East Village in 2015 for exceptionally sympathetic dialog, instigated by electric keyboard improvisor Thollem McDonas, with Nels Cline on guitar and Charles Gayle cohort Michael Wimberly on drums; Fred Frith liner notes!

Live recording from 1999 of Pat Thomas in a solo piano concert exploring a variety of modern piano techniques in a creative way.

A 2nd outing for this electronics-based trio using field recordings, zithers, turntables, amplified knitting machine, &c.; a 60 minute improvisation recorded in concert in Hull in November 2010.

Polish conceptual composer Zygmunt Krauze meets pianist John Tilbury, who studied in Warsaw in the 1960s, and returned in 2015 for a residency; this delicate and beautiful work was recorded at the Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw with 4 pianos and a percussionist.

Bassist Nic Caloia (Ratchet Orchestra) with his Montreal based quartet of pianist Guillaume Dostaler, drummer Isaiah Ceccarelli and Jean Derome on baritone sax and bass flute, in an album of great compositional mood and creative playing.

Thomas Lehn & Gerry Hemingway's 3rd "Tom & Gerry" release presents tracks recorded in Europe from 2003-2006, incredible electro-acoustic improvisations.

The Oakland-based Ton Trio II featuring Aram Shelton on alto saxophone, Scott Brown on bass, and Alex Vittum on drums, perform avant sophisticated jazz weaving through melody, rhythm, and texture while allowing for spacious improvisations.

Founded in Hamburg in 1989, TonArt Ensemble is a democratic collective of free improvising musicians, here in collaboration with Portuguese string player and composer Ernesto Rodrigues.

Two extended improvisations by three of Europe's most accomplished improvising musicians, taken from live performances in Austria and Germany.

Detroit based Traum is a guitar/percussion duo that often becomes a trio with the addition of cello, playing free improv somewhat like a sped-up AMM.

Traw (Welsh for pitch or encompassing wholeness) is harpist and electronic artist Rhodri Davies with sampling and real-time processing artists Owen Martell, Richard Llewellyn, and Simon Proffitt, here in 6 pieces about water using layers of Davies' sonic output.

Goldstripe uses data read from the magnetic stripes of credit cards and bank cards to create a set of musical conditions for improvisation.

Sophisticated, certain and advanced improvisation from London's great pianist Veryan Weston with superb newcomers Marshall and Fukuda.

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.

The third collaboration from the duo of Israeli saxophonist Assif Tsahar and Japanese percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani, an amazing journey in tone and rhythm from two kindred spirits through 20 short, inventive, and stunning improvisations.

Classical Turkish music featuring the beautiful voice of Saadet Turkoz accompanied by Elliot Sharp (guitar), Joelle Leandre (bass), Burhan Ocal (ud, saz) and Martin Schutz (cello).

Portuguese trumpeter Luis Vicente in a quartet with Amsterdam-based improvisers John Dikeman (sax), Wilbert De Joode (bass) and Onno Govaert (drums), captured during an energetic live performance at zaal 100 in Amsterdam in 2015 for superb free jazz.

Minimal sound sources and extraneous trumpet sounds using unusual techniques in a duo of subtle yet captivating recordings from these frequent collaborators.

Delicate nuance and fascinating textures from the minimal improvisations of trumpeter Birgit Uhler, violist Ernesto Rodriguez and live sampling from Carlos Santos.

Albert Mangelsdorf Award-winning pianist Achim Kaufmann and multi-reedist Gebhard Ullmann met in the studio for the first time in Berlin, Germany to record these upbeat free improvisations, intricate collective playing covering a wide range of moods and styles.

A minimal theater in sound from Taku Unami and Takahiro Kawaguchi and starring Yoko Chosakabe and Kumio Kurachi, recording at the Ueno Okura Theater Older Building.

Andrea Belfi (percussion), David Grubbs (guitar), David Maranha (organ), and Pete Simonelli (voice) perform "Ten Intrusions", following the model set by Harry Partch's 1949-1950 composition "Eleven Intrusions".

The free improvising trio of John Dikeman on sax, Jon Rune Strom on bass, and Tollef Ostvang on drums, invites Joe McPhee on pocket trumpet and alto sax for a release of rugged free improv using unorthodox approaches and amazing dexterity in their playing.

The trio of Chris Caldwell on reeds, Susie Hodder Williams on flute, and Trevor Taylor on percussion and electronics in a set combining free improvisation with written pieces using stochastic & graphic processes, plus a work by Stockhausen, "Aus Den Seien Tagen" and one dedicated to John Mayer.

Vocalist Sophie Tassignon & saxophonist Peter Van Huffel in a series of improvisations showing an intimate dialog amidst Tassignon's uniquely inventive vocal styling.

Live recordings from the duo of frequent collaborators Ken Vandermark on sax & reeds and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and electronics performing at Chicago's Heaven Gallery in 2013, for a superb set with surprising twists and turns and a great range of dynamics and approaches.

Surprisingly after long partnerships with Peter Brotzmann's Tentet and the saxophone trio Sonore, this is the first time that Ken Vandermark & Mats Gustafsson have recorded as a duo, here in 6 incredible improvisations balancing technique, power, and beauty.

A 46-member orchestra of electroacoustic improvisers performing live at St. George's Church in Lisbon in 2015, for an extended and dynamic tapestry of sound conducted by leader Ernesto Rodrigues, with an impressive list of artists familiar to those following the CS label.

Triple CD from Variable Geometry Orchestra, who create music by juxtaposing acoustic and electronic sound matter with subliminal and psycho-acoustic side effects.