A live recording at Levontin 7 in Tel Aviv between drummer/percussionist Gerry Hemingway and Israeli free jazz luminary Albert Beger on alto & soprano saxophones, a playful and interactive session.

Performing together since the late 70s, this is the first recorded documentation of West Coast trumpeter Bobby Bradford, NY bassist Mark Dresser, and trombonist Glenn Ferris.

Trombonist Gail Brand plays as part of a duo, trio, quartet and quintet in 13 improvised pieces that were recorded during three visits to San Francisco.

Both volumes of trumpeter Bobby Bradford and clarinetist John Carter's remarkable concerts from 1979 in Los Angeles and 1982 in Worcester, MA, dramatically improved audio quality from their original issue.

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.

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.

17 succinct improvisations recorded in 2000 from the trio of the late and legendary German free improvising bassist Peter Kowald, West Coast bassist Damon Smith, and alto saxophonist Marco Eneidi, powerful and lyrical improv with a nod to Ayler amidst brilliant playing.

Taking song titles from the Arawak language, the Estamos Trio of Thollem McDonas (piano), Milo Tamez (drums) and Carmina Escobar (voice & electronics) brings together artists from the Mexican/U.S. border, creating beautiful creative works.

Houston based guitarist Sandy Ewen met BPA label leader, bassist Damon Smith to record these open-minded improvisations in the studio, with Smith also using 7 string electric upright bass, laptop, and field recordings played in real time.

Guitarist Sandy Ewen and double bassist Damon Smith recorded these 2 extended improvsations in concert as part a "Desbordamientos" series at Cine Tonala, in Mexico City, pairing live music with screenings of Derek Bailey's 4-part series on improvisation.

Three West Coast saxophonists, Jon Raskin (Rova), Frank Gratkowsk (Zeitkratzer) and Phillip Grenlief, in a free improvising trio of highly interactive music using extended techniques to captivate and entertain the listener.

Ben Goldberg uses his contra-alto clarinet to play bass in a quartet with Nels Cline (guitar), Ellery Eskelin (tenor sax), Rob Sudduth (tenor sax) and Ches Smith (drums), excellent West Coast modern jazz.

A swinging album mining earlier jazz forms from the modern jazz sextet of Ben Goldberg on clarinet, Joshua Redman on tenor sax, Ron Miles on trumpet, Devin Hoff on bass, and drummers Ches Smith and Scott Amendola.

West Coast clarinest Ben Goldberg in the 15th volume of John Zorn's Masada Book of Angels, performing with bassist Greg Cohen, pianist Jamie Saft and drummer Kenny Wollesen.

The third recording from this group of long-time collaborators, with Golia on soprano, alto and tenor sax, Bobby Bradford on cornet, Ken Filiano on bass and Alex Cline on drums in a set of Golia original compositions.

Insanely great free improvisation for the West Coast in this quartet of Vinny Golia (multi-reeds), Marco Eneidi (alto sax) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass), and Vijay Anderson (drums).

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.

German reeidst Frank Gratkowski in a trio with West Coast percussionist Jerome Bryerton and bassist Damon Smith, in an album of free music that blends the sensibilities of free improv with contemporary compositional music.

NY drummer William Hooker performing with Darius Jones and Adam Lane at The Stone in NYC, and with Aaron Bennett, Weasel Walter and Damon Smith at The Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco.

The duo of Henry Kaiser and bassist Damon Smith perform 8 free improvisation with titles from the book "Company Week" by Peter Riley, a commentary on Derek Bailey's 1997 collective, Kaiser using a 1998 Monteleone Radio Flyer 7 string guitar at the request of Smith.

Relative Pitch Records debuts with the excellent duo of bassist Joelle Leandre and Bay Area woodwind improviser Phil Greenlief in 11 variations for contrabass and woodwinds.

Hong Kong composer Lee Ingrid in four pieces from subtle beauty to harsh power, including a duo for piano and accordion, a piece for vibrating amplified snare drums, a work for piano, electric guitar and percussion, and one for string quintet and vibraphone.

The West Coast trio of Michael Vatcher on drums & percussion, Steuart Liebig on electric bass, and Vinny Golia on reeds and winds recording live in Los Angeles, 2001, astonishing free improvisation from three seasoned players.

A quiet quartet session intended for loud volume with Jacob Lindsay (reeds), Ava Mendoza (electric guitar), Damon Smith (7-string ergo-bass & lloopp), and Weasel Walter (percussion & bagpipe chanter), unusual tapestries of sound plus a recipe!

Italian saxophonist Edoardo Marraffa and drummer Stefano Giust meet West Coast/touring pianist Thollem McDonas for an album of focused and spirited free improvisation recorded live in Bologna.

Composer and double bassist Giovanni Maier creates the illusion of being everywhere at once while he plays alongside members of his quartet (Parrini, Calabrese & Amendola) as his instrument "talks" to theirs in this beautiful album.

Spill Plus is (prepared) pianist Magda Mayas and drummer Tony Buck (Spill) with double-bassist Damon Smith, using extended language, unusual preparations and objects to create a unique, intricate, and quietly powerful approach to free improvised music.

A collection of solo recordings by acoustic guitarist Jim McAuley, an improviser who redefines the classic instrument and whose music embodies aspects of jazz, blues, folk, and contemporary classic.

Bassist Mezzacappa and her Nightshade (Cory Wright (clarinet), John Finkbeiner (guitar), Tim Perkis (electronics), Kjell Nordeson (vibes & percussion)) performing compositions inspired by diverse composers from Messiaen to Zappa.

San Francisco Bay Area bassist Lisa Mezzacappa's "garage jazz" quartet, a raw collective with an energized approach to jazz that focuses on band sound and chemistry.

Art Ensemble founder Roscoe Mitchel on reeds, winds and percussion, in an extended electroacoustic work performed with James Fei on reeds and analog electronics and William Winant on percussion; a composition/improvisation blending sound and space in creative and compelling ways.

Drawing from some of the finest of the West Coast and Vancouver scenes, The Now Orchestra present 3 long works in multiple section, with performers including Peggy Lee, Vinny Golia, George Lewis, Dylan van der Schyff, &c. &c.

Cellist Petit and poet Pierrepont traveled from East to West Coasts recording with various improvisers who play with Petit while Pierrepont reads one of his poems in French, and then as a non-French speaker reads the same poem.

Ten Thelonius Monk compositions played in a very unique, and often quirky, way by the trio "Play Monk", comprised of Scott Amendola (drums), Ben Goldberg (clarinet) and Devin Hoff (bass).

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.

Collaborators for 20 years, cellist Matt Turner and percussionist Hal Rammel playing amplified palette alternate "Phantoms" and "Fractures", unusual and diverse improvised sound worlds.

Inspired by Larry Ochs' Rova and Darren Johnston's collaborations with Rempis, this free-improvising trio began life in 2011, developing an "invisible architecture" that guides their playing, as heard in these seven superb recordings.

Percussionist Robair placed an Ebow over a street-sweeper blade or a short length of guitar string, and then placed those on the head of a snare drum or floor tom, recording without effects to allow natural rhythms and harmonic modulation to come forth.

CalArts Chamber Ensemble performs this large work from composer David Ronsemboom, a whispered chamber opera/concerto grosso for six instrumentalists, whispering voices, electronics and interactive computer software.

Reedist Scott Rosenberg's Skronktet quintet with Morgan Guberman (bass), Matt Ingalls (clarinets), Gino Robair (percussion) & John Shiurba (guitar) in a release of seamless improv that transitions between various styles.

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 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!

West Coast's Tin Hat with clarinetist Ben Goldberg, violinist Carla Kihlstedt guitarist Mark Orton, and trumpeter Ara Anderson in live recordings from Mallorca & Berkeley.

Known for his trio work with Barre Phillips and the late Peter Kowald, alto saxophonist & flautist Biggi Vinkeloe leads a trio with bassist Damon Smith and drummer/vibraphonist Kjell Nordeson through 14 original group improvisations of elegance and style.

Using mostly unprocessed electric guitars, the duo of Elliott Sharp and Scott Fields' latest release presents eight dueling guitar works using dynamic, angular tones and textures, from extremely aggressive work to clean avant-jazz with twisted technical intent.

The trio of bassist Gary Peacock, pianist Paul Bley, and trumpeter Franz Koglmann interpret and improvise on the music of avant song-writer Annette Peacock.

The quartet of Cosottini, Melano, Pisani, Miano (EAQuartet Electroacoustic) in compositions referring to the 4 cardinal map points using graphic scores, games, open readings, &c.

A 4-part suite from oboe/english hornist Kyle Bruckman based on Thomas Pynchon's early novels, exhilarating jazz performed with Jason Stein (bass clarinet), Darren Johnston (trumpet), Jeb Bishop (trombone), Tim Daisy (drums), Jen Paulson (viola) and Anton Hatwich (bass).

New York drummer Harris Eisenstadt's new ensemble crosses the country with Chicago flutist Nicole Mitchell, NY & West Coast bassist Mark Dresser, and NY bassoonist Sara Schoenbeck, blending orchestral instruments in chamber and improvising contexts.

Remembering Shaking Ray Levis' Dennis Palmer in a duo between percussionist Gino Robair and pianist Thollem McDonas on Rhodes and analog effects, a mind-bending display of technical brilliance and unexpected twists and turns, a fitting tribute to the late SRL keyboardist.

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.

Two cellos (Fred Lonberg-Holm and Bob Marsh) and two saxophones (Bhob Rainey and Jack Wright) in a spirited improvisation session where no player is either soloist nor counterpoint, but instead are equal members in a unique and unusual dialog.

Reedist Cory Wright's 5-piece Outfit from Oakland, CA, in an album featuring eight tracks of advanced compositions featuring remarkable improvising with Evan Francis (sax), Rob Ewing (trombone), Lisa Mezzacappa (bass), and Jordan Glenn (drums).

Between 1973 and '76 Sunday afternoons at Rudolph's Fine Art Center hosted the superb John Carter Trio with son Stanley Carter on bass and Chris Carter on cymbals; these live recordings were originally released in a limited LP in 1977, now reissued with a rare '77 radio broadcast.

A live recording at the Outpost from a tour in 2013, the first time the Desert Sweets trio of Biggi Vinkelo on sax & flute, Mark Weaver on tuba and didgeridoo, and Damon Smith on double bass, reuniting after their 2001 recording for a beautiful album of intimate improvisation.

San Francisco Bay Area guitarist John Schott (Junk Genius, T.J. Kirk, Tom Waits) in his 3rd release on Tzadik with his trio of Dan Seamans on bass and John Hanes on drums, 8 upbeat compositions including one for James Blood Ulmer; lyrical pieces with tight interplay.

West Coast multi-reedist and founding member of the Rova Sax Quartet Larry Ochs leads this impressive free improvising quintet patterned after the New York Contemporary Five, with the superb lineup of Nate Wooley, Harris Eisenstadt, Pascal Niggenkemper, and Ken Filiano.

The 2nd installment of the trio of guitarist Henry Kaiser, double bassist Damon Smith and drummer Weasel Walter's unadulterated free improvisation escapades, with innovative approaches to playing and a quirky sense of humor leading to outstanding improv.

Three free improvisations for voice & double bass + improvisations on Hugo Ball's Six Sound Poems from the duo of free improvising vocalist Jaap Blonk and double bassist Damon Smith.

Rova led by saxophonist Larry Ochs expands their translation of John Coltrane's "Ascension" in this amazing 3 disc CD/DVD/BluRay set of their cathartic performance at the 2012 Guelph Jazz Festival with a stellar lineup including Mazurek, Frith, Cline, Mori, Drake, &c &c.

Houston based guitarist Sandy Ewen met BPA label leader, bassist Damon Smith, to record these open-minded improvisations in the studio, with Smith also using 7 string electric upright bass, laptop, and field recordings played in real time.

San Francisco's Tigon play a hard-edged form of rock, avoiding the cliches of hardcore through intelligent use of dissonance and channeled power, with a Fugazi-like vocal approach over super-heavy riffing and sound.

Clarinetist Ben Goldberg leads a trio with electric guitarist John Schott and Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn for a lyrical and beautifully reserved album of improvisation that uses a subtly spacious approach to creating environments for informed interchange.

West Coast cornetist Bobby Bradford captured live in 2013 for a superb set at the Center for the Arts in Los Angeles, part of the Open Gate Theatre Sunday evening concert series, in a quartet with Hafez Modirzadeh on alto sax, Mark Dresser on bass, and Alex Cline on drums.

Named for Shipwreck Studios, this is the first meeting between San Francisco Bay Area improvisers Darren Johnston (trumpet), Aaron Bennett (sax) and Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) with Chicago drummer Frank Rosaly, for 6 tracks of outstanding interactive and playful improvisation.

Multi-reedist Peter Kuhn's 1st release as a leader in over 30 years, picking up from the NY loft scene after years of struggle, here in a collective free improv album with Kyle Motl on bass and Nathan Hubbard on drums, promoting spiritual values through creative music.

The West Coast trio of Kristian Aspelin on guitar, Matt Chandler on bass, and Jacob Felix Heule on drums in a unique cassette of energetic sound, textural noise and explorative free improvisation.

West Coast double bassist and composer John Lindberg's Raptor Trio with baritone saxophonist Pablo Calogero and drummer Joe LaBarbera presents music as a mystery to be left unsolved yet fully absorbed, as heard in this beguilingly lyrical and emotional album.

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.

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.

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.

Paying homage to one of the most original creators in improvised music, Lawrence 'Butch' Morris, the Bay Area Rova Quartet is expanded into an orchestra with an impressive set of improvisers in three works that balance compositional approaches with improvisation through conduction.

Downtown NY scene pioneering bassist, currently on the West Coast, Mark Dresser presents an album of original compositions performed with an amazing septet including Marty Ehrlich, Jim Black, Joshua White, Michael Dessen, David Morales Borof, and Nicole Mitchell.