Paying attention to tone, tension, space and silence, the trio of Carlo Costa on percussion, Joe Moffett on trumpet, and Dan Peck on tuba use extended and unusual techniques in a meditative and highly concentrative album of free improvisation, the first album from this trio whose attentive approach to improvisation rewards in unique sonic environments.

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.

Miles Perkin takes the late bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel's place in pianist Benoit Delbecq's trio with Emile Biavenda on drums and percussion, in an inventive and lyrical album balancing structure versus improvisational freedom in engaging ways.

Werner Dafeldecker and Valerio Tricoli re-interpret John Cage's 1953 compositions for 8 simultaneously played tapes, here examining the relationship between early tape music and current digital production, allowing for a larger work using approximately 2000 different sounds.

The Necks 18th album finds the trio of drummer/percussionist Tony Buck, bassist Lloyd Swanton and pianist/keyboardist Chris Abrahams in a vertiginous 44 minute dark excursion punctuated by cliff hanging moments through homemade instruments and unusual textures.

A diverse set of radio compositions by three Warsaw artists from different fields of art -- Martin Masecki, Wojtek Zra ka-Kossakowski and Martin Lenarczyk -- who reconstruct and commemorate the memory of Poland's most famous composer, Frederic Chopin.

Rydberg was a Swedish physicist with a moon crater named after him, here celebrated by the the duo of Nicholas Bussmann (sampler, electronics) and Werner Dafeldecker (function generator, electronics) in an album blending ambient electronics and muted, guiding rhythms.

A duo from Dave Phillips and Hirsohi Hasegawa, where Phillips' field recordings are filtered and effected by Hasegawa, creating an intense mixture of apocalyptic insect environments and inexplicable sound, slowly unfolding and captivating at high volume.

A beautiful example of creative chamber jazz from the Portugese quartet of Marcelo dos Reis (acoustic guitar, prepared guitar, voice), Valentin Ceccaldi (cello, voice), Luis Vicente (trumpet), and Theo Ceccaldi (violin) performing live at Lx Factory in 2013.

The Ensemble Grizzana (Ryoko Akama, Mira Benjamin, Richard Craig, Emma Richards, Philip Thomas and Seth Woods) performs a series of delicate and beautiful chamber pieces by Swiss composer and clarinetist Jurg Frey, who also performs on clarinet.

Named after Jean Genet's infamous novel, New York pianist Matthew Shipp's quartet Declared Enemy with Sabir Mateen on tenor sax & clarinet, William Parker on double bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums, return for a second outstanding album of dynamic and masterful jazz.

The 1st meeting between Simon Nabatov on piano (inside and out) and double bassist Mark Dresser, recorded live at the Loft in Cologne in 2014, for a remarkable dialog of empathetic communication, outrageous technique and dynamic exchange from two authoritative players.

The subtly complex trio of Richard Sanderson on amplified melodeon, dictaphones & small percussion, Mark Wastell on tam-tam & shruti box, and Matilda Rolfsson on percussion performing an extended improvisation live at The Horse Improv Club, l'Klectic, London.

Composer Jason Eckardt presents "Subject", a work that confronts "enhanced interrogation" techniques using sound and light, plus other works including a 6 part piece about glossolalia ("Tongues"), performed by JACK, ICE, and the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble.

A work for heavy electronic drone and glitch, Herbal International Label founder Goh Lee Kwang presents this live performance from Malaysia's Finders Art Space in Kuala Lumpur, for 36 minutes of mysterious intensity that settles and fills the listening space like a pall.

From an exploration of volcanoes in Japan to the ambience of a nap in France, composer Eric Cordier organizes field recordings made in his travels to create exotic and engaging audio environments that transport the listener.

In celebration of his 60th birthday Zorn asked his most acclaimed vocal collaborators to write lyrics to select compositions from his vast musical catalog, first released as a 7" box set, and now here in red velvet covered CD package from a live performance in NYC, 2015.

A 2 CD Compilation of Banabila tracks released between 1999 and 2008, taken from his work on the Dutch label Steamin' Soundworks, and from his soundtrack and television work, with conspirators including Frank Van Der Kooij, Eric Vloeimans, Yasar Saka, Anton Goudsmit, Zenial, &c.

A double CD featuring two extended live performances by the electroacoustic quartet of John Butcher (sax), Angharad Davies (violin), Rhodri Davies (harps) & Lee Patterson (amplifed devices), one an improv from Durham in 2013, the other a graphic score from Newcastle, 2014.

Formed in Australia the late 1980s by Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck and Lloyd Swanton, the Necks play post-jazz, post-rock, post-everything, slowly morphing improvised music, here in a limited numbered box set presenting 8 of their CDs from the UK Recommended Records label.

A unique 3CD-box from Umlaut Records putting in attention the musical collaborations between two of Sweden's most headstrong musicians: the pioneers Bengt "Frippe" Nordstrom and Sven-Ake Johansson.

A map of the latitudes delineating the geographical area where the European - North American history of deforestation and resforestation has played out, in a work of guitar and field effects from Portugese artist Helen Mirra and sound artist Ernst Karel.

"Battle Pieces" was conceived as a background for an improviser, using linguistics, tape processes & aleatoric concepts to fashion an ever-shifting composition that supplies the soloist with information within the context of an ever-changing series of densities, velocities and silences.

A beautiful jazz trio record from New York collaborators Mario Pavone, who provided all of the compositions except for one group improvisation, with Matt Mitchell on piano and Tyshawn Sorey on drums; lyrical, lovely, and sophisticated music.

Live recordings at the 2014 Vancouver International Jazz Festival from drummer Harris Eisenstadt's excellent and lyrical Golden State chamber jazz ensemble, here as a quartet with Michael Moore on clarinet, Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, and Mark Dresser on bass.

Blending field recordings of temples, rain, bells, cicadas, radios, and other regional sounds from Khmer & Siam with native music to create a rich audioscape of those exotic lands, both mysterious and liltingly melodic on a beautiful journey in sound.

Composer & pianist Marcin Masecki wrote this work, inspired by Frederic Rzewski and presenting variations on the Chilean song "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido" (The town united will never be defeated) and invited pianist Piotr Nowicki to perform it for this recording.

Based on the anthems of nations that have endured recent struggles, from the duo of Marcin Masecki on keys and Candelaria Saenz Valiente on vocals and percussion, embraceable songs with unusual structures paying tribute to the beautiful themes for each nation.

Innovative arrangements in trumpeter Marco von Oreilli's quintet release, performed with trombonist Lukas Briggen, pianist Michael Wintsch, bassist Kasper von Gruningen, and drummer Samuel Duhsler, through 7 original and lyrical compositions that never fail to surprise.

"Two Pianos" is one of Morton Feldman's most experimental and radical works, performed here by John Tilbury & Philip Thomas; plus lesser known works including 'Piece for Four Pianos', 'Between Categories', 'False Relationships and the Extended Ending' and 'Two Pieces for Three Pianos'.

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.

Trumpeter Ted Daniel's Energy Module with Daniel Carter, Oliver Lake, Richard Pierce and Tatsuya Nakamura, a post-bop free improvising quintet from the mid-70s, here in an unreleased studio session showing raw power and superb playing.

Trumpeter Ted Daniel's Energy Module with Daniel Carter, Oliver Lake, Richard Pierce and Tatsuya Nakamura, a post-bop free improvising quintet from the mid-70s, here in an unreleased studio session showing raw power and superb playing.

In celebration of his 60th Birthday, Zorn asked his most acclaimed vocal collaborators to write lyrics to select compositions from his vast musical catalog, peformed by an all-star band of Zorn regulars, presented in a beautiful box set of 7" records and a 32-page book.

A 2-CD release from the impressive trio of Finnish saxophonist Mikko Innanen and legendary US improvisers bassist William Parker, and drummer Andrew Cyrille, presenting one studio disc of Innanen compositions recorded in 2010, and a live CD from IBEAM Brooklyn in 2012.

UK multi-reed master Evan Parker brings an all-star electroacoustic septet to the 2014 Victoriaville Festival for the massive and wonderfully detailed two part composition "Seven", performed with Peter Evans, Okkyung Lee, George Lewis, Ikue Mori, Sam Pluta, and Ned Rothenberg.

Montreal/Actuelle players Sylvie Chenard on guitar and voice, Alexander Dubuc on bass, Cathy Heyden on sax, and Miriodor's Remi Leclerc on drums, with all providing electronics, in an encompassing ea-improv journey that balances acoustics with sonic environments and wonderfully controlled chaos.

Brooklyn trombonist Dan Blacksberg's and the powerful rhythm section of bassist Matt Engle (Shot X Shot) & drummer Mike Szekely (Anthony Braxton Quartet) in their 2nd NoBusiness release, performing compositions pushing the limits of the trombone while adhering to jazz roots.

A 2 CD issue of the 2013 LP with 78 additional minutes, from the two day residency at UK's Cafe Oto of Decoy (bassist John Edwards, Alexander Hawkins on Hammond B3, and drummer Steve Nobles) with special guest Joe McPhee on pocket trumpet and alto sax.

A curious and remarkably enjoyable collection of works from Jorrit Dijkstra (sax, lyricon and electronics) in a quintet with Phillip Greenlief (reeds), Kyle Bruckman (double reeds & electronics), Frank Gratkowski (reeds), and Jon Raskin (sax & electronics).

The 22nd edition of John Zorn's Masada intrepretations, "The Book of Angels" comes from guitarist Jon Madof blending Afro-pop stylings of the legendary Fela Kuti with the Jewish tradition in an 11 piece all-star band.

Members of Eddie Prevost's weekly improvisation workshops, violinist Jennifer Allum and cellist Ute Kanngiesser, recorded these 3 improvisations, running the gamut from spacious harmonics to vigorously weaving dialog, in 3 rooms of St Augustine's Bell Tower in London.

Using sopranino, sorano and decayed tenor saxophone, Mark Brown recorded these unusual improvisations, generating a huge variety of sounds and tones, and then constructing those recordings into this curious and captivating 40 minute work.

Chicago flutist Nicole Mitchell's NY band with Craig Taborn (piano & wurlitzer), David Boykin (sax), Chad Taylor (drums & guitar) in a tribute to her mentor, the late saxophonist Fred Anderson and his Velvet Lounge club, in an excellent mix of free and melodic playing.

Electric Bird Noise (Brian Lea McKenzie) goes back to his guitar roots for a challenging record built from dissonant chords, which McKenzie refers to as "elevator music for art galleries"; hypnotically jarring music creating a unique sonic tapestry.

Inspired by Nikola Tesla and Karlheinz Stockhausen's collection of text pieces, "From the Seven Days", tuba player Dan Peck's solo album is an intense collection of deep tones in bold minimalism, and in clatteringly frightful tuba interactions.

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.

The electroacoustic improvising quartet of guitarist Peter Alexius, drummer Joe Herteinstein, Joker Nies on raw electronics, and Sebastian Grammss on spacebass, in 9 tracks that run the gamut from groove-based intensity to open dialog using unusual voices.

Three Swiss improvisers - Hans Koch on bass clarinet, Alexandre Bable on percussion, and Gaudenz Badrutt on electronics - in an inventive and exceptionally well-balanced 7 part suite of tonal work, quick interplay, and extended techniques.

Violist Ernesto Rodrigues and Ricardo Guerreiro on computer are joined by saxophonist Bertrand Gauguet for two improvisations of subtle & rich sound work: intertwining sax breathing, intense sonic pressure, and long string tones developing beautiful audio environments.