The Squid's Ear Magazine
The Squid's Ear Magazine
Squidco Harvest Sale - 10% Off New Albums
Plus Mailing List Members Earn Reward Points !!




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

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.
 

Price: $13.45
Price Was: $14.95
Squidco Harvest Sale




Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 3.00 units


EU & UK Customers:
Discogs.com can handle your VAT payments
So please order through Discogs

Sample The Album:





Product Information:

Personnel:



Robin Porter-saxophones

Jack Gillen-guitar

Matt Parkinson-drums

Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.



Label: Hidden Threads
Catalog ID: HTR-005
Squidco Product Code: 35504

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: UK
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded at Lightship 95 Studio, in London, UK, in August, 2022, by Giles Barrett.
Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

Artist Biographies

"Robin Porter is an award-winning saxophonist, composer and educator based in London. He is a versatile and accomplished musician, having performed at many prestigious venues across the UK.

Highlights include; a 2017 live performance on BBC Radio 3 with Nick Smart, Kit Downes, Tom Herbert and Martin France, alongside students from The Royal Academy of Music; a 10 month weekly residency from 2016-17 at The Jazz Café alongside Ashley Henry; a 2013 performance with his own project at the Royal Albert Hall 'Elgar Room' as part of the Proms Plus Late Sessions, which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 3; a 2013 UK tour with the same band, playing at renown venues on the jazz circuit.

Robin received a distinction upon completing the MA Jazz Performance course at The Royal Academy of Music (RAM), where he had the privilege of studying with many world-class musicians and educators. He is a graduate of the Leeds College of Music (LCoM) BA Jazz programme with first class honours, and was awarded 'The George Murphy Trophy for Jazz Saxophone'.

Robin is extremely grateful to numerous charities and organisations that have and are continuing to support him throughout his studies and career, including; Help Musicians UK; The Countess of Munster Musical Trust; The Royal Academy of Music Thompson Family Trust; The Loan Fund for Musical Instruments; The Macfarlane Walker Trust; The EMI Sound Foundation; The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust; The Southend High School for Boys Alumni Trust."

-Robin Porter Website (https://www.robinportermusic.co.uk/about)
10/26/2026

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Jack Gillen began his musical life at age 7, studying classical guitar avidly before discovering Jimi Hendrix at age 15. This discovery opened up pathways into blues, jazz, rock and soul music, and ushered in an obsession with the electric guitar. After studying Jazz for 3 years at Leeds College of Music between 2010-2013, Jack returned to his hometown of London, cutting his teeth as a session guitarist/ co-writer/ musical director/ producer, working with artists in many different musical settings. After a few years of being a musical chameleon, he decided to dig deeper into his own identity as an artist and composer, the first evidence of this being his debut EP 'The Long Way Down'. Fusing Jazz, Rock, Folk, Blues, and Classical influences into a distinctive style of his own, the EP featured melodically focused compositions, dark harmonic twists and turns, lots of dynamic improvisational interaction between musicians, and raw, stinging guitar tones."

-Jack Gillen Website (https://www.jackgillenmusic.com/)
10/26/2026

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Matt Parkinson is a drummer, percussionist and composer based in London. He is known for his creative and musical approach, across a wide spectrum of groove-based styles.

He has been fortunate enough to perform at many prestigious venues throughout the UK and beyond including Wembley Stadium, Buckingham Palace, The South Bank Centre, The Jazz Café, Pizza Express Jazz Club, The 606 Club, and The Vortex Jazz Club. His current creative projects include Howl Quartet, Aspyrian, his solo project and production work.

Matt graduated with distinction from the postgraduate Jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music and gained a Bachelors degree from Leeds College of Music. Alongside Jazz, Matt has spent a lot of time studying and performing the traditional folkloric music of Cuba, Brazil and West Africa."

-Matt Parkinson Website (https://mattparkinsonmusic.com/bio/)
10/26/2026

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:
Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions
Melodic and Lyrical Jazz
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Trio Recordings
New in Improvised Music
Contemporary and Composed Modern Jazz
Friends of Squid

Search for other titles on the label:
Hidden Threads.


Recommended & Related Releases:
MUC_ChamberArtTrio (Schindler / Geisse / Gramms)
Dachao Polyphonic
(FMR)
A remarkable concert as part of reedist Udo Schindler's LowToneStudies, referred to as "acoustronic" for the transformational aspects of each instrumentalist's playing, deceivingly electronic sounding despite being fully acoustic, captured live at Kulturschranne Dachau from the trio of Schindler, Gunnar Geisse on laptop guitar and Sebastian Gramss on double bass.
MUC Chamber Art Trio (Udo Schindler / Sebastian Grams / Gunnar Geisse)
Resilient Perspectives (...A Real Fact)
(FMR)
A fascinating chamber jazz trio performing in a 2021 live concert in the Galerie at arToxin, in Munich, Germany from the collective free improvising trio of Udo Schindler on alto & sopranino saxophones & bass clarinet, Sebastian Gramss on double bass and Gunnar Geisse on laptop guitar, subtitled RESILIENT PERSPECTIVES... a real fact? [LowToneStudies#9+]
Burke, Rob / Ben Monder / Tom Rainey / Ben Grayson
Slip Sliding
(FMR)
Rob Burke composed the first seven pieces for this experimental NY quartet, the multi-reedist joined by guitarist Ben Monder, drummer Tom Rainey, and Ben Grayson on electronics, the last "Discordat" a collective improvisation in 4 parts, as the band investigates emotional approaches to playing, using subtle distortion and Grayson's post-editing sonic additions.
Dunmall / Gibbs / Rogers
Tribute to Tony Levin
(FMR)
The great, late UK drummer Tony Levin is paid tribute in an album of lovely, unique and oft eccentric compositions performed by a (drumless) trio of peers: saxophonist Paul Dunmall, guitarist Phil Gibbs, and bassist Paul Rogers.
Gjerstad, Frode / Kevin Norton / David Watson
Tipples
(FMR)
Free improvising from saxophonist Frode Gjerstad and vibraphonist Kenvin Norton, recording in the same space as their previous duo CD, but with guitarist David Watson as a 3rd voice.
Dunmall / Sanders / Edwards
Mind Out
(FMR)
The trio of saxophonist Paul Dunmall, drummer Mark Sanders, and guitarist Barry Edwards performing live at the University of West England in the fall of 2007.



Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
Foster / Crawford / Sullivan
Against Proper Objects
(Relative Pitch)
The debut of saxophonist Michael Foster, guitarist and banjo player Webb Crawford, and drummer Joey Sullivan, a free trio whose quirky yet technically impressive improvisations shift from sax shouts and overblown tones to frenetic banjo and guitar textures, driven by metallic percussion into a dense but dynamic interplay that combines raw energy with finely detailed, unpredictable explorations.
Douglas, Dave (Douglas / Ridout / Adewumi / Brennan / Pass / Royston)
Alloy
(Greenleaf Music)
Created for the Festival of New Trumpet Music, Dave Douglas leads a sextet with a trio of trumpeters — Douglas, Alexandra Ridout & Dave Adewumi — plus Patricia Brennan on vibes, Kate Pass on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums, their collaboration unfolding from Douglas' lyrical compositions that highlight the breadth of brass voices, collective interplay, and vibrant ensemble synergy.
Hawkins, Alexander / Taylor Ho Bynum
A Near Permanent State Of Wonder
(RogueArt)
Performing two Bill Dixon works alongside pieces by pianist Alexander Hawkins, Hawkins and cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum unite in a deeply intuitive duo recorded live in New Haven, their spacious and lyrical exchange balancing improvisational freedom with structural grace as two distinct voices attuned to form, texture, and expressive subtlety.
Berlin Art Quartet (Schubert / Bauer / Muller / Bruggemann)
Live At MIM
(Unisono Records)
Formed in 2013 by drummer Reinhard Brüggemann, the Berlin Art Quartet channels the spirit of the New York Art Quartet, with saxophonist Matthias Schubert, trombonist Matthias Müller, and bassist Matthias Bauer performing a powerful live set of free jazz, blending fiery interplay, dynamic shifts, extended techniques, and raw yet thoughtful improvisation.
Bloomers (Efternoler / Dybbroe / Goodwin)
Cyclism
(Relative Pitch)
Exploring free improvisation with a fierce political undertone, the Copenhagen-based trio Bloomers — trumpeter Anne Efternøler and reedists Maria Dybbroe and Carolyn Goodwin — are captured live in fifteen distinct locations around the globe, engaging in dynamic, textural dialogs that honor historic milestones in women's liberation through a poignant series of sonic vignettes blending abstraction, dissonance, and innate lyricism.
Denio, Amy
Variete
(Klanggalerie)
A sophisticated and delightful cinematic work from Seattle multi-instrumentalist Amy Denio, who composes and leads a 12-piece ensemble in a dynamic new soundtrack to the 1925 silent film Varieté, blending electric guitar, accordion, voice, and hammered dulcimer with a chamber orchestra of woodwinds, strings, and percussion in a rich, genre-defying studio recording.
Glenn's, Jordan BEAK
The Party
(Queen Bee Records)
An electrifying fusion of diverse musical traditions, this evening-length composition showcases the dynamic interplay of guitarists Karl Evangelista and David James, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, vibraphonist Mark Clifford, percussionist Robert Lopez, drummer Jon Arkin, and Val Esway, seamlessly blending composed structures with spontaneous improvisation to capture the ensemble's innovative spirit.
Green Mitchell Trio (Wright / Mezzacappa / Levis)
Nature Channel
(Queen Bee Records)
Expanding the possibilities of the saxophone-bass-drums trio, multi-reedist and composer Cory Wright leads bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and drummer Jason Levis in his Green Mitchell Trio's long-awaited follow-up, recording in the studio in Oakland, California, weaving songful melodies, high-energy free improv, intricate dissonances, and kinetic interplay for five lyrically inclined conversations.
Hautzinger, Franz / Ignaz Schick / Sven-Ake Johansson
Rotations +
(Trost Records)
Recorded live at KM28 in Berlin in 2023, trumpeter Franz Hautzinger, turntablist Ignaz Schick, and percussionist/accordionist Sven-Ake Johansson create fragile yet dynamic collective improvisations focused on color, texture, and interplay, moving between structured rhythmic support and delicate free forms in an elevated and nuanced spontaneous sound sculpture.
Flying Luttenbachers, The
Spectral Warrior Mythos 2
(ugEXPLODE)
Documenting The Flying Luttenbachers' transition from a New York-based lineup to a Chicago trio, this blistering live-in-the-studio session captures Weasel Walter (guitar), Luke Polipnick (bass), and Charlie Werber (drums) unleashing complex, high-energy compositions with no overdubs, solidifying their raw and relentless approach to genre-blurring improv, as the band continues its evolution.
Larsen, Stian / Colin Webster / Ruth Goller / Andrew Lisle
Temple of Muses
(Relative Pitch)
Norwegian guitarist Stian Larsen joins UK musicians Colin Webster on alto sax, Ruth Goller on bass, and Andrew Lisle on drums in a high-energy fusion of free jazz, post-rock, and noise, weaving dynamic improvisation that moves from sparse textures to explosive climaxes, embracing ecstatic intensity, cathartic interplay, and expansive creative exploration.
Bang / Duch / Honore / Toop / Wastell
Wunderkammer [VINYL]
(Confront)
A collaborative tribute to Nordic poet Nils Christian Moe-Repstad (1972-2022), Wunderkammer blends live recordings from Punkt Festival 2023 with Moe-Repstad's 2014 voice recordings, as Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Michael Francis Duch, David Toop, and Mark Wastell weave a spectral and meditative ea-improv work of minimalism, poetic tension, and reverent sonic exploration.
Beger / Taubenfeld / Hazan / Drake
Cosmic Waves
(NoBusiness)
Two studio sessions of ebullient improv from the quartet of Israeli tenor saxophonist Albert Beger, bass clarinetist Ziv Taubenfeld, double bassist & guimbri player Shay Hazan, and Chicago drummer Hamid Drake, from hard-blowing collective interplay to introspective discourse, ending with Beger's reflective composition "Astral Visit"; a perfectly balanced album of modern jazz.
Houben, Eva-Maria (Kei Kondo / Takahiro Kuroda)
His Master's Voice / Aus Den Fliegenden Blattern Eines Fahrenden Waldhornisten / Lose Verbunden
(Ftarri Classical)
One of two albums capturing a May 15th, 2023 concert in Tokyo by composer Takahiro Kuroda at the Ftarri performance space, titled "Square of Thoughts Vol. 2: Eva-Maria Houben and Horn + x", this album presenting two Houben works for solo horn performed by virtuoso horn player Kei Kondo, and one solo piano piece performed by Kuroda on upright piano.
Gentile, Kate (w/ Mitchell / Casss / Viner)
Find Letter X [3 CDs]
(Pi Recordings)
Three CDs in a beautifully constructed fold-out cross with liner notes and recording data from NY drummer Kate Gentile, in a set of 41 studio recordings with her working band of Matt Mitchell on piano & keys, Kim Cass on acoustic & electric bass and Jeremy Viner on reeds, each disc exploring a distinct yet connected approach to her fascinating compositions and group interaction.
Ducret, Marc
ICI
(Ayler Records)
With a booklet of images showing the riverside location of the first performances of French guitarist Marc Ducret's sophisticated compositions reflecting tidal river flows & fluctuations by season, the four meticulous recordings on this album were captured in the studio with Fabrice Martinez on trumpet, flugelhorn & tuba, Christophe Monniot on saxophones and Samuel Blaser on trombone.
Frith, Fred And Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles
Something About This Landscape For Ensemble
(Sub Rosa)
Commissioned by and recorded during the 2018 Ars Musical Festival, Fred Frith composed this work while under the inspiration of his residency at Lou Harrison's straw-bale house in the desert at Joshua Tree, CA, then performed with the Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, along with two very unique improvisations, one recorded during the dress rehearsal and then again in concert.
Cordoba (Brianna Tong / Eric Novak / Cam Cunningham / Zach Bain-Selbo / Khalyle Hagood / Zach Upton-Davis)
Specter
(Amalgam)
Combining elements of neo-soul, jazz fusion and hip hop, the Cordoba genre-bending sextet from Chicago use their warm, slightly off-center grooves to present vocalist Brianna Tong's articulate lyrics that observe and reflect on the state of world, the band's arrangements extended on five songs with the Latin America-influenced Kaia String Quartet.
Eberhard, Silke Trio
Being The Up And Down
(Intakt)
The 4th album from saxophonist & bass clarinetist Silke Ebherard with her long-running powerhouse trio of Jan Roder on bass and Kay Lübke on drums, presenting all Eberhard compositions showing her strong writing voice under the influence of jazz greats like Dolphy, Mingus and Coleman, through nine well-balanced pieces from bluesy introspection to burning freedom.
Giuffre, Jimmy (w / Bley / Swallow)
Free Fall Clarinet 1962, Revisited
(ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
Reissuing clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre's 1963 Columbia album Free Fall, presenting trio performances with bassist Steve Swallow and pianist Paul Bley recorded after their 1961 European tour, along with duos between Giuffre and Swallow and several solo tracks from the clarinetist himself, propelling himself and his band into his sophisticated, risk-taking chamber jazz compositions.




The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC