The Squid's Ear Magazine
Top Sellers for 2024
Squidco Top Albums by Customer Orders

Top Sellers in Squidco's catalog added in 2024 and listed in alphabetic order. We consider this our most important list for the year, as it speaks from the community of our customers about what they are really interested in and listening to.



 
AMM (Prevost / Tilbury): Aura
AMM (Prevost / Tilbury):
Aura

(Matchless -- UK )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

Recorded in Finland in 2016, this extended improvisation features a core duo from later AMM configurations — percussionist Eddie Prévost and pianist John Tilbury, who also performs on harpsichord — captured in the exceptional acoustics of The Sibelius Museum concert hall where the intimate setting elicits profound, beautifully recorded dialogue between these two masterful performers.

Bailey / Toyozumi: Breath Awareness
Bailey / Toyozumi:
Breath Awareness

(NoBusiness -- Lithuania )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Derek Bailey's 1987 trip to Japan yielded a number of important recordings, including a duo with Mototeru Takagi, a trio with Sabu Toyozumi & Peter Brötzmann, and this concert at IMAI-Tei with Toyozumi, one of the first generation Japanese free improvisers and the only non-American to become a member of the AACM; here in three duos and Bailey's solo "Diaphragm".

Blythe, Arthur Quartet (Blythe / Booth / Abdullah / Reid): Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 2
Blythe, Arthur Quartet (Blythe / Booth / Abdullah / Reid):
Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 2

(NoBusiness -- Poland )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

One of alto saxophonist and composer Arthur Blythe's earliest recordings as a leader, this 1976 session at Sam & Bea Rivers' Studio Rivbea in New York City features four Blythe compositions performed by an exemplary quartet: Steve Reid on drums, frequent Blythe collaborator Muhammad Abdullah on congas, and long-time Sun Ra bassist Juini Booth.

Borca / R. Brown / W. Parker / Workman / Nicholson / Murphy / Ibarra / Taylor-Baker: Good News Blues
Borca / R. Brown / W. Parker / Workman / Nicholson / Murphy / Ibarra / Taylor-Baker:
Good News Blues

(NoBusiness -- Lithuania )


Price: $16.95    




Out of Stock

A vital member of groups led by Jimmy Lyons, Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, Joe Morris and William Parker, bassoonist Karen Borca is heard in two Vision Festival performances under her own name performing her own compositions in trio, quartet and quintet formations with luminaries Rob Brown, William Parker, Reggie Nicholson, Susie Ibarra, Todd Nicholson, Paul Murphy and Newman Taylor-Baker.

Bridge, The (Amado / von Schlippenbach / Haker-Flaten / Hemingway): Beyond the Margins
Bridge, The (Amado / von Schlippenbach / Haker-Flaten / Hemingway):
Beyond the Margins

(Trost Records -- Austria )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

Assembled by Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado, this stellar quartet bridges nations with German pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach, Norwegian double bass player Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten, and American drummer Gerry Hemingway, presenting the extended, masterful collective title track, along with two shorter works, particularly revisiting Albert Ayler's "Ghosts".

Brotzmann / Kondo / Toyozumi: Complete Link
Brotzmann / Kondo / Toyozumi:
Complete Link

(NoBusiness -- Lithuania )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

Trumpeter Toshinori Kondo and drummer Sabu Toyozumi, who originally worked together in the band EEU, first played with saxophonist Peter Brotzmann as a trio in 2014, this live recording at Roppongi Super Deluxe in Tokyo captured two years later in a wild collective free jazz outing, Kondo augmenting his horn with electronics, as they explode three super-charged improvisations!

Butcher, John / Thomas Lehn / John Tilbury: Lights
Butcher, John / Thomas Lehn / John Tilbury:
Lights

(Fataka -- UK )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

Recorded for the release concert of their 2013 album Exta, the trio of John Butcher on saxophones, Thomas Lehn on analog synthesizer and John Tilbury on piano captured this extraordinary live concert at Cafe Oto in London, only the second time the group had performed together, recording in two extended sets but segmented into four exceptional and dramatic improvisations.

Butcher, John + 13: Fluid Fixations
Butcher, John + 13:
Fluid Fixations

(Weight of Wax -- UK )


Price: $14.95    




Out of Stock

Commissioned for the 2021 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, John Butcher's fantastic work for 14 improvisers of unique approach employs what Butcher refers to as "psychological orchestration"--imagining how each performer might respond to particular ideas & their sonic company--the score, which includes photographic imagery, directing specific solos, duos & small groupings.

Crispell, Marilyn / Jason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: Spi-Raling Horn
Crispell, Marilyn / Jason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead:
Spi-Raling Horn

(Balance Point Acoustics -- USA )


Price: $14.95    




In Stock

A collaboration between the working trio of bass clarinetist Jason Stein, double bassist Damon Smith, and drummer Adam Shead, adding pianist Marilyn Crispell, initiated by Smith & Crispell's admiration of painter Cy Twombly, whose artwork graces this album's cover, recorded live and complete in the studio after two live concerts between the quartet; masterful collective improv!

McIntyre / Thompson / Suggs / Fielder: Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 1
McIntyre / Thompson / Suggs / Fielder:
Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 1

(NoBusiness -- Lithuania )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

The first in NoBusiness' Ribea Live! series from Sam & Bea Rivers' famous and influential 1970's NYC loft series is this dynamic July 12, 1975 concert led by saxophonist Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, in a quartet with Malachi Thompson on trumpet, Milton Suggs on electric bass and Alvin Fielder on drums, part of Studio Rivbea's Summer Music Festival 1975.

New Old Luten Trio (Petrowsky / Pauer / Lillinger): Trident Juncture
New Old Luten Trio (Petrowsky / Pauer / Lillinger):
Trident Juncture

(Euphorium -- Germany )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

The last concert with late German saxophonist and wind-player Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, aka Luten Petrowsky, and his decade-long run with the New Old Luten Trio of younger generation improvisers, pianist Elan Pauer (aka Oliver Schwerdt) and drummer/percussionist Christian Lillinger, for a nearly 1-hour energetic performance at naTo, in Leipzig in 2016, "... And A Cutie for Good Bye".

Oxley, Tony Quintet: Angular Apron
Oxley, Tony Quintet:
Angular Apron

(Corbett vs. Dempsey -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

British percussionist Tony Oxley returned to this piece multiple times after debuting it in the early 1970s, drawing on both European improv and contemporary composed music, heard in this previously unreleased 1992 live performance with the superb quintet of legendary trumpeter & flugelhornist Manfred Schoof, UK pianist Pat Thomas, US bassist Sirone and UK saxophonist Larry Stabbins.

Parker's, Evan Transatlantic Trance Map: Marconi's Drift
Parker's, Evan Transatlantic Trance Map:
Marconi's Drift

(False Walls -- UK )


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Bringing together two groups of spectacular improvisers versed in free and electroacoustic improvisation for a live transatlantic performance, one group of seven musicians primarily from The UK & Europe performing from The Hot Tin venue in Faversham, Kent, UK, the other group of six musicians performing from Roulette, New York City, for this stunningly impressive group improvisation.

Quatuor Bozzini: Jurg Frey: String Quartet No. 4
Quatuor Bozzini:
Jurg Frey: String Quartet No. 4

(Collection QB -- Canada )


Price: $14.95    




Out of Stock

The third string quartet that Swiss composer Jürg Frey has written for the Montreal string quartet Quatuor Bozzini of Alissa Cheung on violin, Clemens Merkel on violin, Stephanie Bozzini on viola and Isabelle Bozzini on cello, a beautiful work in five movements of illusory motion, slowly evolving through furtive and seemingly feigned momentum.

Schmid, Silvan / Tom Wheatley / Eddie Prevost: The Wandering One - High Laver Levitation Volume 2
Schmid, Silvan / Tom Wheatley / Eddie Prevost:
The Wandering One - High Laver Levitation Volume 2

(Matchless -- UK )


Price: $17.95    




In Stock

A live recording of freely improvised improv captured at All Hallows Church in High Laver, Essex in 2023 from the trio of AMM drummer and Matchless label-leader Eddie Prévost, Zürich and Maastricht trumpeter Silvan Shmid, and London double bassist Tom Wheatley of the group Widdershins, heard in three investigative conversations of great creative drive.

Schwerdt, Oliver / Barry Guy / Baby Sommer: Fucking Ballads
Schwerdt, Oliver / Barry Guy / Baby Sommer:
Fucking Ballads

(Euphorium -- Germany )


Price: $16.95    




In Stock

An enthusiastic and energetically powerful trio meeting between three masters--Oliver Schwerdt on grand piano & percussion, Barry Guy on double bass and Baby Sommer on drums & percussion--performing live in 2021 at naTo, in Leipzig for two extended improvisations of remarkable communication, incredible virtuosity, but most importantly, incredible and compelling creative drive!

Sea Trio, The (Satoh / Yoshihide / Turner): Live in Munich & Bonn [2 CDs]
Sea Trio, The (Satoh / Yoshihide / Turner):
Live in Munich & Bonn [2 CDs]

(Confront -- UK )


Price: $19.95    




Out of Stock

Their second recording after their 2015 trio album Live at Hall Egg Farm on Doubtmusic, the now properly named Sea Trio of Masahiko Satoh on piano, Otomo Yoshihide on electric guitar and Roger Turner on drums & percussion reunite for two impressive 2023 concerts of masterful and often fiery free improvisation, captured in Munich and Bonn, Germany.

Smith, Wadada Leo / Joe Morris: Earth's Frequencies
Smith, Wadada Leo / Joe Morris:
Earth's Frequencies

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


Price: $15.95    




In Stock

Delicately forceful, the live concert at Real Art Ways, in Hartford, Connecticut as part of the ImprovisatioNOW concert series, is a perfect encounter between two legendary New York improvisers--trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and guitarist Joe Morris--capturing five dialogs of impressive technique and creative expression, including references to Monk and Ma Rainey.

Tabbal, Tani Quartet (w/ McPhee / Bisio / Siegel): Intentional
Tabbal, Tani Quartet (w/ McPhee / Bisio / Siegel):
Intentional

(Mahakala Music -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




Out of Stock

Drummer with some of the most significant of free jazz icons--Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, &c.--Tani Tabbal's own trio with fellow New Yorkers Michael Bisio on bass and Adam Siegel on alto sax are joined by Joe McPhee on tenor sax, with compositions from each of Tabbal, Bisio and Joe McPhee, plus four collective improvisations.

Williams, Mars / Hamid Drake: I Know You Are But What Am I?
Williams, Mars / Hamid Drake:
I Know You Are But What Am I?

(Corbett vs. Dempsey -- USA )


Price: $13.95    




In Stock

The second of three archival albums from late saxophonist Mars Williams' vaults, this 1996 recording is a rare duet with Chicago drummer Hamid Drake, and is also one of the first concerts of the Empty Bottle Jazz and Improvised Music series, a diverse set of four improvisations marked by energetic enthusiasm, doubling of reeds, and wild playing from both.



Best Sellers in This Category:

McIntyre / Thompson / Suggs / Fielder: Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 1

Oxley, Tony Quintet: Angular Apron

AMM (Prevost / Tilbury): Aura

Bailey / Toyozumi: Breath Awareness

Brotzmann / Kondo / Toyozumi: Complete Link

Parker's, Evan Transatlantic Trance Map: Marconi's Drift

Schwerdt, Oliver / Barry Guy / Baby Sommer: Fucking Ballads

Crispell, Marilyn / Jason Stein / Damon Smith / Adam Shead: Spi-Raling Horn

Bridge, The (Amado / von Schlippenbach / Haker-Flaten / Hemingway): Beyond the Margins

Schmid, Silvan / Tom Wheatley / Eddie Prevost: The Wandering One - High Laver Levitation Volume 2

New Old Luten Trio (Petrowsky / Pauer / Lillinger): Trident Juncture

Smith, Wadada Leo / Joe Morris: Earth's Frequencies

Butcher, John / Thomas Lehn / John Tilbury: Lights

Williams, Mars / Hamid Drake: I Know You Are But What Am I?

The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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