The Squid's Ear
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Joke Lanz / Dieb13 :
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Price Reduction: A startling and energetically exciting collision of cleverly eclectic sound sources when Swiss turntablist and sound artist Joke Lanz met Austrian improviser and turntablist Dieb13 (Dieter Kovacic) for this amazing 2020 concert at GrillX in Vienna, using three turntables to create an incredible collage of sounds from the humorous to the awe inspiring. ... Click to View


John Dikeman / Sun-Mi Hong / Aaron Lumley / Marta Warelis:
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Saxophonist John Dikeman composed this diverse and expressively lyrical song cycle reflecting on colonization, and the double edged sword of religion which can lead to transcendence or tyranny, recorded in Amsterdam in a quartet with Marta Warelis on piano, Aaron Lumley on bass and Sun on Mi Hong on drums, presented in two extended improvisations. ... Click to View


Alexander Schlippenbach von / Daag Magnus Narvesen Duo:
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Marking their decade-long collaboration, pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and drummer Dag Magnus Narvesen present a dynamic dialogue of free jazz and structured improvisation, blending generational and cultural perspectives into deeply focused and evolving musical narratives, where melodies and rhythmic patterns unfold organically through collective discipline and creativity. ... Click to View


Joe Fonda / Bass of Operation:
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Performing the lyrical compositions from the band's leader, this quartet — featuring Joe Fonda (bass), Michael Rabinowitz (bassoon), Jeff Lederer (clarinets & flutes), and Harvey Sorgen (drums) — explores a uniquely chamber-like soundscape, blending jazz and classical influences through intricately arranged compositions and inspired improvisations with a distinctively rich and unexpected ensemble voice. ... Click to View


Butcher / Durrant / Wastell:
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Two 2024 sessions from the free improvising trio of John Butcher (tenor and soprano saxophones), Phil Durrant (electric mandolin and electronics), and Mark Wastell (drums and percussion): the two-part dialog "Around", recorded live at London's Vortex Jazz Club, and the four-part collective improvisation "Above", captured at The Rose Hill in Brighton, UK. ... Click to View


Peter Brotzmann / Paal Nilssen-Love:
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The 2nd volume following Chicken Shit Bingo from a two-day 2015 studio session in Antwerp, capturing the deep rapport and evolving artistry of multi-reedist Peter Brötzmann and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love through eight powerful and explorative improvisations, reflecting their nearly two-decade collaboration as they experiment with new instruments and demonstrate profound musical expression. ... Click to View


Peter Brotzmann / Paal Nilssen-Love:
Butterfly Mushroom [VINYL] (Trost Records)

The 2nd volume following Chicken Shit Bingo from a two-day 2015 studio session in Antwerp, capturing the deep rapport and evolving artistry of multi-reedist Peter Brötzmann and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love through eight powerful and explorative improvisations, reflecting their nearly two-decade collaboration as they experiment with new instruments and demonstrate profound musical expression. ... Click to View


ES Trio (Steyer / Kwan / Zerang):
The Foreign In Us (Relative Pitch)

Recorded at Experimental Sound Studios following a powerful and inspired concert at Elastic Arts, this trio captures the distinct musical voices of Edith Steyer (alto saxophone & clarinet), Mabel Kwan (piano), and Michael Zerang (drums & percussion), weaving sound-oriented improvisations and diverse transatlantic influences from Berlin and Chicago. ... Click to View


Clifford Allen:
Singularity Codex: Matthew Shipp On Rogueart [BOOK] (RogueArt)

Price Reduction: Clifford Allen frames the work of pianist Matthew Shipp and his collaborators through his work on the RogueArt label of 25 albums and a book with poet Steve Dalachinsky, providing insight and context into Shipp's music through photographs, essays and interviews with William Parker, Rob Brown, Whit Dickey, Joe Morris, Yuko Otomo, Michel Dorbon, and Jim Clouse. ... Click to View


El Strom :
Long Time No Sea (GRRR)

Recorded across studios in France and Denmark and at the Festival Les Enchanteuses, the charming and experimental trio of Birgitte Lyregaard (vocals), Sacha Gattino (sampler, percussion, zither, &c.), and Jean-Jacques Birge (Theremin, keyboards, reeds, &c.) blend experimental, jazz, rock, and folk influences, in a genre-defying amalgam of songs, free improv, rare instruments, and cutting-edge technology. ... Click to View


Expanse Percussion Edition:
Clang-A-Thon Fantastique (Evil Clown)

Expanding on a decade of exploratory improvisation, this session unites a diverse septet of seasoned and new Evil Clown musicians in a dynamic live performance recorded at Evil Clown Headquarters, blending horns, percussion, electronics, and an extensive array of unique instruments to create concert-length transformations of groove, chaos, and textured sonorities in the ensemble's signature avant-garde aesthetic. ... Click to View


Agusti Fernandez feat. Barry Guy, Don Malfon, John Butcher, Jordina Milla, Liudas Mockunas, Lucia Martinez, Torben Snekkestad, Zlatko Kaucic:
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Honoring Agustí Fernández's 70th birthday, this 7-CD box set captures his innovative artistry through live and studio collaborations with performers including Barry Guy, John Butcher, Lucía Martínez, &c., recorded across global venues, showcasing his mastery of the piano, free improvisation, and profound creative dialogue with fellow improvisers. ... Click to View


Zlatko Kaucic (Kaucic / Amado / Dorner / Grom / Guy / Fernandez / Snekkestad):
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Marking drummer/percussionist Zlatko Kaučič's 70th birthday, this 4-CD set presents his collaborations with luminaries including Torben Snekkestad, Axel Dörner, Rodrigo Amado, Barry Guy, and Agustí Fernández, blending intimate and transformative improvisations recorded across Slovenian festivals, showcasing Kaučič's mastery and the profound synergy of these exceptional ensembles. ... Click to View


Andrea Centazzo :
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Celebrating 50 years of Andrea Centazzo's career and 45 years of ICTUS Records, this 4-CD set documents concerts over four nights at Milan's Teatro Out Off, vibrant sets of improvisation uniting global luminaries like Elliott Sharp, Ellen Burr, and Steve Swell in a boundary-pushing exploration of ICTUS's legacy and Centazzo's innovative artistry. ... Click to View


Painkiller (Harris / Laswell / Zorn):
Samsara (Tzadik)

Originally formed in 1991, the legendary PainKiller trio, known for merging jazz, metal, grindcore, ambient, and dub, returns after more than 25 years to explore an intense new direction, as electronic artist Mick Harris crafts a rich tapestry of beats and sounds, drawing inspired performances from bassist Bill Laswell and alto saxophonist John Zorn. ... Click to View


Sun & Rain (Morgan / Laplante / Smiley / Nazary):
Waterfall [VINYL] (Out Of Your Head Records)

Taking six years to compose through collaborative retreats, this five-part opus blends precision composition and improvisation, with saxophonists Nathaniel Morgan and Travis Laplante, guitarist Andrew Smiley, and drummer Jason Nazary crafting intense, cerebral jazz-rock influenced by art-rock, free jazz, and European experimentalism, resulting in a bold and immersive debut. ... Click to View


Giacomo Merega / Joe Morris:
Opus Dichotomous (Infrequent Seams Records)

Building on their collaborations in the Noah Kaplan Quartet albums on Hat Hut/ezz-thetics — Descendants, Cluster Swerve, and Out of the Hole — bass guitarist Giacomo Merega (also of Dollshot) and guitarist Joe Morris (with pedals) explore intricate and dichotomous interplay, weaving parallel and divergent lines into richly complex interactions, suffused with a deep and resonant sonic richness. ... Click to View


Jason Kahn:
Every Hand Is Lunatic That Travels on the Moon (Editions)

Recorded live at Kunstraum Walcheturm in Zurich, Jason Kahn's voice presents four improvised pieces blending voice, modular synths, and electronics, creating immersive soundscapes that explore sound's spatial and psychological dimensions, released in a limited edition of 100 hand-painted CDs by Editions. ... Click to View


Sun Ra:
Lanquidity (DELUXE EDITION) [VINYL] (STRUT)

Strut's deluxe 25th-anniversary edition of Sun Ra's Lanquidity, a highlight in the Arkestra's discography, features a tip-on sleeve with OBI strip, an A2 poster with a rare Veryl Oakland photograph of Sun Ra, and liner notes by Tom Buchler, Michael Ray, Danny Ray Thompson, and Bob Blank, celebrating this classic with a richly detailed and collectible repress. ... Click to View


Tim Berne (w/ Tom Rainey / Gregg Belisle-Chi):
Yikes Too [2 CDs] (Out Of Your Head Records)

Highlighting the profound skill and musical connection of alto saxophonist Tim Berne, drummer Tom Rainey, and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi, in a captivating journey through meticulously composed pieces, dynamic improvisation, and structured arrangements of spontaneous creativity, across 2 CDs contrasting live and studio recordings that emphasize their exploratory artistry and evolution within creative jazz. ... Click to View


Tim Berne (w/ Rainey / Belisle-Chi):
Yikes [VINYL] (Screwgun/Out Of Your Head Records)

Highlighting the profound skill and musical connection of alto saxophonist Tim Berne, drummer Tom Rainey, and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi, in a captivating journey through meticulously composed pieces, dynamic improvisation, and structured arrangements of spontaneous creativity in a studio recording that emphasize their exploratory artistry and evolution within creative jazz. ... Click to View


Michael Sarian / Matthew Putman / Ledian Mola / Federico Ughi:
The Sea, The Space, and Egypt, Vol. 1 [VINYL] (577 Records)

Bringing together trumpeter Michael Sarian, keyboardist Matthew Putman, drummer Federico Ughi, and Cuban bassist-vocalist Ledian Mola to pay heartfelt tribute to Sun Ra's cosmic Afrofuturism, blending improvisational brilliance with Mola's folklore-inspired vocals and Putman's Rocksichord - the same keyboard model Sun Ra played - in a first-time collaboration and celebration of innovation. ... Click to View


Michael Sarian / Matthew Putman / Ledian Mola / Federico Ughi:
The Sea, The Space, and Egypt, Vol. 1 (577 Records)

Bringing together trumpeter Michael Sarian, keyboardist Matthew Putman, drummer Federico Ughi, and Cuban bassist-vocalist Ledian Mola to pay heartfelt tribute to Sun Ra's cosmic Afrofuturism, blending improvisational brilliance with Mola's folklore-inspired vocals and Putman's Rocksichord - the same keyboard model Sun Ra played - in a first-time collaboration and celebration of innovation. ... Click to View


Trance Map (Evan Parker / Matthew Wright):
Horizons Held Close (Relative Pitch)

Returning to the duo format that launched their series, Evan Parker on soprano saxophone and Matthew Wright on turntables with live processing and sound design deliver two studio improvisations from Ramsgate, UK, with Wright transforming Parker's virtuosity through layers of electronic interaction, crafting a dynamic and intricate virtual symphony of technique and intent. ... Click to View


Udo Schindler / Paul Rogers:
Ephemeral Locations (Confront)

Recorded live in Munich, Germany, Udo Schindler and Paul Rogers unite in a masterful duo performance blending Schindler's clarinet, double bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, and cornet with Rogers' work on the 7-string double bass, crafting an intricate, dynamic improvisation that explores space, texture, and resonance in a profound and sometimes exultant exploration of Recorded live in Munich, Germany, Udo Schindler and Paul Rogers unite in a masterful duo performance blending Schindler's clarinet, double bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, and cornet with Rogers' work on the 7-string double bass, crafting an intricate, dynamic improvisation using space, texture, and resonance in a profound and sometimes exultant exploration of low tones. tones. ... Click to View


Chuck Roth:
Document 1 (Relative Pitch)

Displaying remarkable technique on a 6-string electric guitar, New York improviser and composer Chuck Roth, also known as watergh0st, explores a vast palette of sounds and textures, bending and twisting the guitar's raw tones without effects or pedals, across 11 succinct improvisations, Roth delivers an engaging spectrum of styles and moods, showcasing his emotional depth and inventive approach. ... Click to View


Jean-Jacques Birge :
Animal Opera (GRRR)

Blending the autonomous compositions of Nabaz'mob, his opera for 100 smart rabbits, with the vibrant naturalism of "Dawn at Shimiyacu", a field recording from Peru's Amazon rainforest, Jean-Jacques Birgé along with Antoine Schmitt juxtaposes minimalist robotic orchestrations with raw environmental soundscapes, creating a genre-defying exploration within his signature sonic universe. ... Click to View


Neurodivergent:
Stigma (Evil Clown)

Blending the improvisational richness of the Evil Clown aesthetic with the playful chaos of wacky banter, Neurodivergent — featuring Count Robot, DNA Girl, Tim Mungenast, and Evil Clown regulars — delivers a dynamic, genre-defying performance uniting spoken-word absurdity, a diverse array of instruments, and spontaneous musical transformations in an embraceably unpredictable listening experience. ... Click to View


Various Artists:
Evil Clown Shorties, Vol. 3 (2024) (Evil Clown)

Drawn from 13 albums across eight ensembles and featuring 29 musicians, this third volume offers an excellent introduction to the concise improvisations recorded as soundchecks before long-form works, providing distinct snapshots of Evil Clown's dynamic creativity and showcasing the evolving sonorities and modular ensemble interplay that define their unique sonic universe. ... Click to View


Butcher / Davies / Sanders / Thomas:
Unlockings [VINYL] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)

Recorded live at Iklectik in London, saxophonist John Butcher on soprano and tenor leads an ensemble of Angharad Davies on violin, Mark Sanders on percussion, and Pat Thomas on electronics, iPad, and samples in four open, exploratory electroacoustic improvisations that reflect a post-lockdown freedom and Butcher's ethos of spontaneity and personal expression in creative music-making. ... Click to View


Butcher / Davies / Sanders / Thomas:
Lower Marsh [VINYL] (NI-VU-NI-CONNU)

Recorded across two sessions at London’s now-closed Iklectik, named for its Lambeth Marsh location, saxophonist John Butcher performs in duos and small groups with Angharad Davies on violin, Mark Sanders on percussion, Pat Thomas on electronics, and John Edwards on double bass, crafting remarkable acoustic and electroacoustic improvisations that honor the venue’s legacy. ... Click to View



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  BassDrumBone (Hemingway / Helias / Anderson) 
  Afternoon  
  (Auricle) 


  
   review by Andrey Henkin
  2025-01-13
BassDrumBone (Hemingway / Helias / Anderson): Afternoon (Auricle)

When, way back in November 1978, a trio of twenty-somethings, bassist Mark Helias, drummer Gerry Hemingway and trombonist Ray Anderson all at the beginnings of long and esteemed careers, convened in a New Haven studio (during a period when the Connecticut city was a hotbed of avant garde jazz) to record Oahspe, they could hardly have imagined the partnership continuing for another 45 years and counting.

That debut, made a year after the band had formed, the second release on Hemingway’s Auricle imprint, was listed under the participants’ names. For its most recent session Afternoon, the group much better known as BassDrumBone again finds a home on Auricle after two other earlier dates, 1987-97’s Cooked To Perfection and 2013-16’s The Long Road.

The personal and musical affection these three have for one another is evident, as they return from their various other projects and jobs to continue a decades-long conversation. As befits the collective nature of the group, Afternoon — recorded in a single July 2023 session, presumably in the titular part of the day — is comprised of three improvisations, “Afternoon Begins”, “Afternoon Continues” and “Afternoon Ends”, broken up by new compositions from each member.

The extemporaneous pieces are fluid and declamatory, the first playing with tempo, the second atmospheric and moody and third most textural and abstract. These contrast beautifully/intentionally with the compositions, whether Hemingway’s slinky “Ain’t Nuttin Butta”, Helias’ limpid “Shone Eyes” or Anderson’s stridently martial “Bright Wabash”.

A listening session of Afternoon paired with Oahspe shows how that young sapling — with attention, time and good fortune — could have grown taller over the years, more imposing, deepening its roots, yet still budding with new leaves and reaching towards the sunlight.



BassDrumBone (Hemingway / Helias / Anderson): Afternoon
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