ZGA leader Nick Sudnick meets with extreme vocalist Sainkho Namchylak for 15 parts of "Play", unusual and frightening work of rhythm, sound and vocalization of intense calibre.

Improvising vocalist Sainkho in a live performance at the Vilnius Jazz Festival with Wolfgang Puschnig on reeds and Paul Urbanek on piano, remarkable jazz vocalisations from this noted throat singer.

The trio of bassist Achim Tang, prepared pianist Philip Zoubek, and trombonist Matthias Muche extended with Sven Hahne on computer and Christian Thome on drums and electronics in a freely improvised electroacoustic album of subtle pacing and diverse approaches, with many of the rhythmic elements imparting a gamelan feeling.

Saxophonist Marc Baron & bassist Loic Blairon recorded 6 improvisations and then recomposed and organized them into these two 30 minute works, one acoustic and one digital.

The duo of Johannes Nastesjo on double bass and Vasco Trilla on drums and percussion, an album of extended techniques and unexpected devising, using quietly aggressive techniques balanced by concentrative improv to create unexpected eruptions and unusual sonic environments.

Jazz Passengers leader and saxophonist Roy Nathanson in an album of duos recorded live during a series of concerts at The Stone in NY, with collaborators including Marc Ribot, Curtis Fowlkes, Anthony Coleman, Arturo O'Farrill, Myra Melford, and Lucy Hollier.

An incredible large group including Ned Rothenberg, Nate Wooley, Henry Kaiser, Okkyung Lee, Briggan Krauss, Steve Swell, Mark Dresser, &c. &c. performing the dark electroacoustic compositions of Alon Nechushtan.

The Necks trio of Chris Abrahams (piano), Tony Buck (drums) and Lloyd Swanton (bass) return to their evolving improvisation format, with ethereal arco harmonics, mesmeric piano riffs, subliminal pulses, twittering electronics, and even an arco bass choir.

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.

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.

New York multi-reed and wind player Ned Rothenberg performing on the shakuhachi in orignal compositions performed with viola and spoken word in beautiful and nuanced performances.

Using clarinet, household objects, field recordings & domestic electronics, Anett Nemeth applies Cage's concepts of indeterminancy and chance as frameworks for two extended compositions.

Lisbon saxophonist and composer Alípio Neto in exciting free and hard bop sessions with New Yorkers Herb Robertson, Michael Thompson, and Ken Filiano.

Four extended electroacoustic works from Berlin's inside pianist and mixing board artist Andrea Neumann and Baltimore's Bonnie Jones on electronics, minimal and edgy pieces of unusual and absorbing character.

Jamie Newton works with sound using guitar, keyboards, field recordings, processing, and Kyoto croquet, here in a contemplative set of works merging drone and thick noise with indistinct rhythms and layers of concrete sounds.

Tonewheel organ meditations along with feedback and sound forms using processed guitar, keyboards and field recordings from sound artist Jamie Newton, 2 slowly evolving tonal works sandwiching three more turbulent pieces in a journey of drone, noise and reflection.

The excellent trio of Maggie Nicols (voice), Caroline Kraabel (saxophone, voice) and Charlotte Hug (viola) record a set of improvisation just a month after performing at the Freedom of the City Festival.

Bassist Pascal Niggenkemper put together this piano trio with veteran pianist Simon Nabatov and drummer Gerald Cleaver, excellent and complex modern jazz from three tremendous players.

NY based German-French bassist Pascal Niggenkemper in a European septet with reedist Frank Gratkowski, pianist Eve Risser, violist Frantz Loriot, vibraophonist Els Vandeweyer, voicals Emilie Lesbros, and drummer Christian Lillinger recording at the Loft, Cologne.

With 2 clarinetists--Joris Ruhl and Joachim Badenhorst--and 2 prepared pianists--Eve Risser and Philip Zoubek--plus flutist Julian Elvira, leader/bassist Pascal Niggenkemper explores his "different twins" concept in 9 uniquely orchestrated and impressive improvisations.

Ever-active bassist Pascal Niggenkemper in his first solo album of riveting and intriguing double bass work, from aggressive to contemplative and immersive improvisations using work using bass preparations to transform the instrument and make us rethink its potential.

Drummer Lucas Nggli rebuilds his Big Zoom band by filling out the rhythm section with bassist Barry Guy, and adding flutist Anne La Berge along with regulars trombonist Wogram and guitarist Schaufelberger.

Percussionist Niggli's group Zoom meets Arte Quartett for a set of Niggli compositions.

Ex guitarist Terrie and drummer/percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love met in the Jottem Studio in Wormerveer, NL, to record these 4 extended and rugged improvisations; rhythm vs strings with a skronky temperament.

An incredible hour-long 6 part drum set from one of Europe's most active drummers, performing live at Foundacio Joan Miro in Barceloa during the Nits de Music series.

Paal Nilssen-Love's Large Unit of some of Norway's brightest young improvisers in a solid 3-CD box set recorded live during their 2014 tour, performing Nilssen-Love's compositions that focus on interaction, free improvisation, sound, dynamics and energy.

Drummer and percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love performed this incredibly diverse solo set at the Forum, Norway during the 2002 Molde International Jazz Festival.

Norwegian drummer Gard Nilssen (Zanussi 5, Bushman's Revenge, Puma, &c.) leads his new Acoustic Unity trio of Petter Eldh on double bass and Andre Roligheten (Albatrosh) on sax through 8 tightly conceived original jazz compositions with contributions from all 3 players.

Norwegian drummer Gard Nilssen (Zanussi 5, Bushman's Revenge, Puma, &c.) leads his new Acoustic Unity trio of Petter Eldh on double bass and Andre Roligheten (Albatrosh) on sax through 8 tightly conceived original jazz compositions with contributions from all 3 players.

This versatile trio combine influences from the free improv, ea-improv, noise, ambient and contemporary art scenes into an original sound language.

A mix of free jazz, rock, and avant-garde experimental music from clarinetist Francesco Chiapperini in a quartet with Gianluca Elia on tenor sax, Dario Trapani on electric guitar, and Anotonio Fusco on drums; lyrical modern jazz with a good dose of free chaos.

The second release from the Portugese trio of Joao Paulo Esteves Da Silva (piano), Nelson Cascais (bass) and Joao Lensastre (drums) after their 2012 JACC Records release "Volume I", meeting in the studio for instant compositions of graceful and sophisticated improvisation.

London master drummer Steve Noble (Rip Rig and Panic, Derek Bailey), a mainstay on the scene for decades, with Scandinavian free improvising saxophonist Kristoffer Berre Alberts (Cortex, Saka, Starlite Motel) for a live album of uproariously driven, skronky free jazz.

The two-headed snake on the cover of this album aptly describes the sublimely sinuous and dark interplay between London free jazz drummer Steve Noble and bass clarinetist Yoni Silver, their 4-part improvisation taking on sinister elements of exceptional cymbal techniques, unusual drum tones, and extended lower register tones and high harmonics; excellent.

Anthony Pateras was commissioned to compose this work by Synergy Percussion for their 40th birthday in 2014, performed with a six piece ensemble including electronic artist Jerome Noetinger, using the same instrumentation as Xenakis' "Pleiades" of more than 100 orchestral percussion instruments, including Xenakis' 17-pitch microtonal metallophones.

Erstwhile's debut of percussionist, microphone and electronic artist Will Guthrie in a duo with tape machine Revox and electronic artist Jerome Noetinger ("Hands of Caravaggio") in an interactive "face off" between the two.

This Calgary based trio with Jay Crocker on guitar & electronics, J.C. Jones on trombone and Eric Hamelin on drums & percussion, mix free bop with small sound electronic improv.

Two works from two distinctive composers from different periods--Jurg Frey and Luigi Nono--both for two violins, Frey using the two violins in parallel to emphasize their distinction; Nono using powerful gestures of divergence and contrast in a dream-like duo.

Three compositions by Luigi Nono, recorded at the Berlin festival "Inventionen", live electronics moving away from clear spatial and timbral assignations rendering the acoustic instruments barely recognizable.

3 works by composer Luigi Nono: "A Carlo Scarpa" for orchestra; "A Pierre..." for bass flute, bass clarinet and live elektronics; and "Guai ai Gelidi Mostri" for ensemble, voices and live elektronics.

Reissuing composer Luigi Nono's 1990 Edition Rz LP with the addition of 3 works, presenting 6 remarkable symphonic works combining live electronics and voice, intended to expand the technical possibilities of sound and the perceptive faculties of the listener.

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.

Fredrick Nordstrom's 60s inspired jazz places itself in the Ornette Coleman heritage, with references also to Blue Note artists like Bobby Hutcherson.

Bassist Eric Normand's compositions showcase the incredibly talented quintet of James Darling (cello), Antoine Letourneau-Berger (vibes), Michel F. Cote (drums/feedback) and Jean Derome (flute, sax, birdcall).

The Bent Spoon Duo of Chris Dadge and Scott Munro met bassist Eric Normand (Tour De Bras, Ambiances Magnetiques) while Normand was on tour to record these ragged electro-acoustic improvisations.

Based on Canadian physician & author Jacques Ferron's book "Gaspe Mattempa", bassist Eric Normad leads a quintet into a mythological audio world with Raphael Arsenault (violin), Philippe Lauzier (bass clarinet), Alexandre Robichaud (trumpet) & Antoine Letourneau-Berger (percussion).

Drawing from Xenakian architextures, Carterian set theory, Carnatic music, sharp-edged pointillism & orchestrational symbiosis, pianist Anthony Pateras steps back from electronic music for chamber-oriented improvisations with trumpeter Scott Tinkler & voilinist Erkki Veltheim.

Northern Valentine is a Philadelphia based ambient/drone collective anchored by husband & wife, Robert & Amy Brown, Jeffrey Bumiller & Matthew Primak, here in an album collecting their beautiful sonic creations.

Minimalist ambient work from Robert & Amy Brown, who have been recording and performing since '97, creating heartfelt, soulful & affecting sound.

Jonathan Webb and Robert Hopps combine processed field recordings with guitar, turntables, electronics, and found sounds in long form drone-oriented improvisations.

A beautifully building release of guitar and percussion, one long track that adds intensity from lovely minimalism to Fripp-ian chords and driving drum work.

The 28th release in John Zorn's Book of Angels series, performing the Masada song books in distinct groupings, brings together the all-star NY group of Cyro Baptista, Joey Baron, Trevor Dunn, John Medeski, and Kenny Wollesen for a blend of jazz, Afro-Cuban bop, Exotica, and more.

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.

Nozen is a crossroads of contemporary jazz, musique actuelle and the musical traditions of Jewish Eastern Europe, contrasting styles giving birth to a deep and spontaneous music.

Lisbon's Nuova Camerata brings together a mix of improvisers and contemporary classical players--Carlos Zingaro, Joao Camoes, Ulrich Mitzlaff, Miguel Leiria on string with Pedro Carneiro on marimba--for a set of improvisations bridging both disciplines in passionate and unexpected ways.

Bassist Duboc's two part symphony with dual drummers and dual trumpeters is a journey that aims at the creative free improvisation of groups like the Art Ensemble, AACM, BAG, &c.

Guitarist Joacim Nyberg, also performing on double bass, bell and recorder, in a live performance in Stockholm, Sweden at Fylkingen in 2014, using "Wood, steel, air. Hands, fingers, heart" in an open-ended and ardent exposition of his interpretation of jazz.

New York alto saxophonist O'Gallagher's trio with Jeff Williams and Masa Kamaguchi recording during their tour through France and Portugal.

Montreal interdisciplinary artist Alexis O'Hara releases her 1st music album with Montreal luminaries Bernard Falaise, Michel F. Cote, Alexandre St-Onge - intelligent and sophisticated vocal music.

High octane sessions from the trio of guitarist Mark O'Leary, bassist Peter Friis-Nielsen, and drummer Stefan Pasborg playing free in the studio in Copenhagen.

An incredible Vancouver-Seattle-Cork coming together of three experienced experimental improvisers in a mix of free jazz, free rock, Korean Court Music and electronics.

Celebrated pianist Matthew Shipp joins Irish guitarist Mark O'Leary to explore the many fields of improvisation each follows, from meditative to intense discourse.

Guitarist O'Leary exchanges musical dialogue with drummer/percussionist Dylan van der Schyff and (prepared) pianist Wayne Horvitz over 15 taut improvisations.

Mark O'Leary's 9th release on Leo Records is a trio with drummer Kenny Wollesen and Zorn compatriot Jamie Saft, synthetic jazz in an ECM mold with rich, slowly unfolding soundscapes.

The trio of guitarist O'Leary, drummer Pasborg and Fender Rhodes player Anderskov, Nordic lyricism juxtaposed with dark neo gothic landscapes in a gorgeous post-ECM flavor.

In "Urban Landscapes" Irish guitarist and electroacoustic artist Mark O'Leary captures and documents environmental audio associated with Urban Cork City.

Recordings from Cork, Ireland (home of O'Leary) and Basel, Switzerland, of subtle, dark and powerful experimental improv from two masters of the form.

Members of Tortoise and Supersilent join the hugely talented guitarist Mark O'Leary in a recording that pushes the boundaries on all levels in exciting post-Miles electronic improvisation.