27 Mar
Bremen to Bridgwater by Chris Mcgregor's Brotherhood of Breath
Saturday, 27 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
It is often said about great jazz recordings that they yield new surprises with each subsequent listening; I can't imagine how many playings of Bremen to Bridgwater …
25 Mar
Oltremare by Pietro Tonolo
Thursday, 25 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Italian saxophonist Pietro Tonolo is highly regarded in European jazz circles yet remains something of a mystery, here in the States. As this lovely quartet date, featuring…
25 Mar
Cathanger 86 by Dreamtime
Thursday, 25 March 2004
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Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
This undeniably, smoking ‘80s progressive jazz unit, features the great British pianist Keith Tippett alongside luminaries such as trumpeter Jim Dvorak, trombonist Nick Eva…
25 Mar
Experience by World Saxophone Quartet
Thursday, 25 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Despite its 27 years of existence and the substitution of members in the alto sax chair since Julius Hemphill left, the World Saxophone Quartet has more than endured. It ha…
23 Mar
Sleep Won't Come by John Mc Neil
Tuesday, 23 March 2004
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Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Out of the 'Miles' school emerges trumpet-eer John Mc Neilwith his noble, yet Avante'- Garde original CD effort. This is ajourney definitely worth taking. Mc Neil's heart s…
20 Mar
Sympathy by Raphe Malik Joe McPhee Donald Robinson
Saturday, 20 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Boxholder Records has recently released a work called SYMPATHY by trio, Raphe Malik on B-flat and C trumpets, Joe McPhee on soprano sax and pocket trumpet, and Donald Robin…
16 Mar
The Big Picture by Rob Brown Quartet
Tuesday, 16 March 2004
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Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
A release from Marge Records based in Paris gives us THE BIG PICTURE by the Rob Brown Quartet. The quartet is made up of Rob Brown on alto and flute, Roy Campbell on pocket…
16 Mar
Exponentially Monk by John Stetch
Tuesday, 16 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
There he goes again. That John Stetch. Playing solo. Dampening strings. Reinterpreting music. Playing with a facility that stunned listeners, and reviewers, when he release…
15 Mar
Storyteller by Marilyn Crispell Trio
Monday, 15 March 2004
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Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
With her latest ECM Records effort, pianist/composer Marilyn Crispell’s craft truly parallels the mindset and mood, suggested by the album title, where vivid imagery sparkl…
15 Mar
Triangulation by Christy Doran - John Wolf Brennan - Patrice Heral
Monday, 15 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
It’s difficult to pigeonhole or typecast this recording. Here, three highly regarded European musicians converge for a program, consisting of jazz-improv, progressive-rock …
15 Mar
Variety Orchestra by Brian Woodbury
Monday, 15 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Composer Brian Woodbury’s musical palate spans multiple genres and stylizations. He composes for TV, and delves into pop every so often. In essence, his multifaceted person…
13 Mar
Devotion by Courtney Pine
Saturday, 13 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
It has been a while since Courtney Pine has released a CD six years to be exact and this British saxophonist has lavished great amounts of thought and time on producing his…
11 Mar
The Blueprint Project by The Blueprint Project
Thursday, 11 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
As I listen again to the Blueprint Project's self titled third CD, I am reminded that the naysayers do indeed know nothing and that the future of jazz is secure in the hand…
10 Mar
Celestial Mechanix: The Blue Series Mastermix by DJ Spooky
Wednesday, 10 March 2004
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Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
The Blue Series on Thirsty Ear Records continues with a double CD called CELESTIAL MECHANIX. The master mixer is DJ Spooky, aka The Subliminal Kid, artist Paul Miller.Em…
09 Mar
Nothing To Declare by Paul Bley
Tuesday, 09 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
As one of the most influential living jazz pianists after having helped to develop the genre with his own innovations, including the first use of the synthesizer in concert…
08 Mar
Shadow - Intersection - West by Paul Murphy Trio
Monday, 08 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Over the course of thirty years or so, drummer Paul Murphy has been in and out of the avant-garde jazz scene. Notable dates include affiliations with the late saxophonist J…
08 Mar
As It Grows by Russ Lossing - Ed Schuller - Paul Motian
Monday, 08 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Drummer Paul Motian conveys his ineradicable mark of distinction throughout this somewhat open-ended trio date, highlighting the talents of pianist Russ Lossing. Along with…
06 Mar
Biathanatos by Matthew Mitchell & Duncan Haynes
Saturday, 06 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
The New Zealand duo of, Matthew Mitchell (guitar & electronics) and Duncan Haynes (piano) recorded these tracks during performances in Hungary. It’s sort of a mixed bag, co…
05 Mar
Shadowglow by Raoul Björkenheim / Lukas Ligeti
Friday, 05 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
I’ve already extolled the musical resumes & virtues of these performers on the pages of this web-magazine, so I won’t take up valuable space/time regurgitating it. Suffice …
04 Mar
Tales Out of Time by Peter Brötzmann Joe McPhee Kent Kessler & Michael Zer
Thursday, 04 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Although this Hat Hut Release has been on the market for awhile, and attention has been given to it, this quartet warrants more words to bring more attention to it. Brötzma…
03 Mar
In Chicago There is Willy by The Exciting Trio
Wednesday, 03 March 2004
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Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
The trio’s moniker does not allude to any sort of fast-paced type of excitement that one might surmise. It’s a gradual process. On this cleverly enacted outing, the drums-b…
02 Mar
Conquistador! by Cecil Taylor
Tuesday, 02 March 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Comprised of three extended pieces, the two on the original LP -- "Conquistador" (17:51) and "With Exit" (19:17) - and an alternate take on "With Exit" (17:21), this 1966 r…
29 Feb
Public by Greg Osby
Sunday, 29 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Alto saxophonist Greg Osby shoots bullets throughout this generally, hard-hitting live date, recorded at Jazz Standard in New York City. As Osby and trumpeter Nicholas Payt…
29 Feb
Raw Meet by Elliott Sharp - Melvin Gibbs - Lance Carter
Sunday, 29 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Recorded for the predominately, free jazz minded Switzerland-based record label, this outing features yet another glimpse at New York City guitarist Elliott Sharp’s bizarre…
29 Feb
Awareness Response by Paul Dunmall & Paul Rogers
Sunday, 29 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
British modern/free jazz titans, Paul Dunmall (reeds) and Paul Rogers (A.L.L. bass) have been collaborating for years, most notably with the quartet "Mujician," among vario…
28 Feb
Three by Cosmosamatics
Saturday, 28 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Cosmosamatics is: Sonny Simmons, one of the grand-daddies of the 1960s free jazz scene - he even recorded for the legendary ESP-Disk and Arhoolie labels; Michael Marcus, a …
27 Feb
For Flowers by Joelle Leandre - Mat Maneri - Joel Ryan - Christophe Marg
Friday, 27 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
This newly issued recording signifies material covered during two performances, at separate venues in France. The multinational quartet features prominent improvisers, Amer…
25 Feb
Public by Greg Osby
Wednesday, 25 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Greg Osby, protean in his intellectual and musical interests and always a source of surprise as he often grooms young jazz talent, surprises listeners on Public by r…
24 Feb
Tales Out Of Time by Joe McPhee - Peter Brotzmann - Kent Kessler - Michael
Tuesday, 24 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Joe McPhee (sax/trumpets) and Peter Brotzmann (saxes) have crossed paths over the years while respectively signifying two icons of modern, free-jazz type idioms. Recorded i…
20 Feb
Go Forth Duck by Paul Dunmall - Paul Rogers - Kevin Norton
Friday, 20 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Drummer/percussionist Kevin Norton aligns with two British improvising heavyweights on this most interesting trio date. Briefly, there’s a tremendous amount of synergy and …
20 Feb
1968 by People Band
Friday, 20 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
In the liners, producer Martin Davidson states: "The People Band (originally known as the Continuous Music Ensemble) was founded around the same time as AMM and the Spontan…
18 Feb
Retrospective/Debut by Tom Lawton
Wednesday, 18 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
At the beginning of "Celestial Prism," Tom Lawton plays in the treble clef 48 notes in 48 seconds, give or take a note or second or two, before he starts playing with both …
18 Feb
Which Way Is East by Charles Lloyd - Billy Higgins
Wednesday, 18 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
This outing was recorded several months before drummer Billy Higgins' passing. Whereas this 2-CD set featuring Higgins and longtime collaborator, saxophonist Charles Lloyd …
17 Feb
PISA 1980 by Improvisors Symposium (Various)
Tuesday, 17 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
This reissue adds ninety-four minutes to the original LP. Besides, these multifarious performances by ten of the leading improvisers on the globe, rings like an avant-garde…
16 Feb
Out Of Season by Dave Rempis Quartet
Monday, 16 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
This modern jazz centric record label generally highlights Chicago, IL., area talent. And with this outing, alto and tenor saxophonist Dave Rempis leads an improvising dren…
15 Feb
Lift: Live At The Village Vanguard by Chris Potter
Sunday, 15 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Even as the young saxophonist in Red Rodney’s group, Chris Potter took the music in an angular, free direction while remaining true to the bebop work that Rodney played. An…
15 Feb
To Music by Jim Robitaille
Sunday, 15 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Jim Robitaille has piled up so many awards in such a short amount of time recently that it’s a wonder that his name isn’t better known beyond New England where his educatio…
14 Feb
In A Mellow Tone by Dave Liebman
Saturday, 14 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
In A Mellow Tone was recorded in 2001, just before Dave Liebman’s group of ten years disbanded when drummer Jamey Haddad left. Credit is due to Zoho Records for reco…
13 Feb
Rara Avis by Jeff Arnal - Gordon Beeferman - Seth Misterka
Friday, 13 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
This New York City-based jazz/improvising trio emerges as a cohesive unit, meshing superior technical ability with extreme imaginative powers. And for my money, drummer Jef…
13 Feb
Ulrichsberg by Irene Schweizer - Pierre Favre
Friday, 13 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Pianist Irene Schweizer and drummer Pierre Favre’s accomplishments within the European modern jazz/improvising scene are well documented. Besides, this outstanding release …
13 Feb
Opening The Gates by James Finn with Dominic Duval & Whit Dickey
Friday, 13 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
New York City, modern jazz saxophonist James Finn recorded these works in his home studio, with well-known jazz/improvisational aces, bassist Dominic Duval and drummer Whit…
11 Feb
You Should Have Seen Me Before We First Met by Ingar Zach - Ivar Grydeland
Wednesday, 11 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Norwegian modernists’ guitarist Ivar Grydeland and percussionist Ingar Zach are known to push the proverbial envelope on occasion. But, they also elevate the avant-garde id…
10 Feb
Where The Two Worlds Touch by Myra Melford - The Tent
Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Pianist/composer Myra Melford continually demonstrates why she is one of the top musical minds within the international jazz community. Her latest ensemble-led release is i…
10 Feb
Forms by Ellery Eskelin
Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Tenor sax titan, Ellery Eskelin has released several, critically acclaimed CDs for this record label, namely with drummer Jim Black and accordionist and electronics denizen…
08 Feb
The Current Underneath by Who Trio: Michel Wintsch - Gerry Hemingway - Banz
Sunday, 08 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
The third release by the trio features all-star trombonist Ray Anderson, performing on the final cut titled, "Jlrai." Ultimately, the group uses space as an added instrumen…
08 Feb
Back Together Again by Fred Anderson / Hamid Drake
Sunday, 08 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Tenor sax titan Fred Anderson joins his longtime Chicago area musical associate, drummer Hamid Drake for this duet affair. Included as part of this 2-CD set is a CD-ROM, co…
06 Feb
For The Love Of Peace by Charnett Moffett
Friday, 06 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Charnett Moffett has established some an impressive, and lengthy, resumé during the twenty years that he has been performing professionally. Even before he started with Wyn…
04 Feb
Tales Out Of Time by Peter Brotzmann / Joe McPhee / Kent Kessler / Michael Ze
Wednesday, 04 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Ballads? From these fellows? Well, "ballads" it is, as only McPhee and Brötzmann can render them - and "rend" them they do. These two sultans of skronk are a lot more subdu…
03 Feb
Queen Dynamo by Michael Vlatkovich Tritet
Tuesday, 03 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
Free jazz is an elusive thing. Technically, all jazz is free, to some extent - it’s just the degree to which the musicians are willing to allow the impositions of harmony o…
03 Feb
Home Speaks To The Wandering by Dead Cat Bounce
Tuesday, 03 February 2004
Published in
Free Jazz / Avante Garde - CD Reviews
The sounds on Home Speaks To The Wandering are as adventurous as the music of such obvious influences as the World Saxophone Quartet and Roland Kirk and as deep 'in …