Clarinet

Marion Brown – Duets

Compilation of two duo records:
“Creative Improvisation Ensemble” recorded with Wadada Leo Smith in 1970
“Soundways” recorded with Elliott Schwartz in 1973

Style: Creative Music, Free Improvisation, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibes: Open, Suspenseful, Abstract, Deconstructed, Intertwined, Restrained, Searching, Spontaneous

Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Poly-Free Improvisation, Atonal, Percussive, Slow, Sparse, Instrumental

Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden

Style: Free Jazz, Creative Music, Liberation Music, Jazz Poetry, Spiritual Jazz

Vibe: Passionate, Rootsy, Poetic, Storytelling, Rebellious, Compassionate, Intertwined, Haunting, Spiritual, Driving, Communal, Triumphant, Sad, Powerful

Themes: Ancestry, History, Feminism, Trauma, Memory, Black Liberation, Identity, Death

Musical Qualities: Suite, Thematic, Graphic Score, Improvisation, Spoken Word, Complex, Group Vocals

Brötzmann, Bekkas, Drake – Catching Ghosts

Style: Gnawa, Spiritual Jazz, Free Improvisation

Vibes: Ritualistic, Earthy, Communal, Groovy, Hypnotic, Ecstatic, Triumphant, Uplifting

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Percussive, Chants, Rhythmic, Repetitive, Live

Instrumentation: Guimbri, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Drums, Percussion

Danny Paul Grody – Arc of Day

Style: Post-Minimalism, Ambient Folk, American Primitivism

Vibe: Soothing, Morning, Contemplative, Meditative

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Soft, Sparse, Instrumental

Instrumentation: Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar, Clarinet, Percussion, Pedal Steel

Carlos Niño & Friends – (I’m just) Chillin’, On Fire

with Josh Johnson, André 3000, Deantoni Parks, Jamael Dean, Jamire Williams, Adam Rudolph, Aaron Shaw, Laraaji, Kamasi Washsington, Sibusile Xaba, Mia Doi Tod, Woo, Photay, Surya Botofasina & others

Style: “Spiritual Improvisational Space Collage”, Ambient Jazz, New Age

Vibe: Ethereal, Communal, Utopian, Meditative, Playful, Exploratory, Soothing, Conscious, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Collage, Beats, Collective Improvisation, Sampling, Lush, Spoken Word

The Tower Recordings – Folk Scene

Style: Free Folk, Lo-Fi Psych, Mystical Folk

Vibe: Mysterious, Mystical, Communal, Murkey, Nocturnal, Ritualistic, Spacey, Eclectic, Hallucinogenic, Haunting

Musical Qualities: Vignettes, Lo-Fi, Acoustic, Droney, Collage, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Electro-Acoustic

Califone – Villagers

Style: Weird Americana, Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Vibes: Cryptic, Autumnal, Warm, Rural, Sardonic, Observational, Apathetic, Mellow, Peaceful, Playful. Twangy

Musical Qualities: Lush, Loops, Electro-Acoustic, Percussive, Melodic, Lyrical, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Modern Nature – No Fixed Point in Space

Style & Influences: Chamber Folk, Post-Rock, Chamber Jazz, Ambient Pop

Vibe: Patient, Winter Mornings, Impressionistic, Peaceful, Soothing, Nature, Meditative, Soft, Slow, Lush

Instrumentation: Fender Rhodes, Piano, Upright Bass, Electric Guitar, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Violin, Drums, Dulcimer, Clarinet, Percussion, Tape Loops

Bex Burch – There is Only Love and Fear

featuring Anna Butters, Ben LaMar Gay, Dan Bitney, Rob Frye, Mikel Patrick Avery, Macie Stewart, Anton Hatwich, Deiego Gaeta, Bed Lumsdaine, Oren Marshall

Style: Collage-Jazz, Chamber-Jazz, Post-Minimalism, New Age, ECM Jazz

Vibe: Aquatic, Soothing, Flowing, Ethereal, Healing, Airy, Meditative, Morning, Nature

Magma II – 1001° centigrades

Style: Zeuhl, Jazz-Rock, Cosmic Opera, Avant-Prog

Vibe: Epic, Theatric, Menacing, Driving, Anxious, Science Fiction, Cosmic, Dramatic, Eccentric, Dark

Instrumentation: Operatic Vocals, Drums, Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet, Percussion, Clarinet, Rhodes, Piano, Electric Bass, Flute

Anthony Braxton – For Trio

Style: Creative Music, Avant-Garde Chamber Jazz

Vibes: Mystical, Cerebral, Ritualistic, Numerological, Abstract, Philosophical, Spiritual, Open, Cosmic

Musical Qualities: Modular Notation, Poly-Free Improvisation, Dynamic, Acoustic, Percussive, Polyphonic, Sparse

Joanna Newsom – Divers

“But stand brave, life-liver, bleeding out your days in the river of time.
Stand brave: time moves both ways, in the nullifying, defeating, negating, repeating joy of life.
The moment of your greatest joy sustains: not axe nor hammer, tumor, tremor, can take it away, and it remains.
And it pains me to say, I was wrong. Love is not a symptom of time. Time is just a symptom of love”

Rustin Man – Drift Code

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Art Pop, Chamber-Jazz

Vibes: Autumnal, Sombre, Introspective, Vaudeville, Lush, Sentimental, Theatric, Surreal, Storytelling, Haunting

World Saxophone Quartet – Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music

Style: Post-Bop, Modern Creative

Moods: Elegant, Intertwined, Warm, Reflective, Airy, Colorful

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Thematic, Improvisation, Acoustic, Live

Instrumentation: Saxophones (Baritone, Alto, Soprano, Tenor), Clarinet, Bass Clarinet

Art Ensemble of Chicago – Nice Guys

Styles: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz

Moods: Communal, Colorful, Eclectic, Ritualistic, Uplifting, Playful, Suspenseful, Mysterious, Abstract, Noir, Open

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Acoustic, Dynamic, Sparse

Horace Tapscott with the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra – Live at I.U.C.C.

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Avant-Garde Big Band

Moods: Triumphant, Communal, Spiritual, Uplifting, Epic, Warm

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Progressive, Uncommon Time Signatures, Live, Dense, Acoustic, Complex, Rhythmic, Thematic, Collective Improvisation, Orchestral

Instrumentation: Piano, Horns, Drums, Percussion, Upright Bass, Drums, Woodwinds, Cello

Eddie Henderson – Inside Out

Style: Jazz Fission, Abstract Groove, Cosmic Jazz, Free-Fusion

Moods: Cosmic, Propulsive, Exploratory, Adventurous, Spiritual, abstract groove, communal, cosmic, driving, epic, exploratory, improvisation, instrumental, mysterious, rhythmic, thematic, psychedelic,

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Rhythmic, Ostinato, Dub Fx, Thematic

The Art Ensemble of Chicago – Bap-Tizum

Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Creative, Spiritual Jazz, Free Jazz

Moods: Ritualistic, Passionate, Cathartic, Open, Colorful, Visceral, Warm, Communal, Free, Abstract, Chaotic, Exploratory, Responsive, Tribal, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Percussive, Suite, Live, Dynamic, Polyphonic, Group Vocals

Instrumentation: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Kelphorn, Bass Drum, Percussion, Saxophones (Alto, Soprano, Sopranino, Tenor, & Bass), Clarinet, Drums, Alto Flute, Conga, Vibraphone, Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Log Drum, Gong, Whistle, Bass Marimba

Dewey Redman – Coincide

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz

Moods: Ecstatic, Intense, Energetic, Kinetic, Passionate, Mysterious, Triumphant, Chaotic, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Dynamic, Dissonant, Complex, Acoustic, Collective Improvisation, Instrumental

Personnel:

Dewey Redman – Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Zither; Sirone – Upright Bass; Eddie Moore – Drums, Tympani, Idiophone (Bowed & Struck); Leroy Jenkins – Violin; Ted Daniel – Trumpet

Angel Bat David – The Oracle

Style: Organic Beat Music, Bedroom Gospel, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Heartfelt, Raw, Sombre, Spiritual, Flowing, Passionate, Mournful, Mysterious, Haunting, Cathartic, Eclectic

Musical Qualities: Home Recording, Collage, Beats, Improvisation, Solo, Loose, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Lo-fi

Instrumentation: Clarinet, Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Drums

Bill Callahan – YTILAER

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Moods: Contemplative, Existential, Nature, Poetic Lush, Pastoral, Warm, Peaceful, Romantic

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Piano, Drums, Electric Bass, Contra Alto Clarinet, Trumpet, Synthesizers

Björk – Fossora

Styles: Progressive Pop, Post-Industrial Chamber Music, IDM, Gabber, Deconstructed Club

Moods: Earthy, Knotty, Sensual, Futuristic, Surreal, Romantic, Mystical, Passionate, Messy, Hallucinogenic, Intense, Forest, Eccentric, Epic, Tribal

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Dense, Dynamic, Complex, Glitchy, Progressive, Uncommon Time Signatures, Electro-Acoustic

Instrumentation: Digital Programming, Woodwinds (Bass Clarinet, Oboe, Clarinet), Strings, Choral Vocals

Old Fire – Voids

features vocals from Bill Callahan, Emily Cross (Loma), Adam Torres, & Julia Holter

Style: Haunted Folk, Ambient Americana, Southern Gothic

Moods: Desolate, Bleak, Haunting, Western, Cinematic, Stark, Sombre, Rustic, Melancholy, Brooding, Contemplative, Depressive, Nocturnal, Alienation, Dystopian, Impressionistic, Lonely, Moody, Mournful, Mythic, Noir, Personal

Musical Qualities: Suite, Atmospheric, Slow, Sampling, Electro-acoustic, Droney

Shabaka – Afrikan Culture

Style: New Age, Spiritual Jazz

Moods: Meditative, Devotional, Soothing, Mellow, Flowing, Spiritual

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Improvisation, Instrumental, Atmospheric

Instrumentation: Shakuhachi, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Harp, Flute, Synthesizers, Percussion, Kora

Marion Brown – Afternoon of a Georgia Faun

featuring Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, Bennie Maupin, Andrew Cyrille, etc…

Style: Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz

Vibe: Mysterious, Suspenseful, Nature, Abstract, Surreal, Kinetic, Visceral, Earthy, Swirling, Pastoral (Side A)

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Sparse, Acoustic, Atonal, Experimental Vocals, Extended Techniques, Dissonant, Percussive, Homemade Instrument

Anthony Braxton – New York, Fall 1974

Featuring Jerome Cooper, Julius Hemphill, Dave Holland, Leroy Jenkins, Kenny Wheeler…

Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Creative, Post-Bop
Vibe: Knotty, Angular, Complex, Cerebral, Exploratory, Serious, Bustling (Side A), Mysterious (Side B)
Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Extended Technique, Improvisation, Thematic, Instrumental

John Carter – Fields

Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Country-Jazz, Jazz Theater

Vibe: Rural, Historical, Sombre, Resolute, Intertwined, Passionate, Storytelling, Determined, Resolute, Heartfelt, Complex, Theatric, Conceptual

Musical Qualities: Suite, Acoustic, Progressive, Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Dynamic, Technical

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Liberation

Style: Free Folk, Mystical Americana, Drone, Free Improvisation, Post-Rock

Vibe: Weary, Hopeful, Rustic, Communal, Spiritual, Ragged, Eerie, Melancholy, Deconstructed, Hypnotic, Communal, Haunting, Raw, Suspenseful, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Lo-Fi, Atmospheric, Droney, Group Vocals, Dub FX

Instrumentation: Electric Guitars, Vibraphone, Flute, Drums, Violin, Cello, Clarinet, Saxophone, Banjo, Melodica, Sitar, Electronics, Turntable, Keyboards, Trumpet, Electric Bass

Leonard Cohen – New Skin for the Old Ceremony

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Folk

Vibe: Poetic, Bittersweet, Conversational, Sexual, Dry Humor, Brooding, Melancholy, Longing, Tender, Introspective, Breakup

Musical Qualities: Lush, Lyrical, Groovy, Dynamic

Instrumentation: Electric Bass, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Backup Vocalists, Trombone, Jaw Harp, Woodwinds, Strings, Banjo, Mandolin, Trumpet, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards

Eiko Ishibashi – Imitation of Life

Style: Chamber Pop, Prog-Pop, Jazz Pop, Singer-Songwriter

Vibe: Lush, Warm, Sunny, Sci-Fi, Playful, Philosophical, Surreal, Energetic, Imaginative

Musical Qualities: Progressive, Dense, Catchy, Complex, Melodic, Dense, Technical, Rhythmic

Instrumentation: Piano, Vibraphone, Drums, Flute, Rhodes, Electric & Acoustic Bass, Saxophone, Clarinet, Violin, Cello , Synthesizers, Steel Drum, French Horn

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Fig 5.

Style: Mystical Americana, Free Folk, Post-Rock, Drone

Vibe: Haunting, Meandering, Rootsy, Rustic, Nocturnal, Mysterious, Deconstructed, Ragged, Communal, Murky, Abstract, Lethargic, Hallucinogenic, Raw

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental (except B1,C1), Loose, Lo-fi, Dynamic, Droney, Noisy, Group Vocals (B1), Harmonies (B1, C1)

Horace Tapscott & the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra – The Call

Style: Avant-Garde Big Band, Spiritual Jazz, Vocal Jazz (A2)

Vibe: Spiritual, Communal, Epic, Passionate, Active Listening, Energetic, Religious, Triumphant

Musical Qualities: Polyphonic, Complex, Dense, Acoustic, Thematic, Improvisation, Melodic, Technical, Orchestral

Wadada Leo Smith – Spirit Catcher

Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Chamber Jazz, Modern Creative Music

Vibe: Intertwined, Open, Patient, Flowing, Noir, Suspenseful, Spiritual, Communal, Abstract

Musical Qualities: Poly-Free Improvisation, Polyphonic, Acoustic, Complex, Instrumental, Dynamic

Instrumentation: Trumpet (muted), Harp, Vibraphone, Upright Bass, Clarinet, Trombone, Wooden Flute, Drums, Saxophone, Flugelhorn

Mark Hollis – Mark Hollis

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Ambient Chamber Jazz, Post-Rock

Vibe: Peaceful, Intimate, Introspective, Spiritual, Reflective, Meditative, Melancholy, Mellow, Sentimental, Ethereal, Autumnal

Musical Qualities: Soft, Sparse, Acoustic, Atmospheric


Instrumentation: Voice, Bassoon, Clarinet, Piano, Upright Bass, Flute, Trumpet, Guitar

Land of Kush – Sand Enigma

Style: Avant-Garde Big Band, Arabic/Egyptian Folk, Psychedelic Jazz

Vibe: Intense, Sombre, Cathartic, Psychedelic, Complex, Ritualistic, Communal

Musical Qualities: Dense, Progressive, Dissonant, Acoustic, Percussive

Instrumentation: Santur, Upright Bass, Piano, Saxophones, Vocals, Percussion, Drums, Clarinet, Flute, Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello), Keyboards, Synthesizer, lap Steel Guitar, Electronics, Harp

Henry Grimes Trio – The Call

Style: Free Jazz

Vibe: Mysterious, Moody, Complex

Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Instrumental, Acoustic, Dynamic

Personnel: Henry Grimes (Upright Bass), Perry Robinson (Clarinet), Tom Price (Drums)

The Sea Ensemble – We Move Together

An obscure release from the great creative label ESP-Disk, containing exploratory, mysterious and playful improvisations from The Sea Ensemble—the husband/wife duo of Zusaan Fasteau and Donald Rafael Garrett. While they are both trained musicians and multi-instrumentalists, an uninhibited childish spirit permeates this release, as can be seen in Donald’s crude but visionary cover drawing; Yet the recording also feels imbued with ancient wisdom, as heard in their primal and instinctive vocalizations throughout the album

Human Behavior – Kedumim

Religious allegory, profane thoughts, and lustful confessions intertwine on Human Behavior’s third LP; Kedimum is a brooding suite of psychological chamber folk that introspects into a conflicted mind, struggling to reconcile matters of indoctrinated faith, natural human desires, and internalized guilt. Primary songwriter Andres Parada is joined by a sympathetic cast of vocalists to create a vivid sonic drama complete with choral vocals and spoken word passages to complement his haunting narrations. The intricate and shadowy arrangements blend distorted electronic beats with a wide array of acoustic instrumentation, including banjo, clarinet, accordian, acoustic guitar, violin, ehru, and cello.

Black Ox Orkestar – Ver Tanzt?

These impassioned, and often mournful, renditions of klezmer folk songs (both traditional and original) are infused with elements of free jazz, drone, and chamber music to create something both rooted and urgently modern (Even 15 years after its release). The mostly acoustic band features violinist Jessica Moss (also of Silver Mt. Zion) and upright bassist Thierry Amar (asmz, GY!BE) in addition to singer/multi-instrumentalist Scott Levine Gilmore and Clarinetist/Guitarist Gabe Levine.

Human Behavior – Bethpage

The apocalyptic chamber-folk of Bethpage soundtracks multiple chapters of cryptic storytelling, mixing one’s darkest thoughts with religious imagery and allegory through banjo sing-alongs and haunting spoken word passages. The heavy climaxes are whirlwinds of bombastic drums, driving bass, fiddle, clarinet, and banjo that often recall the communal chamber-punk of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. While many tracks feel seeped in shadow and darkness, a heavenly light occasionally floods in through some truly serene and beautiful passages.

Charlie Haden – Liberation Music Orchestra

“The music in this album is dedicated to creating a better world; a world without war and killing, without racism, without poverty and exploitation; a world where men of all governments realize the vital importance of life and strive to protect it rather than destroy it. We hope to see a new society of enlightenment and wisdom where creative thought becomes the dominant force in all people’s lives” – Charlie Haden