Released in 2018 on ECM Records Recorded July 2017 Format: LP
Tag: Improvisation
Makaya McCraven – Universal Beings
Released in 2018 on International Anthem Recording Co. Format: LPx2
John Coltrane – Ascension (Edition II)
Released in 1966 on Impulse Records Original Pressing Format: LP
Activities of Dust – Activities of Dust
Released in 2008 on Arduna Records Format: LP
Charles Mingus – Mingus at Monterey
Released in 1965 on Jazz Workshop (Mingus’ own label) Numbered 1966 pressing Recorded in 1964 at the Monterey Jazz Festival … More
The Ornette Coleman Quartet – This is Our Music
Released in 1961 on Atlantic Records Format: LP
Old and New Dreams – Old and New Dreams (1979)
75 Dollar Bill – I Was Real
Albert Ayler – In Greenwich Village
Released in 1967 on Impulse! Records Format: LP
Don Cherry – “mu” first part
Released in 1969 on BYG Records Japanese Pressing Format: LP Artwork by Moki Cherry Recorded August 22, 1969 in Paris, … More
The Necks – Unfold
Released on Ideological Organ in 2017 Format: LPx2
Sarah Louise – Nighttime Birds and Morning Stars
Released in 2019 on Thrill Jockey Records Format: LP Limited pink vinyl
Miles Davis – Sorcerer
Released in 1967 by Columbia Records Format: LP
Bert Jansch – Avocet
Released in 1979 on Charisma Records Recorded February 1978 Format: LP
The John Coltrane Quartet – Crescent
Released in 1964 on Impulse! records 1997 reissue Format: LP
Michael Mantler – The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra
Released in 1968 on JCOA Records Format: LPx2, includes 12″ booklet
John Coltrane – Expression
Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners
Originally released in 1957 on Riverside 1980 Original Jazz Classics reissue Format: LP
Herbie Hancock – Mwandishi
Released in 1971 on Warner Bros. Format: LP, white label promo
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Released in 1974 on Atlantic Records Format: LP
Grateful Dead – Live/Dead
Originally released in 1969 on Warner Bros. Records 1973 Pressing Format: LPx2
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
Originally released in 1965 on Impulse Records 2010 Analogue Productions Pressing Format: LPx2, 45RPM
Pharoah Sanders – Thembi
Released in 1971 on Impulse Records Recorded November 25, 1970 and January 12, 1971 Format: LP
Bennie Maupin – The Jewel in the Lotus
Released in 1974 on ECM Records Format: LP
Herbie Hancock – Crossings
Releases in 1972 on Warner Bros. Records Format: LP
Archie Shepp – Live in San Francisco
Released in 1966 on Impulse! Records Recorded February 19, 1966 Format: LP
Circle – Paris-Concert
Released in 1972 by ECM Records Recorded February 21, 1971 Format: LPx2
Oren Ambarchi – Live Knots
This hypnotic, noisy, and improvisatory live album from Australian experimenter, collaborator, and improviser Oren Ambarchi features two separate performances of his epic composition “Knots”. (Click for full review)
McCoy Tyner – Asante
Released in 1974 on Blue Note Records Recorded September 10th, 1970 at Van Gelder Recording Studio Format: LP
Yonatan Gat – Director
Released in 2015 on Joyful Noise Records Recorded April 4-5, 2014 Format: LP, clear seafoam green vinyl
Pharoah Sanders – Jewels of Thought
Released in 1970 on Impulse Records Recorded October 20th, 1969, at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City Format: LP
Ornette Coleman – Friends and Neighbors: Ornette Live at Prince Street
Released in 1970 on Flying Dutchman Records Recorded February 14, 1970 on Prince Street, New York City
McCoy Tyner – Extensions
Released in 1972 on Blue Note Records Format: LP
Pharoah Sanders – Black Unity
Released in 1971 on Impulse Records Format: LP
Squarepusher – Ultravisitor
Released in 2004 on Warp Records Format: LPx2
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Mandatory Reality
Released in 2019 on Eremite Records Recorded in 2017 Format: LPx2, Screen-printed jacket
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – IC-01 Hanoi
Released in 2018 on Jagjaguwar Format: LP
Tim Buckley – Starsailor
Released in 1970 on Straight Records Format: LP
Black Ox Orkestar – Ver Tanzt? Yeah
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.
Art Blakey – !!!!!Impulse!!!!! Art Blakey !!!!! Jazz Messengers !!!!!
Released in 1961 on Impulse Records Og Stereo RVG pressing in Mono Jacket Format: LP
Darkside – Psychic
Released in 2013 on Matador Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Eric Dolphy – Out to Lunch!
Originally released in 1964 on Blue Note Records 2009 Music Matters audiophile pressing Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Miles Davis & Gil Evans – Sketches of Spain
Gong – Live in Paris – Bataclan 73
Released in 1990 on Mantra Recorded live in 1973 2019 RSD Pressing
King Crimson – In the Wake of Poseidon
Released in 1970 on Atlantic Records Format: LP
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
Released in 1969 on Atlantic Format: LP Pressing quality: While this album is a masterpiece, these early pressings/masters sound a … More
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band – Landmarks
Progressive Cool Jazz with thematic structural development, and ECM-Style reverbed production. Recommended track: Ark La Tex
Ryley Walker – Golden Sings that have been Sung (Deep Cuts Edition)
Ryley Walker’s virtuosic fingerpicking and intricate folk-rock songwriting vibe heavily with a backing band of Chicagoan jazz musicians, including upright bass, drums, Rhodes and electric guitar. The first LP of this release is a studio album of jazzy folk rock songs for fans of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks or Tim Buckley’s Happy Sad, while the Bonus Lp of this “Deep Cuts edition” is a 40 min live improvisation on one of the album cuts that probably beats anything on the studio LP. It’s rad to be able hear both the concise, song-centric studio side and the loose jammy side of this exciting artist in the same release.
Henry Cow – Unrest
On their second LP, Henry Cow weaves together elements of eerie chamber music, free improvisation, and deconstructed prog to create something that seems like the missing link between the Canterbury jazz-rock of Soft Machine and Gong and the dissonant avant-rock of This Heat.
Jan Garbarek Group – Wayfarer
Released in 1983 on ECM Format: LP
Amon Düül II – Phallus Dead
Originally released in 1969 on Liberty Records 2014 pressing on Purple Pyramid Format: LP, pink/blue swirl vinyl Includes Poster
Creative Construction Company – CCC
Featuring some of Chicago’s finest musicians and founding members of the AACM, (Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Richard Davis, Wadada Leo Smith, and Steve McCall), this 36 minute spontaneous composition doesn’t focus on soloing or instrumental technicality or rambunctious improvisIng, but creating and progressing an initially suspenseful, mysterious mood through focused, cohesive movements, with new sounds, moods, and melodies around every corner. Most of the musicians here play multiple instruments to sustain a versatile color palette.
Anthony Braxton with Muhal Richard Abrams – Duets 1976
“Functionally, the duet situation gives the greatest possibilities for establishing an affinity relationship with another musician on a one to one basis. This is especially true if the more open-ended forms where an improvisation is directly affected by both musicians on an equal plane” – Anthony Braxton
Don Cherry – Don Cherry (aka Brown Rice)
Originally released under the title Brown Rice in 1975 1977 pressing on Horizon Records Format: LP
Can – Tago Mago
Originally released in 1971 on United Artists Records Unofficial pressing on purple and brown marbled vinyl Format: LPx2
Gil Evans – Out of the Cool
Released in 1961 on Impulse Records Format: LP
Gary Peacock – Tales of Another
Released in 1977 on ECM Records Format: LP, white label promo
Charles Lloyd – Geeta
Released in 1973 on A&M Records Format: LP
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
Originally released in 1991 on Polydor 2011 pressing on Ba Da Bing Records Format: LP
John Coltrane – Meditations
Released in 1966 on Impulse Records Original Pressing
Natural Snow Buildings – Waves of the Random Sea
Released in 2011 on Blackest Rainbow Format: LPx2, 180g Ltd. to 750 copies
Eberhard Weber – The Colours of Chloë
The German upright bassist and composer is joined by a jazz quartet, cello ensemble, and choir for a colorfully complex album of atmospheric improvisation, progressive structures, and sweeping orchestral arrangements, with occasional segments of groovy fusion or synthesizer spaciness, all draped in the warm, reverbed production ECM albums are known for.
Don Cherry – Eternal Rhythm
Originally released in 1969 on MPS Records 1972 BASF Pressing Format: LP
Keiji Haino, Jim O’Rourke, & Oren Ambarchi – This Dazzling, Genuine “Difference” Now Where Shall It Go?
Released in 2017 on Black Truffle Records Recorded live on October 28, 2014 at SuperDeluxe Tokyo by Masahide Ando Format: … More
Tim Buckley – Happy Sad
Released in 1969 on Elektra Records Format: LP
Arve Henriksen – Towards Language
On Towards Language, Norweigan trumpeter Arve Henriksen creates a blend of meditative and suspenseful ambient-jazz, demonstrating a more soothing side to his playing than his noisier output with electro-acoustic improvisers Supersilent.
Sun Ra – Space is the Place
Released in 1973 on Blue Thumb Records Format: LP, Quadrophonic Pressing
Young Jesus – The Whole Thing is Just There
The Whole Thing is Just There is another beautiful and life-affirming release from Young Jesus, the second with the current L.A. iteration of the band. Their inter-band chemistry seems stronger than ever, with telepathic improvisations, symbiotic catharses, and a mutual love for each other that is easily felt from a listener’s perspective. The lyrics deal with self-exploration and one’s relationship with the world around them, finding solace in spirituality, existentialism, literature, and the ethos of free jazz. Stylistically the music seems rooted in late-90’s indie rock and emo, with seamless but adventurous detours into post-rock, noisy post-hardcore, and free improvisation. Excited to see where these guys go next.
Mary Halvorson – Code Girl
Ravi Shankar – Three Ragas
Released in 1966 on World Pacific Records Recorded in 1956
Collin Walcott/Don Cherry/Nana Vasconcelos – Codona
Spacious, Raga-inflected improvisations from Collin Walcott, Don Cherry, and Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. Walcott has studied sitar directly under Ravi Shankar, and tabla under Alla Rakha, while trumpeter and flutist Don Cherry, after playing regularly with Ornette Coleman, has proceeded to travel around the world to study various musical traditions. Their wide influences come together organically to create meditative and exploratory music. A melodic and atmospheric fusion of airy flutes, watery sitar, hypnotic hammered dulcimer arpeggiations, driving webs of percussion, and bassy throat singing.
Yonatan Gat – Universalists
The new album from guitarist Yonatan Gat finds cohesiveness in its sprawling diversity. Stylistically it combines the rawness of garage rock, the thematic improvisation of Free jazz, and the experimental editing of musique concréte with psychedelic production, Arabic and Klezmer scales and surfy tremelo guitars.
Herbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage
Released in 1966 on Blue Note Records 1971 United Artists Repress Format: LP
Irreversible Entanglements – Irreversible Entanglements
“Four relentless bouts of inspired fire music forged from the true spirit of free jazz, driven by searing poetic narrations of Black trauma, survival and power” (from press release)
Click for review
Art Ensemble of Chicago – Urban Bushmen
Released in 1981 on ECM Records Recorded in concert in May, 1980 at Amerika Haus München, Germany Format: LPx2
Alice Coltrane – Universal Consciousness
The Ornette Coleman Trio – At the “Golden Circle” Stockholm
Recorded Dec 3-4, 1965 in Stockholm, Sweden Released in 1966 on Blue Note Records Ornette Coleman – Alto Sax, Violin, … More
Cecil Taylor – Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come
Recorded live at Cafe Monmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 23, 1962 Released in 1976 on Arista Records
Soft Machine – Fourth
Released in 1971 on Columbia Records Format: LP
Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
Released in 1959 on Atlantic Records 1970’s Pressing
McCoy Tyner – Enlightenment
Information: Released in 1974 on Milestone Recorded on July 7, 1973
Miles Davis – Get Up With It
This fantastic compilation album consists of 2 hours of unreleased recording sessions ranging from 1970 to 1974. Despite some incohesiveness, this release contains some of the most exciting, creative and uncategorizable music of Miles’ career.
Causa Sui – Summer Sessions Vol. 1-3
Three volumes of instrumental heavy-psych jams from Denmark, inspired by Black Sabbath, jazz fusion and krautrock.
Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto – Love, Love
I highly recommend this album to fans of the innovative and exploratory period of jazz fusion of the early 70’s, where electric instrumentation, funk rhythms, experimental production techniques, and spacey synthesizers met the improvisation, freedom, and uplifting soul of the spiritual jazz of the 60’s. Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi trilogy, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, Weather Report’s first LP are good touchstones, but this album truly offers something unique.
Ornette Coleman – Science Fiction
Ornette Coleman & Charlie Haden – Soapsuds, Soapsuds
Five intuitive and melodic duets performed by two longtime musical soulmates. Charlie Haden plays upright bass and Ornette plays tenor saxophone and trumpet on the last track.
Tony Scott – Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys
Peaceful drone meditations and mantras for bass clarinet and sitar. The improvisatory melodies are beautifully expressive, exploratory, and blanketed in a soft, soothing reverb.
Pharoah Sanders – Karma
Album Information: Released in 1969 on Impulse Records 1972 pressing
Herbie Hancock – Sextant
Released in 1973 on CBS/Columbia Format: LP
Dave Holland Quartet – Conference of the Birds
While living in London I had an apartment with a small garden. During he summer around 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, just as the day began, Birds would gather here one by one and sing together, each declaring its freedom in song. It is my wish to share the same spirit with other musicians and communicate it to the people. -Dave Holland
David Grubbs – Creep Mission
Album Information: Released in 2017 on Blue Chopsticks Records (Imprint of Drag City Records) Eli Keszler – Drums, Percussion (Tracks … More
Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society – Magnetoception
Meditative jazz explorations of space, rhythm and textures inspired by Miles Davis’ ambient jazz pieces, Gnawa ceremonial music of North Africa, the spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders and Don Cherry, and the mutating minimalism of Steve Reich.
Click for full review
Shakti – Shakti with John McLaughlin
Shakti means “Creative Intelligence, Beauty & Power” and trust me, these are all in abundance on these devotional jazz ragas. Featuring John McLaughlin joined by a quartet of Indian master musicians, this album is a blissfully uplifting and meditative release.
Shakti – Natural Elements
In this energizing exploration of Hindustani classical music from a jazz perspective, John McLaughlin joins a virtuosic trio of Indian musicians who inspire some of the most impassioned and impressive playing of his career. His acoustic guitar shredding veers close to the bendy sounds of the sitar and fits nicely with the dense web of percussion created by Vikku Vinayakram and Zakir Hussain. Violinist Lakshiminarayana Shankar’s emotive themes and fiery solos make him a perfect foil to McLaughlin.
Jeff Parker – The New Breed
“Classic creative bop melodies and golden era beat memories woven into a vibrant new thread of psychedelic soul jazz”
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
John Coltrane – Interstellar Space
A couple of months before his death in 1967, John Coltrane went into the studio with drummer Rashied Ali to record some of the most free recordings he’s ever made, the freest of free jazz. Perhaps this freeness is due to the absence of other tonal instruments, leaving Coltrane untethered to harmony and 100% free to play whatever raw, unhindered creativity flows through him.