★XtraWATT

Originally released in 1990, Get The Flu is the debut album from Karen Mantler-a witty, idiosyncratic songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist-joined by her feline muse, Arnold. Recorded at Grog Kill Studio in New York, the album blends deadpan humor, offbeat storytelling, and jazz-inflected pop across ten distinctive tracks, including “The Flu,” “I Love Christmas,” and “Let’s Have A Baby”. Mantler’s vocals, harmonica, and organ are at the heart of the project, supported by a remarkable e…

Original 1980 LP edition, first pressing – printed in the USA. For light relief from his darker, more existential works, Michael Mantler assembled two fine ensembles at the end of the 1970s to play music that might be described as the Thinking Man’s Answer to Fusion. "Like a more mature and musicianly Mahavishnu Orchestra" according to Melody Maker. Two original albums, remastered, on a single CD.

Original 1985 LP edition. This one is a bit of an outlier. More a showcase for keyboardist Don Preston’s (The Mothers Of Invention) array of 1980s synthesizers and drum machines than a jazz album. As the story goes composer Michael Mantler wrote this music for a conventional orchestra with the solo trumpet part, but then decided to transpose orchestral partitions to Preston’s gadgetry. It is not known if this move was informed by the budgetary constraint or perhaps creative or even financial inc…

Original 1989 LP edition. Singer, harmonica virtuoso, and keyboardist Karen Mantler has inherited her father, Michael Mantler's sense of whimsy and her mother, Carla Bley's musical fearlessness -- not to mention her electric-shredded-wheat hairstyle. Although Mantler's debut album was produced by Bley and new husband Steve Swallow and features fellow avant-jazz offspring Eric Mingus as co-lead vocalist and Jonathan Sanborn on bass, 1989's My Cat Arnold isn't quite jazz, but it's not exactly pop …

Experience the vibrant and soulful sounds of Sicily with Orchestra Jazz Siciliana's latest album, "Plays The Music Of Carla Bley." This dynamic ensemble pays tribute to the iconic composer and pianist Carla Bley, with their own unique jazz interpretations of her compositions. The album features a fusion of traditional Sicilian melodies and Bley's avant-garde jazz influences, creating a dynamic and captivating listening experience. Led by renowned saxophonist and conductor, Francesco Cafiso, Orch…

Nine songs by Karen Mantler (vocals, harmonica, piano) with Doug Wieselman (guitar, bass clarinet) and Kato Hideki (bass), recorded in Brooklyn between October 2012 and April 2013. XtraWATT/14, 2014.

Into the Woodwork (XtraWATT, 2013) is a studio album by the Steve Swallow Quintet: Swallow (bass), Carla Bley (organ), Chris Cheek (tenor saxophone), Steve Cardenas (guitar) and Jorge Rossy (drums), recorded 15-16 November 2011 at Studios La Buissonne, Pernes-les-Fontaines.

So There (XtraWATT, 2006) sets readings by poet Robert Creeley to music by Steve Swallow (bass), with Steve Kuhn (piano) and the Cikada String Quartet; recorded 25 August 2001 in West Shokan, NY, and 27-28 August 2005 in Oslo.

Damaged in Transit (XtraWATT, 2003) is a live trio album by Steve Swallow (bass) with Chris Potter (tenor saxophone) and Adam Nussbaum (drums), recorded on tour in France in December 2001; nine Swallow compositions, produced by Swallow.