Jazz & Improvisation / Avant-Garde Jazz

On Have No Fear, Von Freeman turns a 1975 marathon session into a fiercely personal manifesto, his elastic Chicago tenor pouring blues, bravado and vulnerability into performances that sound both off‑the‑cuff and obsessively shaped.

On this meeting with the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Bobby Bradford steps into John Stevens’ London laboratory and, alongside Trevor Watts, Julie Tippetts, Bob Norden and Ron Herman, turns free improvisation into a fiercely alert, shape‑shifting chamber music.

On Ride The Wind, Roscoe Mitchell scales up the chamber‑like intensity of his Conversations work, setting it inside a 20‑piece Montreal–Toronto ensemble that treats his textures as weather systems to move through, reshape and suddenly ignite.

On Numbers 1 & 2, Lester Bowie joins Malachi Favors, Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell in a pre‑Art Ensemble crucible where AACM discipline, raw timbral play and open‑form swing coalesce into a blueprint for the Chicago future.

On Signaling, Nick Mazzarella and Tomeka Reid compress a wide slice of Chicago’s creative music history into intimate alto–cello dialogues, tracing a clear line from Hemphill/Wadud’s 1970s duets to a present tense that feels urgent and newly carved.

On Silver Cornet, Bobby Bradford and Frode Gjerstad turn a one‑night Baltimore stop into a fiercely conversational blowout, their quartet with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Frank Rosaly mapping free jazz as living, mobile history.

On 6 Duos (Wesleyan) 2006, Anthony Braxton and John McDonough turn a teacher–student bond into a finely wired brass–reeds colloquy, shuttling between Braxton systems, McDonough themes, open improvisation and Sousa with disarming clarity and wit.

On Spirit Catcher, Wadada Leo Smith moves between luminous small‑group ritual and radical chamber experiment, setting airy trumpet-and-vibes lyricism against the austere blaze of a muted horn surrounded by three harps.

Eddie Palmieri stands among the most influential pianists and arrangers in salsa and Latin jazz history. His singular voice fuses the rhythmic urgency of his Puerto Rican roots with the harmonic sophistication of jazz visionaries like Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner. Since founding La Perfecta in 1961 - a radical ensemble built on trombones rather than trumpets - Palmieri has consistently redefined the boundaries between jazz and Afro-Caribbean music. Released in 1989 and produc…

In response to the arguably self-righteous pronouncements made in the 1990s as to what jazz is and isn’t, Julius Hemphill (1938–1995) spoke up as he had done throughout his career. “Well, you often hear people nowadays talking about the tradition, tradition, tradition. But they have tunnel vision in this tradition. Because tradition in African-American music is wide as all outdoors.” This collection of music, this celebration of artistic collaborations that engaged Julius Hemphill throughout his…

From the viral Severance TV dance party to spiritual jazz explorations, this vinyl compilation spans five decades of the Poughkeepsie legend's most electrifying moments. Funky grooves, cosmic transcendence, and raw improvisation collide.

*50 copies limited edition* The boundary-defying percussion ensemble Onilu debuts on 577 Records with a work of striking scope, depth, and creative fire: Jakutá’s Dance. The group delivers a sonic vision that is at once elemental and exploratory—rooted in tradition yet unbound by it. Founding members Kevin Diehl and Joe Chambers are joined by Craig McIver and Daniel Villarreal, forming a dynamic quartet whose collective experience spans generations and geographies. Together, they draw from an ex…

*2026 stock* A young, super-tight and intense power trio from Moscow, Brom genuinely push heavily, crossing over among improv, noise-rock and free jazz with Sunstroke.  "One of the most amazing mixes of musical elements I have heard in a long freakin´ time."- Mats Gustafsson

*2026 stock* Deep within the heart of an ancient forest, The Wolf, The Jaguar, The Bull, The Bear, and The Raven resided. They were guardians of the woodland, protectors of balance and harmony. But one fateful night, a foreboding darkness seeped into their sacred realm, whispering tales of corruption that had plagued the planet beyond the trees. Driven by an unnerving curiosity, they made a pact to venture beyond the borders of their lush abodes and uncover the source of this malevolence. Togeth…

*2026 stock* Recorded April 2013 at DOM CC (Moscow). Mixed and mastered by Maxim Khaykin. Cover and design of material version of album by Dmitry Lapshin. Anton Ponomarev - baritone-sax Konstantin Sukhan - trumpet Dmitry Lapshin - double bass

*2026 stock* Dødsdromen means "death well" in Danish, a stunt show in which drivers of motorcycles and miniature cars ride in a circle along a vertical wall, performing dangerous stunts due to friction and centrifugal force strength. P.O. Jørgens - drummer, composer from Denmark known by his own legendary label "Ninth World Music" and band Mokuto trio (where he plays with Lotte Anker on saxophone and Peter Friis Nielsen on bass), collaborations with Mats Gustafsson (Torden Kvartetten) and Peter …

NoBusiness Records presents Walpurgisnacht by Total Music Association. Transferred and remastered from the original tape. Tape transfer by Wolfgang Obrecht at Tonstudio RichArt, Munich. Original Cover Design by Manfred Vogel. Design by Oskaras Anosovas. Remastered by Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios. Photography of the musicians by Konstanze Vollmer. Produced by Danas Mikailionis and Ernst Nebhuth. Co-producer - Valerij Anosov. Liner Notes by Hans-Jörg Hussong / Liner Notes (translation) - Ernst Nebh…

NoBusiness Records presents Live at Jazz Spot Combo 1975 by Itaru Oki Quartet. Improvised and composed by Itaru Oki, Yoshiaki Fujikawa, Keiki Midorikawa and Hozumi Tanaka. Recorded live on the 7th December, 1975 at Jazz Spot Combo, Fukuoka City, Japan by Heihachiro Arita 有田平八郎 (cassette tape). Mastered by Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios. Design by Oskaras Anosovas. Cover photo by Tatsuo Minami南達雄. Booklet photos by Tatsuo Minami 南 達雄 and Heihachiro Arita / 有田平八郎. Liner noto by Akira Saito齊藤聡. Produc…

*2023 stock* "Both a reunion and a new configuration, the galloping interaction which makes up Hell-Bent in the Pacific unites alto saxophonist Marco Eneidi, who now lives in Austria, with his West Coast rhythm section plus added impetus from Los Angeles-based Vinny Golia’s many reeds. Golia’s wide-ranging gigs have frequently put him in contact with bassist Lisa Mezzacappa and drummer Vijay Anderson, two of the Bay area’s busiest players, so that his contributions are inspired not alienating. M…

*2023 stock* "Constantly changing and challenging, this extended three-part sequence by four of Europe’s most accomplished improvisers ebbs and flows enough to create a perfectly framed soundscape, but leaves enough ellipses for individual expression. Recorded at the Total Meeting in Tours, the almost 52 minutes of music were put together with no pre-conceptions. But as the interaction evolved, the players found themselves melding and separating their extended and expected narratives into sponta…

*2023 stock* The eight cuts are credited jointly to the brass man and drummer. Their compositions are rhythmically complex but harmonically simple, making the most of Berger's ambiguous role midway between melody and percussion. They eschew overt virtuosity in favor of a distinctive group conception, achieving an orchestral feel from just three voices. Their arrangements are tight, but loose enough to accommodate Berger's ringing solos, extracting maximum dividend from what might seem limited re…

*2023 stock* The title already suggests the content is inspired by the devastation of hurricane Katrina in 2005. And it is without a doubt the best musical performance dedicated to the catastrophic event (as by Terence Blanchard or Wynton Marsalis). How to be all soul and all spirit with just two instruments and remain captivating and compelling from beginning to end may seem like a great challenge to many, but these two fantastic mugicians do it.

Shifa is a name taken from the Arabic word for healing, شفاء. The trio's members are three of the UK's most experienced and in-demand improvising musicians.

American percussionist Jeff Arnal and German pianist-composer Dietrich Eichmann’s two-decade partnership fuses polyrhythmic structures and vibrant textures in dynamic, improvised soundscapes. "Tides of Unrest" captures their creative synergy in a 2023 session, blending innovation, tradition, and collaboration.

*250 copies limited edition* Aspen is very proud to introduce ‘Non Sonett’ by the Christian Wallumrød Ensemble.
This ensemble is a pioneering Norwegian chamber group whose work on ECM and Hubro has redefined the boundaries between jazz, contemporary composition and folk music. 
Across seven albums, the ensemble has developed a highly distinctive language built on restraint, timbral nuance and collective interplay, placing it among the most influential European ensembles of the 21st century. Brin…

Trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire and guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson's album Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings is due June 12, 2026, on Nonesuch Records. The album features four new compositions by each musician as well as one collaboration. The album track “Soundcheck“ is available today and can be heard below; you can pre-order the album here. The duo, long admirers of each other’s musicianship, met at Halvorson’s Brooklyn apartment and began playing together periodically, going back as fa…

New York City-based, Puerto Rican-born guitarist, composer, and visual artist Gabriel Vicéns releases his fifth studio album, Niebla, a boundary-defying work that merges the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Puerto Rican folklore with the harmonic richness of modern jazz and the fearless spirit of avant-garde experimentation. Niebla (which translates to “fog”) is a sonic journey through the cultural and emotional depths of identity, tradition, and innovation. Rooted in the rhythms of bomba and plena, the …

"Dear Listener, this recording starts with a sound that has energized me over many years: the 'Dark Woods' of the clarinet, bassoon, cello and bass; the 'Bright Sparks' of the alto and trumpet; the wood and metal of the percussion bringing it all together. The album also contains many of my multitudes: settings of and improvisations with poetic text (here read by their author, Erica Hunt), the combination and contrasting of compositions with improvisations, and works both open and set; then the …

A Mountain Sees a Mountain, the new duo recording by Hamid Drake and Pat Thomas, captures two master improvisers engaged in an intimate yet expansive dialogue. Released in October 2025 via Old Heaven Books, the album bridges African rhythmic philosophy and European avant-piano traditions, achieving a deep equilibrium between motion, meditation, and melodic abstraction.

Tip!  David Murray - Saxophone  Kahil El'Zabar - Percussion /  Kalimba /  Voice Recorded at the 10th OCT-LOFT International Jazz Festival, B10 Live, Shenzhen October 27th, 2023

Huge Tip! Deluxe CD edition, in tri-fold gatefold sleeve with outer case. This is a live recording of the Peter Brötzmann Trio (Peter Brötzmann, Sabu Toyozumi, and Jason Adasiewicz) from their performance at the 5th OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival at B10 Live, Shenzhen, in 2015. After the performance, the B10 Live team conducted a warm and friendly interview with the three musicians. The transcribed conversation has been edited and included in the liner notes of this vinyl album.Liu Ying Studio delivered…

Tip! *In process of stocking. 2022 stock* Peter Evans believes that his music is closely related to the philosophical concept of "Wu Wei (literally means "doing nothing" or "inaction")" from China. He has also been studying how it reflects in different academic and cultural contexts. As a composer and improviser, Peter Evans talks about "Wu Wei" with his superb trumpet playing, and named his first album released in China "Into the Silence". It's worth mentioning that the artwork on the front cov…

**2nd pressing, screen printed cover, risoprinted obi edition of 250** “Peace is not the word to play” rapped Large Professor on Main Source’s 1991 debut album. His plea to stop abusing the word “peace” simply for rhetoric flair sounds just as valid in today’s genocidal world as it did in the streets of New York over 30 years ago. For Oiro Pena to name this album Béke, meaning peace in Hungarian – or white people in French Caribbean creole – it seems like they finally have something to say. With…

** Silk-screen printed (blue color) recycled sleeve. 200 copies ** Much-needed repress of this spiritual flute jazz artifact by the mastermind Antti Vauhkonen. Originally released as a limited edition lathe-cut 10'' in a handful of copies. Cover art silkscreened on recycled cardboard-sleeves. Artwork by Arsi Keva. Mastered by Samuli Tanner. The first person to create something one may classify as instrumental music was probably alone. The mind tingles when imagining the prehistoric moment when, …

** 2021 Stock ** Legendary avant-garde jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell is best known for his role as a founding member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. This group is recognized for incorporating, and none-too-subtly ridiculing, the long-bearded tradition of Western art music. Mitchell, nonetheless, has something to say that is within the tradition himself, apart from, but related to his work in the field of jazz. Usually the sort of classical music piece produced by a "jazz cat" is formulated wi…

Over the course of five decades, the legendary Austrian free jazz collective Reform Art Unit (and their offshoot groups) have collaborated with countless musicians, including Don Cherry, Carla Bley, Evan Parker, and Jim Pepper. Documented collaborations with free jazz notables include Impressions (Kovarik's Musikothek, 1978) with Anthony Braxton and Clifford Thornton; Subway Performances (Granit, 1994) and Illumination (InRespect, 1995) with Sunny Murray; and With Milo Fine (Granit, 1999). Milo …

Recorded live at the Donaueschingen Music Festival on October 17, 1971, Actions features a truly mind-bending confluence of musicians of the avant-garde, in the broadest sense of the term. Don Cherry -- the brilliant American free jazz trumpeter -- had recently expatriated to Sweden and was finding his way not only among the emerging free-jazz scene of Europe but also within his own constantly expanding musical palette that had begun to incorporate elements of African rhythms, Turkish folk idiom…

"Composition and its performance can have an organic relationship, a balance between written and the improvised. Muriel Grossmann’s wide compositional and performing talents are clearly reflected in four-voice pieces such as Diversity and Quintessence, suite-like compositions such as Flügel and Echo, as well as brisk, energetic works like Andrew. The quartet composed of Radomir Milojkovic on guitar, David Marroquin on upright bass, and Marko Jelaca on drums, has become a sound lab — a group wher…

By inevitable coincidence, a street vendor in Buenos Aires became an instrument of providence, when he compelled attention of Christof Kurzmann, sitting outside a coffeehouse. His merchandise were small books of Hispanic writers, and the chosen one that ended up in the buyer’s pocket some eighteen years ago was a collection of poems by Argentinean poet Alejandra Pizarnik. Her works abound with music and sounds or absence of it, appreciating silence. For Kurzmann, this served as a sufficient reas…

Brazilian avant-jazz vanguardists Grupo Um celebrate their 50th anniversary, sharing a second previously lost 1970s album from the vaults. Nineteen Seventy Seven (titled after the year it was recorded) is another rip-roaring instrumental fusion treasure from the band which spawned from within Hermeto Pascoal’s famed mid-1970s São Paulo collective. Like their debut album Starting Point, Grupo Um’s Nineteen Seventy Seven was recorded when Brazil's military dictatorship was at its most repressive. …