Jazz & Improvisation / All styles

**250 copies, to be released on 30.05.2020** Unique duo live recording from 2016 with Finnish drummer Ilmari Heikinheimo and multi-instrumentalist Jimi Tenor, free-floating grooves in an organic / electric mash-up! Limited 250 copy LP with 6 tracks, comes numbered with download code and info on A4 insert."The existence of harmonic resonance will be proved when the minds of these amazing talents speak to each other thru aether."

**300 copies** Cuneo´s band oAxAcA brings us the second 2 Headed Deer reference. From the Italian Piedmont, this 'hard to define' collective delivers a sound that fluctuates between a free and experimental jazz reminiscent of the AACM spirit, to a very personal and reworked vision of the most electric jazz-rock."oAxAcA come back with a new record, they called it Onde di Sabbia (Waves of Sand), and they couldn’t find a more evocative title. As a matter of fact here we feel overwhelmed by a tempes…

Tip! **200 copies** "We feel very lucky to have Antonio Marini on board for our first release , the Italian producer known as Healing Force Project has already a long history that has led him to publish his music on labels as Acido, Firecracker recs. Berceuse Heroique, Bedouin Records among others.
 In this first release ,coming in a 7" format, HFP delivers two tracks developing one of the most recognized musical aspects in his productions, creating sonic structures where the electronic sound co…

A special bundle that includes the latest 8 CD releases published in late April 2020 by Belgian label A New Wave of Jazz. Includes works by Dirk Serries, Martina Verhoeven, Colin Webster, Daniel Thompson, Benedict Taylor, Tom Malmendier, Jürg Frey, Andrew Cheetham, Alan Wilkinson, and John Edwards.

**300 copies** "To fully grasp the range of extended techniques, you should be able to see them in action, but it is also perfectly possible to listen to this music and focus on elements such as flow, density and responsiveness." - Guy Peters"SETT is a an acoustic strings quartet, featuring British most prolific double bass player John Edwards, Dirk Serries and Daniel Thompson on acoustic guitars and violist Benedict Taylor, recorded at the Dave Hunt studio, London in November 2019. SETT does no…

**300 copies** "As Derek Bailey once argued, the term ‘improvisation’ is loaded with such widespread connotations (the music is unprepared, flippant, without depth) that you’d almost hesitate to use it. However, no better alternative has become available and moreover: one close listen to Vanguard lets you know that you are dealing with skilled and inspired improvisers adding a worthwhile chapter to a 50-plus years legacy." - Guy PetersPerformed, recorded, mixed and mastered at the Sunny Side Inc…

**300 copies** "And there is an abundance of material displayed here, as Andrew Cheetham and Alan Wilkinson combine impressive technical prowess, dynamics and imagination into a whole that combines physicality with thoughtfulness, tumult with intimacy. A musical performance remains the ideal way to deal with the impermanence of everything, and this album makes an excellent case." Guy Peters"Percussionist Cheetham and reedist Wilkinson, veteran improvisers of the UK scene, collaborate here on fou…

"Otomo is an alto player from the Jackie McLean school of tone and the Art Pepper institute for improvisation. In other words, his tone has an edge, but he always phrases and improvises melodically. With Tsuyoshi Yamamoto leading the rhythm section, the other two members, Tamiko Kawabata on bass and Arihide Kurata on drums, had to be ever watchful and vigilant that these proceedings didn't escape them altogether. The set opens with the hard blues wing of the title cut by Artie Shaw. Otomo pushes…

CD Edition. Replica reissue of one of the rarest free jazz LP ever made: Masayuki Takayanagi & Kaoru Abe's earthshattering Kaitai Teki Kōkan. Supposedly released in a limited run of 100 copies in 1970, this incredibly rare record igot finally  its first vinyl reissue via Craftman Records. The album features a recording of the duo’s live performance at the Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan concert hall in Shinjuku on June 28th, 1970. The reissue also includes a replica flyer that advertised the original event.…

Re-issue on Everland of an overlooked Dutch Jazz LP 'A Safe Return' by the Surinam jazz flutist Ronald Snijders. Recorded in 1980, flute-centered, spacious as it is soulful, which makes for a perfect mix with the album's use of keyboards and other electric instrumentation .'Lenox' the opening track, has a playful haze escaping from every groove,with a solid hypnotical rhythmical base and haunting flute melodies that have the character of the lead vocals. Despite the slower pace, the jazzy approa…

"This obscure and difficult to find LP is the Heath Brothers' debut album and is considered to be their best. Marchin' On! is unquestionably a masterpiece and is a much sought-after release. With its wealth of riffs, it is much appreciated by beatmakers and has been sampled by various contemporary artists. It was originally released in 1976 on Strata-East, a label at the time co-owned by Stanley Cowell, who joined as pianist on the album.The album flows fluidly, meticulously in a warm rich blend…

BR worked with Adam Kriney of La Otracina and Owl Xounds on the Owl Xounds/Family Battle Snake split cassette back in May 2007, and its great to have this raging free jazz improv psyche out bunch back on Blackest Rainbow again for this awesome LP. 'Splintered Visions' was recorded back in February 2007, and has been torn from the archives of some of the wildest jams put to tape. This time round the group is in a quartet zone with Kriney on drums, Gene Janas on upright bass, Mario Rechtern on sax…

Released 10 March 2013. The album combines the inspired play of Eric Vagnon (saxophone) with a solid rhythm layer driven by the double bassist Eric Brochard and legendary drummer Nicolas Lelièvre. So good...

Klondike's respectfully packaged edition of Sun Ra's legendary appearance at the Chicago Free Jazz Festival in 1988 pays homage to Ra's exuberant torment combined with the flamboyant weight of the Solar Arkestra and performing some of his most impressionist and avant-garde works

**200 copies, transparent red vinyl** "Let’s celebrate Aut Records' 50th release and the comeback of the reed trio Kongrosian! For this special occasion we wanted to create a fruitful clash between improvisation, techno and noise. The album is, in fact, the result of a partnership with our friends of Oltrarno Recordings, in the spirit of collaboration that always distinguished the trio’s musical view. If in the A side of the album you will find four tracks that are composed and improvised by Kong…

"The either/OAR series of and/OAR continues to take unexpected twists and turns while slowly but surely unveiling the intended perimeter of it's conceptual focus - this time a magic realism trip via the world of atmospheric avant-jazz. Distare Sonanti is the second album by the highly synergistic Di Domenico / Henriksen / Yamamoto trio whose first CD titled Clinamen was released in 2010 by the Off label based in Belgium. Now, in 2012 and/OAR is very pleased and honored to present this second mas…

**Super reissue of this classic Afro-Jazz gem by Ray Stephen Oche. Recorded in Paris. LP 180g with printed innersleeve** Ray Stephen Oche is a singer, drummer, flutist and mainly trumpet player from Nigeria. From the late 50s he spent time in Ghana, meeting famous drummer Guy Warren « who is supposed to have deliver him the secret of the authentic african rythms », toured in Sierra Leone with « Outer Space » band, went to Senegal and Gambia.Matumbo, name of his band on this record means in Angol…

**2020 stock, sold out at the label** LP version. Numbered edition of 1000 copies. The album Premonition is a masterpiece of spiritual jazz, and reflects the spiritual awakening of a natural musical genius, Umlah Sadau Holt. In the 1970s, Holt was involved in all kinds of jazz, reggae, and world music projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over time he absorbed the global rhythms that can only come from extensive involvement with a variety of international musicians, and he integrated them into…

"Alexandra Grimal goes in her own way, elegant but robust, through the territories of jazz and improvised music over recent years. It was only natural she would meet Giovanni di Domenico over the Alps, who has woven her a series of compositions where they locate/find the ironic meander of their dialogues. A sophisticated "chamber" jazz music that yet seems to flow so naturally... One forgets the music writing to only catch the emotion of the moment."Alexandra Grimal: soprano saxophoneGiovanni di…

**300 copies, heavy gatefold cover** LP with swedish Free jazz trio Dog Life Anna Högberg: Saxophones, Finn Loxbo: Electric Bass and Mårten Magnefors: Drums. Dog Life explores free improvised music on a high-energetic plateau, descending from the outskirts of free jazz, and further towards a harder, darker and undefined terrain. "Mats Gustafsson’s Fire! Orchestra featured some of the promising, young musicians in the Swedish left-of-center scene. Sax player Anna Högberg was one of them, blowing …

Going's third effort is a joint release by Silent Water and meakusma. Recorded in the span of one year in monthly recording sessions, it sees them venture off into an at times melismatic and contrasting contemplation on forward musical propulsion, 70s crossover jazz and minimalistic and at times downright futuristic electronic music. Over the course of two spun out yet concentrated pieces, light and dark are built into a mesmerizing musical reverie that is equally as contemplative as it is expli…

**CD version** Finding Ourselves In All Things features two lengthy tracks, standing in stark contrast to each other: Melting With Butterflies is brimming with life: chaotic, hysterical and joyous - celebrating the viewpoint of all small things and their seemingly frantic nature. The Way Mountains Make Love is equally intense, but with a quite different energy – a slow moving organic unity vibrating with the frequencies of everything big and ancient.Both tracks explore and elaborate on its respe…

**CD version** Hungry Ghosts are beings who are driven by intense emotional needs, periodically roaming the earth’s surface in search for anything that can satisfy their cravings. Now they are here for you! The omnipotent living legend Paal-Nilssen Love clashes head to head with bass prodigy Christian Meaas Svendsen on bass, playing with 2-3 bows, cheek, voice, hands and feet. In the midst of the battle we find Yong Yandsen, a high-octane Malaysian sax virtuoso who virtually explodes on stage co…

**CD version** Kitchen Music is Adrian Løseth Waade’s first album in his own name. While having contributed on a long list of Norwegian jazz records, his own music has taken shape, and is finally ready to present. For the occasion, he has recruited some of his absolute favourite musicians, every one of which helps to create a mood that is «just right». Sometimes simple and melodic, sometimes ecstatic and free, but always expressive, encapsulating both the grave and the playful.

**CD version** Gibberish, Balderdash and Drivel consists of three nonsensical musical conversations between Malaysian nylon guitar player Goh Lee Kwang and Norwegian bass player Christian Meeas Svendsen. The album was recorded in an independent art gallery close to Kuala Lumpur with a handheld device. It tells us the story of the first encounter between two different mindsets, nationalities and generations trying - and totally failing at - making any sensible dialogue with their respective music…

"Worst Generation" is Nakama’s first fully improvised album, and was recorded as part of a live concert in studio during their first European tour. The LP version is in lenticular – the motif changes when viewed from a different angle. The CD is in English on one side and Japanese on the other with the imprint in beautiful gloss. One thing is always something different and at the same time two sides of the same coin...

**CD version** Neptune, a  planet invisible to the naked eye, it was originally discovered through mathematical deduction after scientists noticed unexpected changes in the course of Uranus. It was named after the Roman god of the sea. In addition to being ruler of the liquid element, he was said to have tremendous power over our subconsciousness and emotions, which we ourselves still today have little understanding of. The title represents the unknown, ranging from the depths of the human mind …

**CD version** Most Intimate is Nakama’s third release. Their previous albums have been very conceptual, dealing with the relation between sound and silence on Before the Storm and then form as something malleable on Grand Line. Most Intimate is different. It is more personal, more transparent and more.., well, intimate. It offers a close-up on the musicians and how they deal with music in different roles. Because even though the music on this album isn’t conceptual, the structure of it is, and …

**CD version** 3 Pianos is an album made by a unique piano ensemble consisting of three musicians with different backgrounds and experience. The curiosity for the piano and its countless possibilities was the outset whereas the wish to bend the common boundaries for piano music was the background for this project. The ensemble makes music with clear connections to the music and the ideas of the twentieth century. The musicians develop the material in their own way by focusing on elements like tu…

**CD version** No Right No Left is the first solo album of drummer Andreas Wildhagen. Recorded in Wildhagen's practice room in late July 2016, it explores different expressions and levels of energy. The music is improvised, still certain ideas can be traced throughout the record. In order to eliminate right and left, one has to imagine a view which is not rooted in a subject or object. If we lack a reference point, right and left disappears. Right and left, good and bad permeate society, but mus…

**CD version** This album is a free exploration of sound within the boundaries of two violins and the musicians playing them. Close interplay and together-ness permeates the 36 minutes of eclectic but cohesive music, ranging in expression from reductionist and sparse textures, to filmscore-like tonal landscapes with clear dramatic outlines. The record reflects both the duo's dionysic and apollinian sides, and  the balance between the two creates something universal which the listener can relate …

**CD version** The music on Grand Line consists of two separate components: musical compositions and form compositions, and explores form as a malleable object in shaping musical content. Founded on a fixed music material it is an approach which mixes arbitrariness with intention, and at the same time relying heavily on the creativity of the players involved. The sounding result might seem entropic, and at times leave both listeners and performers puzzled and perplexed, but the goal with the rec…

**CD version** Improvisation, truth, joy, jazz and doubt. These are but a few of the elements that frequently emerge in the universe of Filosofer, and on their debut Landet Er Gitt Oss. Using the Norwegian version of a term used for people who spend most of their time pondering over life's big mysteries, one is lead to believe that their music is rooted in complex concepts and theoretic academia. So it is not. Filosofer focuses more on guts and feel rather than analyzing and thinking. Their basi…

**CD version** Forms & Poses is Norwegian bass player Christian Meaas Svendsen’s second solo album, and features four compositions / improvisations which explore the physical connection between the human body and the double bass. Although recorded in two entirely different settings, it is clear that Svendsen’s mind-set on all these tracks are one and the same, and the release shines as a condensed representation of his creative diversity. The CD version comes with a 24-page long booklet with lin…

Kasper Skullerud Værnes and Andreas Wildhagen has played together for ten years as of 2018. They formed a duo shortly after meeting, and quickly realized that the power and subtleness of the sax and drums duo format was worth further explorations. Through the years and in various ensembles and projects such as KNYST! (trio with bassist and Nakama founder Christian Meaas Svendsen,) and Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit, the duo has grown and developed a highly flexible and telepathic interplay. This i…

Before the Storm features four original compositions by Nakama’s leader Christian Meaas Svendsen. The album is the group’s first recording, and can be summed up as an investigation of sound related to silence through a minimalistic approach to both written and improvised material. The tracks on the recording are four attempts to define the nature of what we normally define as silence, and present at the same time a musical idiom of a band that operates on the outside of conventional borders."The…

"Cepi is a solid reality located in the south of France. It’s Barre Phillips’ vision about improvisation. It can be flexible about the team but not about the idea above it all. Hic stands for Hidden Improvisers Consort; it’s a study group under the guide of Claudio Lugo. This meeting has been organized and strongly desired by Barre Phillips and Tommaso Rolando. We made a big circle, we played with the fire."The Cepi Nomads: Barre Phillips - Contrabass / György Kurtag - Electronics / Laurent Char…

"Clap Hands, Here comes Charlie Drewo, the most famous of all the Viennese tenorists! – Well now, without exaggeration – Karl Drewo, 32 years of age – or Charlie as his American friends like to call him – is undoubtedly one of those rare specimen of European jazz talent. He plays as if he were born in the US and raised right in one of the darkest neighbourhoods of Harlem, possibly somewhere near the old Cotton Club where Duke Ellington used to excite his audiences for more than almost a quarter …

"Argentinian pianist Fernando Gelbard's killer debut (and only) '74 LP. Didi is a potent mix of Fender Rhodes & Moog with scatting percussionists and fierce tenor sax -- Coltrane meets candombe!" Gatefold sleeve. "If I was asked to name some great Argentinian jazz musicians, I'd probably draw a blank after Gato Barbieri, but this rather nice slab of vinyl has added a couple more to the list. Fernando Gelbard played piano with tenorist Horacio Borraro, whose quartet peddled a fiery if unoriginal…

A live recording from 2014 where the audience gets excited by the great powerfull free jazz produced by the duo comprised of Didier Lasserre (drum) & Jean-Luc Guionnet (saxophone alto). 300 copies.