Jazz & Improvisation / All styles

2007 release ** "Pangolinorchestrà is a hybrid between a village band, ICP-tet, Liberation Music Orchestra, Albert Ayler Band, Jimi Hendrix Experience, N.E.E.M., Screamin Jay Hawkins, Jannacci and assorted Bennink-stuff. “Ex-perimento #5” - recorded at the “Centro Stabile di Cultura” in San Vito di Leguzzano and produced by the same Center in cooperation with Idee Nere and Stella Nera - gives a good image of a band whose forte should be the action directed from above the stage."

Newly unearthed, never before issued jazz funk hailing from Columbus, Ohio, recorded in 1982 by the short-lived project, Seeds of Fulfillment, Live from Studio 1 drowns the ear in the deep grooves, hair raising tonal interplay, and complex polyrhythms rising from African American communities at the dawn of the 80s.

A trio of leaders in their own right performing pianist Satoko Fujii's demanding compositions, bassist Takashi Sugawa and drummer Ittetsu Takemura rise to the challenge in a set of six exciting works that push and pull this remarkable piano trio in unexpected directions, responding to the twists and turns of Fujii's intense and intricate directions; superlative!

Celebrating her 65th birthday with her first compositions for strings, pianist-composer Satoko Fujii writes for the specific musicians of GEN, a sextet of violin, viola, bass, piano, electronics, and drums, in a suite inspired by Nagano's mountain views, leveraging microtonal string techniques for an expressive and texturally rich sonic landscape.

Right out of the gate one feels the energy and excitement between Japanese trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and NY drummer Jim Black, each pushing the other through strong instrumental character and outrageous technique over nine Tamura compositions recorded in the studio in Switzerland, their first recording in 25 years since their 1999 Buzz Records album White and Blue.

Propelled by the confidence and intimacy that a familial relationship brings to two improvisers, imbued by each player's masterful technical skills and creative drive, the husband and wife duo of pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura expand their catalog with this set of magnificent dialogs, sometimes quirky, always powerful and implicitly lyrical.

Tip! Guilherme Granado makes his first solo appearance on the Keroxen label under the guise of his Goat Unity project, the result of a plethora of collaborations with musician friends and foes. A São Paulo native, Guilherme has been quietly building a reputation for being the go-to guy for loop based beats and groovy basslines. He has played and recorded with Mauricio Takara in Hurtmold (4 albums) and he’s also part of São Paulo Underground (also with Takara and Rob Mazurek). He also performs, p…

2017 release ** "Building beats and sounds with electronics is a huge part on the record. The drums and the electronics prime the whole album without being reduced to a straight beat. Patrick Schimanski moves from abstract sounds to micro rhythms to straight beats (saturated by any background you can think of) and back again. The drum sound has a percussive tone to it as well: There are bells and congas and more like it. Patrick Schimanski is working a lot with different theaters around Germany …

Girma Bèyènè is a true legend of Ethiopian music. After an exile in the United States and a silence that lasted 25 years, he jubilantly accepted the invitation of the group Akalé Wubé to return to the front of the stage. The comeback was held last September at a memorable concert with Akalé Wubé in Paris. The adventure could not stop in such a good way ...Under the direction of Francis Falceto (director of the famous Ethiopiques series) Girma and Akalé Wubé recorded this album to immortalize thi…

Proudly presenting a new series of Mr Bongo reissues exploring the incredible back catalogue of Sonny Lester’s iconic Groove Merchant record label. First up, the spellbinding funk-fuelled, soul jazz album ‘Simba’, by guitar maestro O'Donel Levy.

Belgium, not the first place you’d think of when it comes to Latin or Afro funk. Yet one of the greatest records to blend both styles came from the small northern European country, masterminded by Nico Gomez and his Afro Percussion Inc. Ritual was originally released in 1971 on the Dutch label Omega International (Gomez was born in Holland before moving to Belgium in the late 40s) and is being reissued by Mr Bongo in 2013, bringing its blazing funk grooves to both new ears and those already tune…

Tip! 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 cover was made by the closest friend of…

A great, unprecedented show! Two of the most influential artists in Lithuania, Vladimir Chekasin and Vladimir Tarasov performed as a duet at the 8th OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival. Titled “La Grande Sonata”, it was absolutely a one-of-a-kind performance specially presented to the Chinese audience. As the former members of the legendary Ganelin Trio (GTCh), they shared the glorious years with Vyacheslav (Slava) Ganelin. Together they have nurtured the aesthetics of Soviet new jazz. The Trio was arguably …

Sun Ra stated that he wanted to create otherworldly emotions on this album. These emotions are “disguised as jazz,” to quote one of Ra’s poems. The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra, recorded in 1961, consists of a range of simmering, swinging, riffing tunes full of deft counterpoint. On the surface, these tunes show a rather restrained side of Sun Ra and his Arkestra, yet below that surface lurk some unsettling emotions. Some might mistake those unsettling feelings for detachment, or worse, emotional…

Originally released in 1974, this is Isao Suzuki's second album, following his acclaimed debut, "Brow Up," which introduced him to the jazz world. The album features exquisite interplay with Kazumi Wataabe, showcasing a unique musical synergy that makes it a true masterpiece. Now reissued by the legendary "Wa-Jazz" label, TBM (Three Blind Mice), this iconic label has gained popularity in Europe, the U.S., and beyond. The long-awaited reissue of the original titles on vinyl has been expertly rema…

From 1963 to 2014: "Peace Chant - raw deep and spiritual jazz" exhibits 51 years of music. A well matched anthology with sounds to dive into, hard rhythms to dance to and vocals to meditate on. The Tramp Records crew has compiled 9 tracks in nice order and dramaturgy. Some tunes you might have never heard before unless you own one of the rare original vintage vinyl records. Peace Chant is released on two separate LPs with own catalogue numbers and on one CD. Some songs I can't get out of my mind…

From 1963 to 2014: "Peace Chant - raw deep and spiritual jazz" exhibits 51 years of music. A well matched anthology with sounds to dive into, hard rhythms to dance to and vocals to meditate on. The Tramp Records crew has compiled 8 tracks in nice order and dramaturgy. Some tunes you might have never heard before unless you own one of the rare original vintage vinyl records. Peace Chant is released on two separate LPs with own catalogue numbers and on one CD. Some songs I can't get out of my mind…

Building on the back of the previous 2 volumes of their Peace Chant series, Tramp Records takes another deep dive into the world of obscure jazz gems, this time compiling artists that use their medium to welcome the return of the sacred feminine. Resting at the nucleus of post-bop, modal jazz, avant-garde, transcendental, spiritual, ethnic, and freedom music, it’s a wild ride through a thrilling world of sound.

Building on the back of the previous 3 volumes of their Peace Chant series, Tramp Records takes another deep dive into a world of obscure gems from the soulful shadows of historic and contemporary jazz with Peace Chant - Raw, Deep and Spiritual Jazz Vol. 4. Drawing on artefacts culled from various corners of the globe, and threaded with heavy grooves at the borders of spiritual jazz, prog, and funk, every track feels as fresh today as the day it was laid to tape.

The Peace Chant compilation series is a Temple, a reliquary of sacred harmonious statements made by enlightened artists throughout time. With Tramp Records' latest offerings, "Peace Chant, Raw Deep and Spiritual Jazz volumes 5 & 6, deeper, darker, and even more remote chambers of this already exalted temple are brought to light. The team at Tramp, with their torch of love and with reverence for those builders who came before, have returned from their quest with musical treasures unfathomable. In…

The Peace Chant compilation series is a Temple, a reliquary of sacred harmonious statements made by enlightened artists throughout time. With Tramp Records' latest offerings, "Peace Chant, Raw Deep and Spiritual Jazz volumes 5 & 6, deeper, darker, and even more remote chambers of this already exalted temple are brought to light. The team at Tramp, with their torch of love and with reverence for those builders who came before, have returned from their quest with musical treasures unfathomable. In…

On her second album Ursgal Mongolian singer Enji creates a unique blend of Jazz and Folk with the traditions of Mongolian song. Currently based in Munich, her lyrics tell personal stories about unbearable distances, the oddness of being on earth and the simple truths in life.She’s accompanied by Paul Brändle on guitar and  on double bass. Born in Ulaanbaatar, Enji grew up in a yurt to a working-class family. Having always been drawn to music, dance and literature, she initially wanted to become …

Includes the albums "Gris-Gris," "Babylon," "The Sun Moon & Herbs," "Dr. Johns Gumbo" and "In The Right Place" by Dr. John.

Dr. John has proven to be one of music’s foremost generalists, a primary-care cat whose practice extends back some 60 years. His expertise encompasses rock ’n’ roll, swamp pop, New Orleans, R&B, funk, jazz, and the Great American Songbook—and he’s made worthy contributions to recordings by the Stones, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Frank Zappa, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Buffalo Springfield, Gregg Allman, and others. The awards (six Grammys and counting) and accolades long ago validated the quality of …

The Northwoods Improvisers return with a new album, Fanfares the latest effort with a quintet/sextet lineup that includes veterans Mike Johnston (bass, bass recorder, wood flutes, percussion) and Nick Ashton (drums, percussion) and reunites them with a fierce front line of saxophones with Dominic Bierenga (tenor/alto/soprano saxophones, flute, percussion) and Donovan Boxey (alto/soprano saxophone, clarinet, melodica, wood flutes, percussion) and introduces the strings of Jack O'Brien (cello, bas…

After decades in the vault, Entropy Stereo has unearthed one of the most unique and obscure Faruq Z. Bey recordings for you. It was Faruq's dying wish that these recordings become available. We are pleased to present Faruq Z. Bey's Atlan-Tan Suite featuring Faruq Z. Bey on saxophone, Jaribu Shahid on bass, Tony Holland on saxophone, Marlene Rice and Gwen Laster on violins, and Robert Allison on vibes. Meticulously recorded by Ron Decorte and mastered by Warn Defever. We made this live document a…

One of the most electrifying records we've ever encountered from the power of the Nobuo Tsukahara's Sharps & Flats – a collection that infuses fantastic keyboards into the group's signature horn-heavy sound! The set features an incredible mix of Fender Rhodes and organ, frequently taking the spotlight as the lead solo instrument over the rich backings, creating a particularly delightful experience on the tracks with Rhodes! The tunes are absolutely fantastic, bringing a fresh and funky vibe that…

2025 stock This compilation documents part of an exciting, and somewhat neglected period in Australasian jazz. Recorded in Sydney (1966), we can hear Bernie McGann was already one of the great Australian jazz stylists. But at the time the only publicly available recording he made was two tracks on the JAZZ AUSTRALIA compilation (1967) (CBS BP 233450). All five tunes are also early recordings of two New Zealand greats - Kim Paterson and Andy Brown, who were living in Sydney at the time. Two years…

Miles in France is the eighth installment in the celebrated Miles Davis Bootleg Series and this edition focuses on the birth of the Second Great Quintet in 1963 and 1964. The music heard here represents the sound of an end and a beginning coming through at once. The set contains 5 separate performances of the Miles Davis Quintet spread over 8 LPs or 6 CDs and the energy and depth of feeling in the transcendent playing hint at the special relationship Miles and the group had with the French natio…

A Tribute to Jack Johnson was originally conceived as the soundtrack for a documentary on the life of the first african american heavyweight boxing champion, but the album stands on its own as one of the most brilliant, compelling fusion recordings ever made. This is due in large part to the increasing influence of rock and funk on miles's aesthetic, to the superb musicians (including Davis himself - who turns in some stunningly vigorous solos), and in part to the production skills of Teo Macero…

Widely acknowledged by jazz critics and aficionados as a landmark in 'hard bop' and one of the greatest jazz albums ever, Miles Davis' 1956 Columbia Records debut showcased his first legendary quintet featuring John Coltrane.

*Very limited edition* Cosmic Ear is a new group bringing together Christer Bothén, Mats Gustafsson, Goran Kajfeš, Kansan Zetterberg and Juan Romero. Their debut album Traces is released by We Jazz Records on 23rd of May, 2025. Including 6 deep cuts, Traces is an album that sees Cosmic Ear tracking down the "traces" of the legendary Don Cherry's legacy while paving their own way in contemporary creative music expression. Christer Bothén, a collaborator with Don Cherry during his Swedish period i…

Frozen Silence is the third ECM release from alto saxophonist Maciej Obara’s Polish-Norwegian quartet bringing the story forward from Unloved and Three Crowns – and perhaps its strongest musical statement to date. Alert interactivity is the hallmark of the group’s approach in a programme of new Obara compositions inspired by the starkly dramatic landscapes of the mountainous Karkonosze region in south-west Poland. All four players make decisive contributions to the music. The pieces optimally hi…

*100 copies limited edition* NooPop Records is proud to present Naissoo Freeform Quintet, led by keyboard maestro Tõnu Naissoo. Recorded in a local music den on a single night in Tallinn, this electrifying LP captures the raw energy of funk and the adventurous spirit of free jazz. It’s infused with psychedelic nostalgia from the astral realms of Moog Source and Rhodes. Blending live electronics and improvisation, this release offers a bolder, wilder, and more immersive experience than their stud…

Pianist-composer Vijay Iyer follows his 2021 ECM disc Uneasy — the first to showcase his trio featuring bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Tyshawn Sorey — with Compassion, another album in league with these two gifted partners. The New York Times captured the special qualities of this group, pointing to the trio’s flair for playing “with a lithe range of motion and resplendent clarity… while stoking a kind of writhing internal tension. Crucial to that balance is their ability to connect with e…

With Call on the old Wise Nitai Hershkovits delivers an entrancing solo album. In this largely improvised solo rendering, the pianist draws from broad influences, ranging from his extensive work in jazz contexts and cutting-edge contemporary explorations to his background in classical music. This immaculate balance of idioms gives rise to an abundance of colours and timbres, explored by a pianist, who has successfully forged his very own voice as improviser and shape-designer.   With a soft tou…

*Comes in a CD-sized papersleeve album replica (gatefold), with obi-strip and insert of notes mostly in Japanese.* Second album by The Trio, formed by J. Thurman, B. Phillips and S. Martin. The Trio's second album was recorded with a 15-strong line-up, including Alan Skidmore and John Taylor, who were at the forefront of British jazz at the time, as well as Chick Corea. The sharply incisive electric piano, John Marshall's rock-inspired rhythms and the way the group improvised together is a maste…

*Comes in a CD-sized papersleeve album replica (gatefold), with obi-strip and insert of notes mostly in Japanese.* The ‘70, two-CD debut of The Trio, formed by John Thurman, who was taking European jazz by storm with his baritone saxophone playing with incredible speed and power, with Barre Phillips (b) and Stu Martin (ds). ' A great classic album that symbolises the British scene, which was undergoing a remarkable evolution in the early 70s as it united with rock, with a musicality that further…

Third solo album released in 1976 by Neil Ardley, a British jazz pianist and arranger who led the ‘New Jazz Orchestra’, featuring top British jazz musicians such as Ian Kerr and Brian Smith of Necleus, as well as Third Ear Band's Paul Buckmaster of Third Ear Band, Dave Krahe of Matching Mole and others also participated. As the album title suggests, the dazzling sonic universe is a brilliant crossover of diverse musical genres. Paper jacket, SHM-CD, latest remastering, definitive release!

Jinya Disc presents a live concert by New Direction. The album includes the last performance of Action Direct and the last performance of Takayanagi's life. In other words, it is Masayuki Takayanagi's "remaining work".  An astounding force set free upon the world, heaving with life and fire, bound to stop even the most seasoned listener dead in their tracks It’s hard to offer a better description than that offered by Japanese free jazz critic Teruto Soejima who wrote "New Direction Unit performa…