Sun Ra Arkestra Travel the Spaceways at SFJazz Center
A Sun Ra Arkestra show promises a chance to leave the often dreary Earth blues behind and board a spaceship ride into the cosmos with these sonic adventurers.
free jazz
Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall Bend the Avant-Garde to Their Will
Experimentalists Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall have united to create an album that, even by their compartmentalized standards, is pretty out there.
Jazz Bassist William Parker Puts His Musical Philosophy Into Action on ‘Universal Tonality’
William Parker’s Universal Tonality is a recording he has been holding in his back pocket for just about 20 years now, which is crazy because it’s so good.
For CC Sorensen Home Is Where the Frog Jazz Is
CC Sorensen makes music you have never heard before on ‘Phantom Rooms’, where their “Frog Jazz” incorporates ambient, noise, avant-garde, and cyclical minimalism.
‘The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra’ Gets Its Most Crucial Reissue
The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra hearkens back to Sun Ra’s big band roots and his determination to create a genuine exploration of otherworldly space.
Max Johnson Lets His Double Bass Weep on ‘Hermit Music’
Jazz bassist Max Johnson’s Hermit Music could be the soundtrack of Charles Mingus’ mid-1960s mental breakdown in a good way.
Bassist Max Johnson Explores Different Jazz Angles on ‘Orbit of Sound’ and ‘Sketches’
Bassist Max Johnson gives us a traditional bop album recorded with two veteran musicians and a contemporary jazz LP with two younger but no less adventurous artists.
Anteloper Explore How a Producer Can Affect Improvisation on ‘Pink Dolphins’
For those who enjoy jazz improvisation, jam-rock, or ambient electronics, Anteloper’s Pink Dolphins has a lot to like, including Jeff Parker’s production.
Travis Laplante’s ‘Wild Tapestry’ Embraces Unpredictability
Avant-jazz saxophonist Travis Laplante and the weather can be equally hard to predict. His latest stunning album, Wild Tapestry, combines both.
Toronto Jazz Octet Eucalyptus Expand Their Styles on ‘Moves’
When Eucalyptus move away from clearly-defined genres, they really come into their own. You’re not likely to encounter an album like Moves anytime soon.
Charles Mingus at His Unruly, Instigative Peak on ‘The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s’
Charles Mingus’ The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s is right there next to his most blistering records from the 1960s. It’s that good.
Secret People Shake Up Modern Jazz with Experimentalism on Their Debut
Experimental jazz outfit Secret People’s sense of syncretism justifies their wacky list of influences on their debut album. You’re in for a treat.