‘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.
free jazz
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.
Tyler Mitchell Takes Listeners on a Spacey Groove with ‘Dancing Shadows’
Veteran jazz bassist Tyler Mitchell joins forces with fellow Sun Ra Arkestra alumnus on Dancing Shadows, a delightfully enjoyable sonic experience.
As East Axis, Shipp, Lowe, Cleaver, and Ray Play Free Jazz Together
Matthew Shipp, Allen Lowe, Gerald Cleaver, and Kevin Ray are East Axis, a free improvising jazz band that never sound harsh or lost on Cool with That.
The Prolific Wadada Leo Smith Releases ‘A Love Sonnet for Billie Holiday’ and ‘The Chicago Symphonies’
Every drum stroke and every breath blown on Wadada Leo Smith’s A Love Sonnet for Billie Holiday and The Chicago Symphonies carries multitudes of meaning.
Drummer Mephisto Halabi Breaks Down the Walls of His ‘Arabic Room’
Mephisto Halabi’s The Arabic Room blends eastern exoticism, circuit-bent electronics, and some of the heaviest free improvisations you might ever hear.