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.
free jazz
Christopher Parker’s ‘Soul Food’ Lets Everyone Do What They Want
Soul Food is a stepping stone for Christopher Parker in finding his voice as a bandleader. It’s impressive that jazz this free can be played with so much restraint.
Whit Dickey Reunites Old Trio to Create Dizzyingly Modern Sounds
Whit Dickey, William Parker, and Matthew Shipp push, pull, and roll their weight around in equal measure, making Village Mothership as unique as it is difficult.
Moor Mother Makes Accessible and Challenging Music on ‘Black Encyclopedia of the Air’
Black Encyclopedia of the Air from Philly-based poet and musician Moor Mother fuses activist hip-hop with a warm, jazzy groove and an experimental spirit.
Henry Threadgill’s Zooid Return With a Curious ‘Poof’
Henry Threadgill’s followers and fans of modern jazz will have a new milestone to celebrate with Poof. The rest of you work on not taking him for granted.
Jessica Ackerley’s ‘Morning/mourning’ Is a Dazzling Journey Through the Grieving Process
The latest solo album from experimental guitarist Jessica Ackerley is an adventurous tribute to two recently departed mentors.
Unbounded Saxophone That Sings: The Ivo Perelman Trio
Free improvising saxophonist Ivo Perelman, pianist Matthew Shipp, and drummer Whit Dickey spin listenable joy out of thin air. Jazz originality doesn’t have to be forbidding.
Steph Richards’ ‘Supersense’ Is Music So Wild You Can Smell It
With her experimental jazz album Supersense, trumpeter Steph Richards may have created the first-ever album that you can smell.
The Music of William Parker: Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World, Volumes 1-10
Prolific star of New York’s creative jazz scene, William Parker releases ten new albums in a new box set, demonstrating his breadth of composition and association.
‘Share the Wealth’ Balances Nels Cline’s Interest in Tradition and Exploration
Eclectic guitarist Nels Cline expands his long-standing improvising band to create a small orchestra that plays with a combination of freedom and discipline on Share the Wealth.
Experimentalist David Grubbs Documents a Live Set with ‘October 19, 2017’
David Grubbs' October 19, 2017 is a live LP released online that showcases a 32-minute solo set to mark the release of that year's Creep Mission LP. It's nothing short of magical.
Mary Halvorson Creates Cacophony to Aestheticize on ‘Artlessly Falling’
Mary Halvorson's Artlessly Falling is a challenging album with tracks comprised of improvisational fragments more than based on compositional theory. Halvorson uses the various elements to aestheticize the confusing world around her.