If I recall correctly, Slava Ganelin and his Ganelin Trio were my first foray into Russian free improvisation. He’s still kicking, and apparently living in Israel these days. This album was recorded in 1982 by the legendary Leo Feigin of Leo Records, and it sounds wonderfully inventive.
Jazz
I’m not done cooking – Tome 1 : Beauty and the Queen
I wish to thank a friend in China, Frenesi, who introduced me to the work of Lana Humbert, who appears on this album as I’m not done cooking. This disc sounds like it would appeal to fans of Yann Tiersen, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and many wonderful records released by the Continue Reading
Michael Gibbs & the NDR Bigband – In My View
From the Cuneiform Records Bandcamp site: “Gibbs’ intermittent relationship with Germany’s NDR Bigband, one the world’s longest-running jazz ensembles, dates back to the early 1970s and has provided a particularly valuable vehicle for his vivid musical imagination. “I feel I know the individual players so well, that I write for Continue Reading
Costas Gadinis – We Seek Freedom: Western Macedonian Greek Clarinetist in New York ca. 1942-48
From the great Canary Records Bandcamp site: “A catalog published by Asllan in the ’40s gave Gadinis the honorific “The Greek Benny Goodman.” A story circulates that Dave Tarras took Goodman, who was both the most popular clarinetist of the 1930s-50s and one of the most popular and respected musicians Continue Reading
David Maranha / Rodrigo Amado – Desolation Row
David Maranha and Rodrigo Amado, two musicians from Portugal, pair up for a dark, tense, noir-tinged jazz release. One of the year’s best releases.
Brigitte Fontaine – Comme à La Radio (Special Edition)
This album is one I’ve been waiting for for some time now. From the Bandcamp site of Wewantsounds, the kings of vinyl reissues in my estimation: “Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue Brigitte Fontaine’s landmark 1970 Saravah album Comme à la Radio, recorded with Areski Belkacem, Wadada Leo Smith and the Continue Reading
Hiroshi Sato – Orient
Aether – III
This release comes from May, 2026, and I’m glad I took the time to hear it. Andrea Grumelli is the bassist for the band Aether, and he is joined by Andrea Ferrari on guitars & keyboards, Andrea Serino on Fender Rhodes & keyboards, and Matteo Ravelli on drums. From the Continue Reading
Bill Laswell + P.St (featuring N.P. Molvær, H. Kaiser, P. Howard, G. Haynes, P. Apfelbaum…) – Mount Analogue
Legendary bassist, producer, and record label magnate Bill Laswell has fallen on hard times due to health reasons. If at all possible, consider supporting this great man’s work. Here is a collaboration between Laswell and the following artists: P.ST: Concept, electronics Henry Kaiser: Electric guitar Percy Howard & Anna Clementi: Continue Reading
Per Texas Johansson – Orkester Omnitonal på Musikaliska Kvarteret
This is pure power if you like brass. The trombone, including the bass trombone, features strongly in this album led by Per Texas Johansson. He has come a long way since his near-minimalist roots in the 1990s. This work is dense, layered, and it swings violently. This album is an Continue Reading