FREE JAZZ - recommendations & reviews

Zeno Marx · September 27, 2021, 07:34:19 PM

Quote from: Fistfuck Masonanie on April 28, 2021, 05:22:59 PMThen Compulsion comes out and it's his most forceful and free statement to date.

Another Andrew Hill album of note, absolutely. I've been listening to the massive Mosaic set for the last month, which can be a little weird because of the sequencing. Most of his albums have alternate takes, but Compulsion did not. I was disappointed. As I read about this album, it reminded me of the politically and culturally charged We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite. Compulsion is far more heady, but you know, huge declarations. A true behemoth of an album. I maybe say this too often, but after this album, silence is best to follow.

Bruitiste · September 27, 2021, 08:47:38 PM

I think my favorite so far this year is:
Roscoe Mitchell/Weasel Walter/Sandy Ewen/Damon Smith: A Railroad Spike Forms the Voice
These three are not intimidated by Roscoe's elder statesman status and are great at pushing him out of his comfort zone. One long track that never gets boring.

Also really dug Bill Orcutt & Chris Corsano: Made Out of Sound, though that was recorded separately and not live together in a room, and Bill even added a second guitar track of overdubs. But damn it's sweet.

Other killer performances that would qualify as archival however, but not heard before they were unearthed this year:
Cecil Taylor Quintet: Lifting The Bandstand (Cecil is always a no-brainer, and this really cooks)
Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble: Warszawa 2019 (same with Evan)
Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble & Sainkho Namtchylak: Fixing the Fluctuating Idea

AKTI Records · October 09, 2021, 01:22:53 PM

I`ve been enjoying these lately:

Evan Parker - Monoceros
Milford Graves - Bäbi
Rauhan Orkesteri - S/T

...Monoceros might be one of the best sounding jazz recordings out there, stunning all the way. Parker is truly the Saxophone Colossus!

holy ghost · November 15, 2021, 01:55:32 PM

Quote from: Bruitiste on September 27, 2021, 08:47:38 PM
I think my favorite so far this year is:
Roscoe Mitchell/Weasel Walter/Sandy Ewen/Damon Smith: A Railroad Spike Forms the Voice
These three are not intimidated by Roscoe's elder statesman status and are great at pushing him out of his comfort zone. One long track that never gets boring.

Had not heard of this one - looking to check it out immediately

Bruitiste · November 15, 2021, 02:44:41 PM

Quote from: holy ghost on November 15, 2021, 01:55:32 PM
Quote from: Bruitiste on September 27, 2021, 08:47:38 PM
I think my favorite so far this year is:
Roscoe Mitchell/Weasel Walter/Sandy Ewen/Damon Smith: A Railroad Spike Forms the Voice
These three are not intimidated by Roscoe's elder statesman status and are great at pushing him out of his comfort zone. One long track that never gets boring.

Had not heard of this one - looking to check it out immediately

Hope you enjoy. Roscoe's been surprisingly productive this year, but this is the one that stands out to me. Many of his other releases lately have been too sparse and quiet to my taste.

holy ghost · November 15, 2021, 09:31:57 PM

I saw him in Montreal a few years back - solo set the night before Anthony Braxton played. It was interesting but not something I'd go out of my way to see. I much prefer him in a band context. "Sound", "Old/Quartet" and "Congliptilous" are big favourites for me!

Bruitiste · November 16, 2021, 02:32:57 AM

I missed that one but I've caught him at the FIMAV a couple of times in different contexts — and I was at that Braxton set at Suoni. I also prefer Roscoe when he's working in groups, the Art Ensemble of Chicago being the obvious benchmark, where I think he's done his best work.

brian o'blivion · November 16, 2021, 02:45:48 AM

the new Evan Parker record Winns Win, which was released last month, is really excellent. find it here: https://byrdout.bandcamp.com/album/winns-win

Bruitiste · November 16, 2021, 06:15:09 AM

Quote from: yullowteef on November 16, 2021, 02:45:48 AM
the new Evan Parker record Winns Win, which was released last month, is really excellent. find it here: https://byrdout.bandcamp.com/album/winns-win

I'll second that rec, it's solid.

AKTI Records · November 19, 2021, 10:23:17 AM

Pharoah Sanders - Karma
More like post-bop, but close enough so I`ll post it here.
Karma is really good. Especially the first track "Creator Has a Masterplan". Sanders has incredible touch with his tenors melodies on Karma. Sometimes soft and playable, sometimes fierce and full of soul. Lonnie L.Smith Jr.`s playing reminds me of Alice Coltrane in the way it dances and communicates. The percussion & bells are also a nod to Coltrane as well.

Peter Brötzmann / Fred Van Hove / Han Bennink - Balls
Relentless work by these three. Primitive and hypnotic. Full of these bomb-like eruptions of tension. Classic!

Aldous · July 07, 2022, 08:35:35 PM

https://khthonios.bandcamp.com/album/flashes-in-the-danger-zone

A new recording by Sensor.

Marko-V · February 07, 2025, 02:08:23 PM

My knowledge and experiences of jazz are very few but just recently I was digging the Finnish We Jazz label releases and found this interesting piece of work:
https://www.discogs.com/release/31039960-Saccata-Quartet-Septendecim
If this was a bit louder and more distorted, I could mistake this as being some Hijokaidan project.

Minus1 · February 08, 2025, 03:34:51 AM

I confess to not reading much of this most excellent thread yet, but I certainly shall.

I am currently blasting the Borbetomagus-Hijokaidan Challenger Deep piece. It's 71min of absolute mayhem. Both parties seem to have brought out the "best" in each other. This was a live show. I feel sorry for anyone who went there expecting Dinner Jazz.

Would it be wrong for me to suggest that there is Free Jazz and there is Noise Jazz? I think there are significant distinctions. Certainly both overlap quite often.

Edit: Both Noises End Burning is the name of the release that contains this behemoth.

Bruitiste · February 08, 2025, 07:34:27 PM

Quote from: Minus1 on February 08, 2025, 03:34:51 AMI confess to not reading much of this most excellent thread yet, but I certainly shall.

I am currently blasting the Borbetomagus-Hijokaidan Challenger Deep piece. It's 71min of absolute mayhem. Both parties seem to have brought out the "best" in each other. This was a live show. I feel sorry for anyone who went there expecting Dinner Jazz.

Would it be wrong for me to suggest that there is Free Jazz and there is Noise Jazz? I think there are significant distinctions. Certainly both overlap quite often.

Edit: Both Noises End Burning is the name of the release that contains this behemoth.

I was at this show, it was quite something — given that it was during the FIMAV, a festival known for presenting various sorts of experimental musics, no one was expecting Dinner Jazz, hehe.