Avant-Garde Jazz: Best Sellers

OK, this sounds like a pretty hokey concept: Pharoah Sanders and some of Bill Laswell's Material crew perform along with recordings of a heartbeat, supplied by Dr. Jean-Louis [more]

Henry Threadgill has, in the framework of abstract music, been a stalwart, spontaneous composer whose personal sound is near impossible to identify, or certainly [more]

Think Free is the eigth recording veteran bassist and bandleader Ben Allison has recorded for Palmetto and his ninth overall. The last two, Cowboy Justice (2006) and Little Things Run the [more]

Joe Morris has been working with the three musicians heard on this disc for a long time. Saxophonist Jim Hobbs, bassist Timo Shanko, and drummer Luther Gray are friends, kindred [more]

In just over a decade, John Coltrane passed through three (some would say four) distinct artistic phases, basically separated by which label he was signed to at the time. In only two [more]

Muhal Richard Abrams seamlessy blended elements of stride, bebop, blues, and free music on this collection of solo piano pieces recorded in 1975 for the Japanese label Trio/Whynot. [more]

This recording was originally released on vinyl, and, as part of the ESP catalog, eventually fell into the treasure chest of material passed around amongst an international cartel [more]

One of the true firebrands of early creative improvised music, alto saxophonist Charles Tyler has always been revered -- especially by Europeans -- as a forefather [more]

Electric guitarist Joe Morris utilizes a self-described open-ended, melodic improvisation that is contemplative, yet intense. Colorfield is a recording that also stresses shades and tones [more]

At the time of Central Market's release, Tyondai Braxton was best known as a member of proggy post-rockers Battles, who earned so much acclaim for their 2007 debut album Mirrored [more]

Free jazz is also frequently called "fire music," so it's amusing that one of the genre's most prolific and well-regarded practitioners, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, has named [more]

The title of this terrific BGP compilation is taken from Azar Lawrence's debut album for Milestone Records (all of these cuts were licensed from Milestone and Prestige). [more]

For this 35-minute CD/EP, the new version of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey wends through six tracks reflecting diverse influences, their Tulsa, OK roots, and the [more]

When progressive rock enthusiasts hear Bill Bruford's name, they immediately think of his work with Yes and King Crimson. But it's important to remember that Bruford is also a [more]