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.
experimental jazz
Battle Trance’s ‘Green of Winter’ Blends the Beautiful and Eerie With Saxophones
Battle Trance’s Green of Winter goes further down the rabbit hole of abstraction, minimalism, and impressionism while testing the limits of the saxophone.
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.
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.
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.
Nala Sinephro’s First LP is One for the Pantheon of Cosmic Jazz Classics
Nala Sinephro’s Space 1.8 is minimalist, an understated electroacoustic gem perfect for late-night listening. It’s one for the pantheon of cosmic jazz classics.
Jessica Pavone Expands Her Canvas on ‘Lull’
This four-movement work stretches long-playing drones to tantric levels as Jessica Pavone searches for that finicky connection between music and emotion.
Patrick Shiroishi’s ‘Hidemi’ Is a Stunning Tribute to Victims of Racism and Oppression
Experimental jazz saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi continues his ambitious homage to incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II with Hidemi.
Wadada Leo Smith and Bill Laswell Dedicate ‘Sacred Ceremonies’ to Milford Graves
For all the avant-garde and free jazz elements at work on Sacred Ceremonies, it’s the sound of Wadada Leo Smith drifting forward and grabbing inspiration.
Carmen Q. Rothwell Turns Catharsis Into Unique Art on ‘Don’t Get Comfy / Nowhere
The first solo album from experimental upright bassist and vocalist Carmen Q. Rothwell uses heartbreak and loss as emotional touchstones.
Jlin and Georgia Anne Muldrow Remix Steve Lehman and Henry Threadgill in New Series
Pi Recordings celebrate 20 years in the music business with a series of ambitious remix projects. The first two feature Jlin and Georgia Anne Muldrow.