Dear friends & music fanatics

The newly released box set by the Barry Guy New Orchestra is going really well! Our first batch is already shipped out and we're awaiting a new batch to arrive at our place. They should arrive today, so anyone who ordered a copy can expect one soon! Thanks for checking this wonderful music out.

Also: we have new copies of the recent Fire! Orchestra release on tasty viny!. It's the label's second pressing, as good as the first, up to the high quality standard of Rune Grammofon. Don't hesitate if you really want one of these, because we expect them to sell out pretty soon.

The wonderful Clean Feed-label also put our four brand new albums, which we have in stock. They're still lukewarm, so be fast if you want the freshest: Lotte Anker's wonderful trio with Rodrigo Pinheiro & Hernani Faustino, Kris Davis & her marvellous band, the equally interesting Ches Smith And These Arches and finally also the album debut by Ken Vandermark's Made to Break. Don't miss out!

If you have any questions about these or other releases, let us know!

More news to follow soon...

Best
Instant Jazz

Lotte Anker, Rodrigo Pinheiro & Hernani Faustino - Birthmark

Do not say you did not see her coming. For the past few years, Lotte Anker has been making a name for herself as one of the most individual saxophone players out there. Male or female, gender does not come into the account. Whether it is with her American friends Craig taborn and Gerald Cleaver or these musicians from the Portugese scene, she has become one of the most recognisable improvisers out there. This release only strengthens our impression that her name will be mentioned with awe in the years to come. Wonderful stuff! (Clean Feed, 2013)

Kris Davis - Capricorn Climber

Well, it is not just pianist Kris Davis, but a stellar band as well, featuring Ingrid Laubrock, Mat Maneri (viola), Trevor Dunn (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums). 
With Capricorn Climber, Davis says she is, we quote, focusing on compositions that embrace the first meeting of this group: the instant chemistry when improvising, the sonic qualities and blends between the instruments and each individuals ability to shape ideas and create a story using the compositional material. (Clean Feed, 2013)

Ches Smith And These Arches - Hammered

Another wonderful line up, with drummer Ches Smith (Marc Ribots Ceramic Dog), Andrea Parkins (accordeon), Mary Halvorson (guitar), Tim Berne (alto saxophone), and Tony Malaby (tenor saxophone). From the label site: Though drummer Ches Smith has a penchant for christening his compositions with playfully oblique names, the name he chose for the title track of the second album by his band These Arches couldnt be more straightforward. Hammered is relentless, pounding, fueled by a driving, recursive pulse that goads tense, urgent playing from Smiths quintet of master improvisers. (Clean Feed, 2013)

Made To Break - Provoke

Ken Vandermark is a collectors nightmare. You just cannot keep up. Luckily, if you want to try, you will encounter some of the best genrebending jazz of today. And that is also the case for his wonderful quartet Made to Break. This release is the result of a three day series of concerts, by Vandermarks new project, during the commemoration, in Lisbon, of the 10th anniversary of the label. 
Vandermark: What we are really talking about is developing a new set of languages for improvisers. In some cases things are more open, but sometimes things are more confrontational, more deconstructed, more antagonistic, more restricted – all in an effort to expand the possibilities for composition and improvisation. (Clean Feed, 2013)

Eliane Radigue - PSI 847 (2CD+booklet)

Something slighly more minimal from this essential composer. From The Wire: Radigue embarked on her own course, turning her attention to synthesizers which allowed easier building of the sounds she required. An ARP analog synthesizer has remained her chosen means to make music, although for 25 years her style has been Minimalist. PSI 847 was her breakthrough piece - for the first time her musical conception was closely matched in execution over 80 minutes of sustained, gentle sound. 
The duration was just a matter of the necessary time I had to go through in order to reach what was my real goal, she said. (Oral, 2013)

Ben Goldberg - Unfold Ordinary Mind

Released on Goldbergs own label. This is truly a stellar line up, featuring the tenor tandem of Ellery Eskelin and Rob Sudduth, the drumming artistry of Ches Smith (again) and the guitar antics of Nels Cline. 
From a VERY enthusiastic Popmatters review by Will Layman: Unfold Ordinary Mind is as album that unfolds, quite unordinarily, into a cozy ambiguity that is happy to call itself music and nothing more. Rock edge? You got it. Sultry saxophones? Check. Groove? In the pocket. Avant noise? Track five, my friend. Pensive rubatos on a high wire like thoughts in search of a mind? One song begins that way and another exists in that realm from beginning to end. So what does one call all of this? What type of music is it? (Bag Productions, 2013)

Ben Goldberg - Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues

Another new release by Goldberg, that features Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Devin Hoff and drummers Ches SMith and Scott Amendola. 
From the same review: In defense of labeling, I am required to use words to convey just how convincing Ben Goldbergs two new masterpieces are. On the other hand, categorically compartmentalizing music that glides along this easily might diminish ones interest. So take the sound of a clarinet, juggle it with trumpet and sax, and try to imagine the best sounds available to these instruments. Throw in a spunky electric guitar, and you have got yourself an instrumental cruise line that can outshine your favorite double rock album. Dont believe me? Give it a try then.(Bag Productions, 2013)

Connie Converse - How Sad, How Lovely

... and now for something completely different. 
From The Huffington Post: Converse was a NYC resident who recorded these 17 songs, all originals, throughout the 1950s in her Greenwich Village apartment. Heard by but a seldom few, by the early 60s Connie grew despondent, moved to Ann Arbor, MI, wrote goodbye notes to her loved ones, and packed up her Volkswagen and just... disappeared. She hasnt been seen or heard from since, and that same sense of haunting mystery does hover around these recordings.
Indispensable for fans of outsider folk music. (Lauderette, 2009)

Nicola Lancerotti Quartet - Skin

A new release by the Italian dEN records, featuring a few musicians some of the Belgians may already be familiar with. From the label: Nicola Lancerotti is an italian double bass player based in Brussels. The brand new album Skin is a perfect example of balance between improvisation, structures and a wonderful thematic taste. It features Daniele Martini (tenor/soprano sax), Jordi Grognard (tenor sax, flute, clarinets) and Nelide Bandello (drums). (dEN Records, 2013)

Dear friends & music fanatics

This week, it's all about BARRY GUY, who spent four days in Krakow's Alchemia club with his fabulous NEW ORCHESTRA at the end of 2010. We attended this festival and were struck by the sheer force and creativity of all these musicians. For four days, all kinds of small combinations were tried out. There were a few solo performances, duos, trios and some larger ensembles, but the adventurous spirit remained recognisable throughout. And afterwards, we all drank some of the Mad Dogs (raspberry syrup, wodka & tabasco sauce!) this release was named after.

Here's the list of the participating musicians: Barry Guy (bass), Maya Homburger (Baroque violin), Raymond Strid (percussion), Paul Lytton (percussion), Per Ake Holmlander (tuba), Johannes Bauer (trombone), Herb Robertson (trumpet), Hans Koch (saxophones, clarinets), Mats Gustafsson (saxophones, fluteophone), Evan Parker (saxophones), Agusti Fernandez (piano) and Trevor Watts (alto saxophone). These four days were filled with highlights, but we were especially fond of the fantastic contributions by Fernandez.

Not Two Records released a 5CD Box Limited Collector's Deluxe Edition Set that looks like a vinyl edition, but holds five cd's (see photos below). Another marvellous artefact by the label. If you want a copy: don't hesitate, they won't be available forever! HERE.

On a sidenote: the concert by Peter Brötzmann & Steve Noble, which took place at Les Ateliers Claus last January, will be appear on cd! Apparently, the German icon was so pleased with the results that they will be released. Great!

And for those who live in the area: tonight (March 15th), Mats Gustafsson's FIRE! trio will perform at Les Ateliers Claus (Brussels). Still tickets available, so don't miss this!

A few more releases below.

Best
Instant Jazz

Barry Guy New Orchestra - Mad Dogs

The result of four exciting days at Polands coolest music club. Featuring many of the finest working musicians in improvised music. A wonderful 5cd release with a suitably grand packaging. Do not miss this. (Not Two, 2013)

Mad Dogs - Front Cover

Mad Dogs - Inner CD Inlay

The Engines & John Tchicai - Other Violets

This is the wonderful third album by the Chicago based quartet of Dave Rempis, Jeb Bishop, Nate McBride and Tim Daisy, along with free jazz icon John Tchicai. This one was recorded in May of 2011. In the meantime, Tchicai passed away, but on this release, he is still doing extremely fine in the company of an excellent band. A tour as a quintet was planned, but never took place. This is a damn fine installment for The Engines and a great addition to the legacy of Tchicai. (Not Two Records, 2013)

Sudo Quartet - Live At Banlieue Bleue

The exceptional quartet of Joelle Leandre (bass), Carlos Zingaro (violin), Sebi Tramontana (trombone) and Paul Lovens (drums).
From the All About Jazz review by Eyal Hareuveni: There is no obvious narrative, no dominant leader and no rhythmic pattern; instead, careful yet instant development of myriad ideas flow, a sonic research of the timbre and sounds of the instruments with a flair for drama and irony.(No Business, 2013)

Decoy with Joe McPhee - Spontaneous Combustion

Decoy is John Edwards (bass), Steve Noble (drums) and Alexander Hawkins (piano) and once again these three form a great quartet with their American colleague Joe McPhee. From the BBC review:  Throughout its 37 minutes this music crackles with a restless, muscular energy that live recordings often lack. It is relentlessly entertaining, life affirming stuff. (Otoroku, 2013)

Dear friends & music fanatics

Good news for Instant Jazz (& friends): from now on, we'll also have a lot of releases in stock by the wonderfulINTAKT label from Switzerland. For quite some time, the label has been one of the most important labels for improvised music in Europe, not only covering local musicians like Irène Schweizer and Pierre Favre, but also Alexander von Schlippenbach, Barry Guy, Elliott Sharp and many more.

We have listed a few of the recent Intakt-releases below, as well as some others, but there is more to discover on our website, so take a look there. if you have any further inquiries, please let us know!

Best regards
Instant Jazz

Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House - Strong Place

A brand new record with an appropriate title. The past few years, Laubrocks confidence as a musician and bandleader has put her in the front league of improvised music. The jump to the US put her in the vicinity of some of the most talented improvisers on the scene, and it is no different on this record. With Tom Rainey, guitar player Mary Halvorson, pianist Kris Davis and bass player John Hebert, she has some serious musicianship at her disposal and the results are simply stunning. This is improvised music of the highest order, well played by a terrific band and a wonderful addition to an increasingly marvellous discography. (Intakt, 2013)

Alexander von Schlippenbach - Plays Monk

You could consider this man the dean of the European improvisation scene, but do not make the mistake of presuming he has his best days behind him. He played a few wonderful concerts with his fabulous trio recently, is still active with the legendary Globe Unity Orchestra and still delves into the legacy of Thelonious Monk. He has done it several times before, but you never get the impression the act is getting old. This is a remarkably fresh and even accessible album that shows the elegance and ability to surprise in all its glory. Recommended. (Intakt, 2013)

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra & Barry Guy - Schweben: Ay, But Can Ye?

From the Guardian review by John Fordham: It is dramatic, fierce, spooky, fascinating and sometimes very melodic, though it is not for those unmoved or unnerved by the angularities, discontinuities and dissonances of some contemporary classical music and improv. (Maya Recordings, 2013)

Keith Tippett & Giovanni Maier - Two For Joyce

The British piano icon meets the terrific Italian bass player. From the label: It is stimulating but it never loses that tension. It is a musical adventure of great weight, a exemplary conversation of dovetails, of action and reaction. Two for Joyce Live in Trieste is definitively a new and important piece in the great tradition of European improvisation. (Long Song Records, 2013)

Fire! Orchestra - Exit!

From the label: Fire! is where Mats Gustafsson (The Thing), Johan Berthling (Tape) and drummer Andreas Werliin (Wildbirds & Peacedrums) go to stretch their instrumental skills and collaborate with prestigious guests like Jim O’Rourke and Oren Ambarchi. Fire! Orchestra takes the project to the next level: a sonic behemoth comprising 28 members from Swedish jazz, improv and avant rock that should be unmanageable,
but turns out to possess the elegance and lucidity of the righteous free jazz big bands of the past.
This is some truly unique stuff by a band led by one of the key figures in modern improvised music. (Rune Grammofon, 2013)

Ich B!n Nintendo & Mats Gustafsson - Ich B!n Nintendo & Mats Gustafsson

Noisy stuff from the new Norwegian label.
From the All About Jazz review by Eyal Hareuveni: Young Norwegian power trio Ich bin N!ntendo is a sonic heir to European power outfits such as the Swedish Norwegian trio The Thing, Italian punkjazz trio Zu, and Dutch quartet The Ex. Its affinity with Swedish sax titan Mats Gustafsson of The Thing, who guests on this live recording, is obvious. Both enjoy exploring and pushing the physical aspects of their instruments into utter intensity. (Va Fongool, 2012)