Satoko Fujii doesn’t play an instrument in her orchestra; she conducts it. Still, there is hardly a more accurate manifestation of her genius artistry.

‘Gowanus Sessions II’ is the long-awaited second part of an epic improv recording session from Thollem McDonas, William Parker and Nels Cline.

As the Radical Empathy Trio, Thollem McDonas, Nels Cline and Michael Wimberly brew up two extended 20-minute performances that liberally mix acoustic with electronics.

Not everyone is cut out to take on such an ambitious project but one look at Michael Leonhart’s background makes it undeniably clear that he could.

In unveiling his Superette band, Chris Lightcap shows that he invests a fair amount of serious artistry into his work even when he’s making casually fun music.

Whether it’s individual heroics or wonderful ensemble symmetry, ‘Rhapsody’ begins with the mind of Bobby Previte. He not only had a concept but saw it to a fully developed work that stays true to its mission and articulated it well.

feature photo: Bryan Murray Now boasting a remarkable ten albums over twenty years, Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York today takes another step forward with Fukushima (Libra Records), the first new recordings from Satoko Fujii’s American large ensemble project since 2014’s Shiki. The best big band leaders know how to exploitRead More

feature photo: Roberto Masotti/ECM Records No, Terje Rypdal is still thankfully among us, but with a rich discography stretching back more than fifty years, the Norwegian guitar legend’s 70th birthday is as good occasion as any to You May Also Like: Terje Rypdal – ‘Conspiracy’ (2020) The Dream, featuring TerjeRead More

‘Wilco (The Album)’ arrived in June 2009 at a fork in the road: Would Wilco keep moving forward or stick with a winning formula?

S. Victor Aaron picks the best of 2015’s avant-garde and experimental music, including Sonny Sharrock, Thurston Moore, Scott Amendola and others.