CD-Charts Position 91
Average Rating:

Point of Departure

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Andrew Hill

Release Date May 18, 1999
I would normally give this classic 5 stars because of its compositions and the excellent players but the poor remastering by Van Gelder knocks it down one star. The reputation of this recording prompted the late Hill to name one of his later groups the "new Point of Departure" group!! But the playing on this recording is superb particularly from Eric Dolphy, one month after his own classic "Out to Lunch" album and of course we get the legendary Henderson/Dorham duo, a month before Joe's own classic "In'n'Out" session. These players are all complemented by Hill's piano, Chicago buddy Richard Davis on bass & the dynamic drummer, Tony Williams. The recording zaps his dynamic sound and also that of bassist Davis--if you have a chance then ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 92
Average Rating:

Lumpy Gravy

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Frank Zappa

Release Date April 18, 1995
This is one of Zappa's most unique recordings, and that's saying something. It's a sound collage mixed with an orchestra and rock band. It has some beautiful, borderline pop music passages, mixed in with strange noises, strange narration and vocals, and lots of surreal music.

The whole album is reminiscent of sound collages/experiments similar to that of Edgard Varese (one of Zappa's idols) and Luigi Nono, an avant garde Italian composer. Zappa really never attempted anything like this again until the sequel (and his final album released during his life) Civilization Phaze III (I think Phaze III is better). This album, like Zappa's other adventurous works (like Weasels Ripped My Flesh), become more interesting and fascinating with repeated ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 93
Average Rating:

Stoa / Nik Bartsch's Ronin

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Nik Bärtsch's Ronin

Release Date May 02, 2006
Jazz evolved in the US as a unique amalgamation of African sources and European ones. When Jazz was shipped to Europe, it created its own unique forms, and European jazz has taken different tracks from its American counterparts. Nik Bärtsch's Ronin has found a unique version that is distinctly cool and artsy and compelling. People compare this stuff to Steve Reich (who also recorded on ECM for some years), but in fact there is at least one track on this CD that sounds like a clone of Philip Glass's "Music with Changing Parts" - right down to the slightly wonky intonation. American Minimalism (another amalgamation) clearly influences this music, but that doesn't prevent it from having its own voice, one that is capable of being sexy and interesting on its own terms, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 94
Average Rating:

Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Sun Ra & His Arkestra

Release Date January 29, 2008
This CD is a good entry point for someone with only a mainstream feel for Jazz. It's a far less noisy and experimental record than what you might normally get from a random Sun Ra choice!

For my ears however, it's a bit too easy-listening. I recommend Night of the Purple Moon for something a little more rough, and featuring Sun Ra's eclectic and wild keyboard excursions.

For an artist with as many recordings out as this one, someone should have written a guide by now! :)

CD-Charts Position 95
Average Rating:

Out There

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Eric Dolphy

Release Date March 21, 2006
Eric Dolphy is one of those true musical giants that transposed the muusical sound to far into the future. In my opinion when you speak of Miles, Monk, Mingus, Ellington, Coltrane among others, Eric Dolphy should fit into the mix somewhere. A true genius. This record is a milestone for the bop modern jazz/avant garde genre. Miles ahead of the field screaming off into space. The instrumental is very interesting in that it combines the combination of cello (Ron Carter) with bass (George Duvivier) along with Eric on alto sax/B flat and bass clarinets and the ever creative and rock steady Roy Haynes on drums. Everyone's playing is in extreme overdrive/fast forward. The sound is truely incredible and not to be missed my any lover of great modern/bop jazz. A masterwork of pure ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 96
Average Rating:

A Love Supreme

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: John Coltrane

Release Date June 10, 2008
I know that everyone has, at one point or another, opened a review with the words "arguably the greatest album ever" or "It changed my life" or something similar. I will be no different. This is certainly the best John Coltrane album, though there are plenty of competitors, and it might be the best jazz album ever. I'll stop short of "best album", because it would be impossible for me to go that far. In a way, it also changed my life, or at least the way I thought about music. Before I bought it, my musical tastes were mostly confined to classic rock. After I bought it, and the only reason I did was because I enjoyed the Greatest Hits album of his I owned (which at the time was one of my four or five jazz albums), it opened my mind to all kinds of music. Soon not just jazz but funk, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 97
Average Rating:

Nonaah

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Roscoe Mitchell

Release Date August 26, 2008
I know that everyone has, at one point or another, opened a review with the words "arguably the greatest album ever" or "It changed my life" or something similar. I will be no different. This is certainly the best John Coltrane album, though there are plenty of competitors, and it might be the best jazz album ever. I'll stop short of "best album", because it would be impossible for me to go that far. In a way, it also changed my life, or at least the way I thought about music. Before I bought it, my musical tastes were mostly confined to classic rock. After I bought it, and the only reason I did was because I enjoyed the Greatest Hits album of his I owned (which at the time was one of my four or five jazz albums), it opened my mind to all kinds of music. Soon not just jazz but funk, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 98
Average Rating:

Vignettes

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Marilyn Crispell

Release Date April 22, 2008
This is my second Marilyn Crispell CD (the first being the generally excellent "Nothing Ever Was Anyway....").
Admittedly on the basis of only two listens so far, I have to say I am NOT really taken with this album as a whole.
I found the "Vignettes"(#'s1-7, of which #7 is the best) rather uneven & a distraction from the flow of the more substantial compositions. Furthermore, the longer the album went the more "heavy-handed" became the piano playing such that even "Ballade" (Track 14) felt fairly ponderous & predictable, given what Crispell had given us on the 13 tracks prior. It seems that while most of Crispell's early dissonant, combustible free jazz style has now disappeared (& whatever of this is left is shown in some of the "Vignettes") what's generally lacking ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 99
Average Rating:

Blues and Roots

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Charles Mingus

Release Date October 25, 1990
Pianist Horace Parlan isn't really repetitious, in the context of the Charismatic Church (Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting). He's "tarrying", saying "thank you Jesus" or the like over and over to invoke the Holy Spirit, or while getting the Spirit. IMO. North/South Convergence

CD-Charts Position 100
Average Rating:

The Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Carla Bley

Release Date November 06, 2007
I think Carla bley and Myriam alter are in the same league , attributing them the credit to share the recognition, of being among the most innovative and intelligent composers in the modern jazz scene today .WONDERFULLY constructed jazz with, excellent and fresh compositions coming out more descriptive and vital , with the addition of the fine italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu .Along with the other stars of her band Carla believes very much in the total result of what will be presented every time as the final one, so you will notice here again that her piano playing leaves smartly the space it is always needed for her band skills to come out and shine equally in this marvelous effort.