Wanted: Avant-garde/free-jazz recommendations
 

hey all!

i want to expand my small collection of avant-garde/free-jazz records, and i'm hoping someone here can give me some recommendations? i know and absolutely adore late era john coltrane and other 60s favourites like ornette coleman (especially his atlantic years) and acts like ayler and eric dolphy. can someone give me some further directions, where should i go from here? i'm really curious about stuff on zorn's tzadik label (i'm intrigued by lots of his masada output, but his own sax skronking tends to put me off...), and more modern releases...

thanks for any recommendations:)

Don Cherry! Most definitely.

John Zorn, of course!

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=23910&highlight=rich+woodson%27s+ ellipsis

that

Well if you're already familiar with late Coltrane and Coleman, and Don Cherry has already been recommended, I'm going to say Pharaoh Sanders' own stuff is my no. 1 pick. Karma is a classic for a reason, and Black Unity is great too. Truly stunning spiritual free jazz with great rolling piano lines and an appreciation for driving, almost funky, grooves that's unusual for the genre.

Also, get some Brotzmann. Machine Gun is... er... words can't really describe it, but it's amazing.

Oh and how could I forget Albert freakin' Ayler. Spirits Rejoice will kick your ass all over the place.

iannis xenakis (hes not jazz, but if you like this stuff, you must hear him, hes the best composr of the 20th century, and my hero)
peter brotzzman
art ensemble of chicago
sun ra
archie sheep
cecil taylor
bill dixon
pharoah sanders
kaoru abe
masoyoshi urabe
masayuki takayanagi
derek bailey
sonny sharrock
wadada leo smith
otomo yoshihide (has worked in noise and noise rock, but recently has created some phenomenal free improv music)
mingus's pithecanthropus erectus, a landmark
some anthony braxton (not all his stuff is jazz)
william parker
james 'blood' ulmer
assif tsahar
rashied ali
alice coltrane
rahsaan rolland kirk
ken vandermark
weasel walter's solo stuff
mats gustaffson/the thing

free jazz/avant jazz is my third or second favorite 'genre' of music ever. all of the people mentioned above blow me the fuck away.

amazing stuff... i'm very grateful!!

sun ra.

If you're interested in contemporary work by living musicians and not dead guys I'd recommend

Ras Moshe Quartet Transendence
Other Dimensions in Music
Roy Campbell Tazz
Steve Swell Slammin the Infinite
Steve Swell Nation of We (his free jazz orchestra playing 3 nights at Roullette next week)
Daniel Carter/Andrew Barker duo
Matthew Shipp Honrn Quartet Strata
Brainbombs Live in Lund

but really Other Dimensions in Music is THE must hear and a must see. I'm joking about the Brainbombs, I just want this 12" soooo bad....and no one seems to have it. I'd recommend watching the work of Willliam Parker over John Zorn for a more primary experience.

Pretty much "what he said". Although it's by no means "The Greatest Avant-garde/Free-jazz Album", I feel I should recommend Larry Young's Lawrence Of Newark, because it's a great one that you're unlikely to come across yourself. No especial reason to single it out, I just really dig it at the moment. Although in light of the above list, it should be noted that it features both James 'blood' Ulmer and Pharaoh Sanders (well actually it's "Mystery Guest" on soprano sax, but it's widely believed to be Pharaoh Sanders). So just stick that on a list to get to some time.

in addition tpo whatever has been said
id like to add
borbetomagus
pharoh sander's album-jewels for thought
derek bailey
alexander von schlipenbach (sp?)
THE SME!!! their album challenge is amazing
the msuic now ensemble (which is basically the sme)

spiritual unity by albert ayler
alice coletrane
if you want zorn id check out electric masada. they are amazing.
id also check out marc ribotr solo stuff, especially his album saints

borbetomagus is one of my favorite bands

Well if we're talking Borbetomagus on this board then I guess Barefoot In The Head should probably be mentioned. It should also be mentioned because it's incredible.

polvo
dinosaur jr
pavement

One of many great Sonicl recommendations.


MUSICA TRANSONIC - XYOSFBIGKOU

Been listening to that quite a few times since you upped it.
Mindfuck indeed.

KAORU ABE is so fucking good!

http://freethefuckingjazz.blogspot.com

Get some die like a dog quartet.

YES!

I have to add Steve Lacy though, he was amazing! Try "Moon" on the BYG label.
Evan Parker too, but thats more improv less jazz.

needs to be more specific. He had just as much in-shit as out-shit. For free, start with Heliocentric Worlds vols 1 & 2.

oh yeeeeeeeeah

^ I second that. Just get that 4 CD set of their stuff if you're any kind of of free jazz fan. Seriously.

i think its all been said here, i would say check out sun ra and anthony braxton for sure but with all the recommendations here go for your life.