Current total
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2008 - 2016 releases


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Udo Schindler Wilbert de Jode
LOW TONE STUDIES PARTICIPATION & INTERPLAY [FMRCD616]

Udo Schindlers great series of recordings continues with three new ones Low Tones are live recordings by Udo Schindler – tracks #1-5 at DasLihotzky_wagnisART in Munich at February 7th, 2020 and tracks #6-10 at the 99th Salon für Klang+Kunst in Krailling/Munich at February 28nd, 2020 mix & master by Wolfgang Obrecht/Tonstudio RichArt, Munich both concerts took place as part of the concert series 'LowToneStudies


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Paul Dunmall Simon Thoumire John Edwards Phillip Gibbs
BROTHERS IN MUSIC [FMRCD615]

We are releasing some Dunmall music not previously available as we hit the 100 mark and these are some of his favourites!


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Paul Dunmall Johnathan Impett Andrew Bal Paul Rogers Phillip Gibbs
DISTRACTED [FMRCD614]

With cover graphics by Paul Dunmall 'Undistracted'. represents one of his favourite recordings never previously released on FMR, We hope you enjoy its much as us!!!


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Cink [FMRCD474]

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Paul Dunmall. Frank Paul Schubert. Sebatsiano Dessanay. Jim Bashford
Sign of the Times [FMRCD472]

Recorded at the Lamp Tavern Birmingham, 10/10/2017. and Recorded, mixed Matthew O'Malley. This wonderful improvisation features 3 tracks 'Sign of the times', Talior' and 'Blues in the colour on my beloved' Wood engraving Paul Dunmall. Produced for FMR by Trevor Taylor.


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SOUND ENERGY TRANSFORMATION
Udo Schindler Krhan Erle Sebastiano Tramontana.  [FMRCD471]

great set of high quality improvisation continues Udo SchIndlers recent work on FMR!


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Paul Dunmall. Percy Pursglove. Tony Orell
Nothing in Stone [FMRCD463]

Great new session by the incredible Paul Dunmall, this time with Percy Pursglove doubling bass and Trumpet and Tony Orell. on drums , percussion Recorded at Jazz at the Fringe, Bristol, 13th September 2017. Recorded, mixed, mastered by Chris Trent. Special thanks to Jon Taylor. Photographs Jon Taylor. Front cover artwork by Trevor Taylor (3 Musicians after Picasso)


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GLASGOW IMPOROVISERS ORCHESTRA
THE WORD FOR IT NOW [FMRCD458]

A great new release from GIO featuring two main pieces. 'Bit in the air' is a collaboration with GIO and artist Cath Keay whilst A peculiar slumber 1 (For whichever Angle) A peculiar slumber (Near and Remote) is a response by GIOs Graeme Wilson to theatricality of the CGA Spain when the ensemble rehearse


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STEVE BERESFORD TREVOR TAYLOR IAN BRIGHTON
Kontakte Trio [FMRCD449]

The Kontakte Trio ( Beresford , Brighton and Taylor) evolved from one FMR's 30th year anniversary recording sessions at the Toni Visconti studio in Kingston University earlier this year. Taylor and Brighton had been playing together since the early 70's yet never had the opportunity to work with pianist and electronics improviser Steve Beresford. The primary objective as a trio was to explore their common interests in the electronics aspect of improvised music as well as that of the acoustic instrumentation. The recorded output, they feel, is uncompromising and surprising.


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PAUL DUNMALL Wx11 wind synthesizer PHILLIP GIBBS. Guitar
Electrosonics [FMRCD415]

Long time musical compatriots embark on a journey of pure electronic sound This is the first time Paul has recorded exclusively with the wind synth (a Yamah WX11) and along with the electric guitar they produce nine tracks of outstanding creative music!


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Paul Dunmall Phillip Gibbs Ashley John Long
NOW HAS NO DIMENSION [FMRCD408]

fantastic new improvisations recorded in Cardiff and introducing a major new and wonderful voice on FMR , bassist Ashley John Long! nothing more can be said part from just sit down and listen!


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Malcolm Ball Kate Cuzner
NA Compos Mentis [FMRCD396]

Delightful and eclectic improvisations by Malcolm Ball using percussion and Ondes Martinot and Kate Cuzner on flutes , piano and live electronics


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Frode Gjerstad Roger Turner Borre Molstad
Blood Samples The Cabinet Trio [FMRCD395]

Another step out for fascinating Norwegian saxophonist Frode Gjerstad this time on Alto Sax and Bb Clarinet alongside the unusual combination of ace drummer/ percussionist Roger Turner and fellow Norwegian tuba player Borre Molstad a rarified musical setting that provides exciting and creative playing from all , proving that on the contrary , unusual musical setting and combinations can often produce the most interesting music The cd was recorded at Cafe Mir in Oslo at the 'Blow Out' festival in 2013


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Marcelo dos Reis Luis Vincente Theo Ceccaldi Vlentin Ceccaldi
Chamber 4 [FMRCD393]

Recorded live on the first of three concerts that occurred in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, this fascinating combination of instruments results in this beautiful crafted music by Portuguese and French ensemble, Chamber 4, based in Lisbon and Paris. Acoustic guitar, violin with cello and some rich voices combining with an exquisite trumpet. These are incredible gems of improvisation, subtle, intelligent and very moving


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Paul Dunmall Tony Bianco
Autumn [FMRCD392]

Paul Dunmall in another epic improv session this time in duo with the great American drummer Tony Bianco , now resident in the uk


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Chris Caldwell Susie Hodder-Williams Trevor Taylor
Unlimited the Sound Within [FMRCD390]

Following on from their critically acclaimed albums of Mariners Way & Northern Lights, Susie Hodder-Williams (flute/alto flute/piccolo) & Chris Caldwell (sop/alto sax & bass clarinet) join forces with the percussionist, experimental jazz drummer and contemporary music label owner of FMR Records, Trevor Taylor, for the musical exploration of The Sound Within FMR CD390-0115. If Mariners Way evoked the mythical journey of the ancient mariner across the moors of South West England, The Sound Within journeys to a place which is within all of us, totally familiar yet often overlooked, a place where insights are created. This is where the formless becomes form, through the process of being in the moment. The three musicians weave an improvisational tapestry responding to what's happening around them. Their individual thoughts creating their feelings and responses both through the texture, length and quality of the note they produce and the often overlooked power of stillness. The musicians here came along with an openness of not being tied to any formalised agendas or attachment to outcomes. Through this they touch the beauty of being truly free, a place where universal mind, personal thought and consciousness exist together in perfect harmony.


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Tom Jackson Benedict Taylor Daniel Thompson
Hunt at the Brook [FMRCD389]

All three of these musicians are earning a reputation as wonderful improvisers. The lineup of clarinets with Guitar and Viola is a truly beautiful combination of sublte and moving sounds that mesh into mesmerising editions of truly creative contemporary music Its different, almost like a classical ensemble, the talent creativity and integrity of these musicians shines


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Peter Van Huffelel, Oliver Steidle, Andreas Willers
The Scrambling Ex [FMRCD387]

The Scrambling Ex, powerful trio featuring 3 major European improvisers!


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Frode Gjerstad Jon Rune Strom Paal Nilssen-Love
Miyazaki [FMRCD386]

Frode again this time with different long time fellow players the excellent drummer Paal Nilseen Love and bassist Jon Rune Strom Recorded on tour in Japan in Miyazaki Three great tracks from masters of the art form


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Louis Moholo-Moholo Frode Gjerstad Nick Stevens Fred Lonberg Holm
Distant Groove [FMRCD385]

frode Gjerstad adds to his impressive catalogue on FMR with a terrific quartet album which includes regular fellow compatriots British Bassist Nik Stevens, with Norwegian cellist Fred Lunberg Holm and wonderful South African drummer Louis Moholo Moholo


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Francois Carrier Michel lambert
iO [FMRCD384]

After their stunning two cds Live in Russia Vol 1 and 2, eloquent French Canadian saxophonist and drummer par excellence Michel Lambert excel yet again in 9 new improvisations recorded at Resonance studios in their home town of Montreal They are ever becoming a powerful and confident voice in the music!!


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THOMAS HEBERER Cornet PASCAL NIGGENKEMPER Double bass
Miners Pick [FMRCD383]

Recorded in Brooklyn New York in Feb of this year, the duo produce an amazing variety considering its only two players. these are some of the fine young US artists excelling at free improv. Classy and subtle improvisations of excellent creative and fluid music


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WILLI KELLERS PAUL DUNMALL CLAYTON THOMAS FRANK PAUL SCHUBERT
Life in a Black Box [FMRCD382]

Great new improv from four of the masters , Paul Dunmall, Clayton Thomas, Frank Paul Schubert and ace drummer Willi Kellers, who propels the two sax front line with his usual power and energy!


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Francois Carrier
Live in Russia Vol 2 [FMRCD381]

Eloquent and passionate Canadian alto saxophonist joins forces with fellow and long time partner drummer Michel Lambert, with Russian pianist Alexey Lapin, for a second tour de force recording while on tour in Moscow These three musicians recorded in St Petersburg at The experiment Sound Gallery and at the IFC Jazz Club during April last year. As before the trio reach new heights in wonderful free improvisation!


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Ola Djupvik
Idiophonics  [FMRCD380_115]

Young virtuoso percussionist from Norway , Ola Djupvik produces a fascinating first album of percussion treats ! Some purely abstract some purely rhythmic in 6 varied titles. It says acoustic drum kit on the tin, but don't be deceived Ola Djupvik knows how to intellgently explore each part as an individual instrument as well as a whole Excellent first album from very up and coming young player, check it out!!!


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Paul Dunmall Sextet
LIFE IN FOUR PARTS [FMRCD380]

Recorded for his 60th birthday celebrations this all sta recording includes Mike Fletcher, Percy Pursglove, Mike Hurley with Chris Mapp on bass and Mark Sanders on drums plus special quests Simon hall on Bass trombone (and Bethan Jones bass drum) music more precious than diamonds!


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FRODE GJERSTAD FRED LONBERG HOLM
Life on Sandpaper [FMRCD379]

Frode Gjerstad returns with another of his famous formats , the duo This time its with long time colleague cellist Fred Lonberg Holm 9 pieces recorded in 2012 but never previously released featuring Frode working on both Bb as well as bass clarinet as well as that incredible instrument, the bass saxophone!


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Trevor Watts
VERACITY [FMRCD377]

Trevor Watts first and amazing solo saxophone recording takes him into new territory great to see a musician of this statue totally in his own space!


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PAUL DUNMALL NEIL METCALFE PHILIP GIBBS
The Ravens Look [FMRCD376]

For Paul Dunmalls latest FMR Recording he uses soprano sax along with clarinets and the wonderful contra bassoon and does battle with the extraordinary flute of Neil Metcalfe and stunning guitar of Philip gibbs The 'Ravens look' recorded in Bristol last year, but sounds as fresh as a daisy! truly wonderful music


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Geoff Warren
THE QUARTET ALBUM [FMRCD375]

Flautist Geoff Warren in his first record in a conventional quartet line up, presents his compositions from the ‘eighties to the present, in styles ranging from straight ahead to Canterbury jazz-rock. Recorded in Verona with an Italian piano trio: Raffaele Pallozzi – piano, Marco Di Marzio – bass, Walter Caratelli – drum


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Mark Sanders Mikolaj Trazaska Olie Brice
RIVERLOAM TRIO  [FMRCD374]

while in new York excellent drummer and percussionist Mark Sanders, joined forces with Brit bassist Olie Brice and Alton Saxophonits Mikolaj Trazska to produce a stung collection of improv music, 1, Grasping Ivy, 2, Beware of Porter part 1, 3, beware of Porter part 2 4, danzig blues 5, grub party, 6 Elephant trees , 7 Inem Gortn


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THE BUTTON BAND
The Button Band [FMRCD373]

The Button bands first album features all kinds of delights! recorded in London In June 2013 the band is Andrew Button Guitar, Andrew Woolf Tenor Sax Dave Manington bass and Johnathan Ormston drums and percussion Although a seven track set of tunes somehow the players breath fresh live into what can be a well trodden format, proving theres live in the old dog that is mainstream jazz yet A breath of fresh air this recording introduces some truly delightful playing, simple , melodic but still creative and adventurous and overall the band together has a light but enquiring sound!


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PAUL DUNMALL PAUL ROGERS PHILIP GIBBS
Clocks Turned Silver [FMRCD372]

recorded at the Victoria rooms Bristol in May 2013, the enigmatic trio play 4 great improvisations, Nag Maheshay , The darkness descends, Sixty and the title track The clouds turned Silver File under the best improv your likely to hear!


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LUIS VICENTE RODRIGO PINHEIRO HERNANI FAUSTINO MARCO FRANCO
Clocks and Clouds [FMRCD371]

Great improv from Portugese musicians Luis Vicente trumpet, Rodrigo Pinheiro piano, Henani Faustino double bass and Marco Franco drums recorded in lisbon by Joaquim Monte in April last year and featuring 7 pieces, Irredescence, ophidian dance, strangely addictive, compression test, trios, hunting song, and smoke blows back


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Paul Dumall Mark Sanders Paul Rogers
DEEP TRIO WHOLE [FMRCD370]

One of the most seminal imrov groups on the scene today! little to say except sit back, fasten your seat belts and enjoy these three master at work


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FRODE GJERSTAD LOUIS MOHOLO
Sult [FMRCD369]

After the recent recording with Argenteenian reeds man Luis Conde, Frode continues one of his favourite formats , the duo with legendary South African drummer Louis Moholo! Again sensitive, creative and always engaging music prevails!!


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TONY BIANCO'S UTOMA QUARTET
TONY BIANCO'S UTOMA QUARTET [FMRCD368]

Ace US drummer and now UKM resident Tony Bianco leads a great new two horn front line playing his quirky new tunes experimenting with Tonys fascination with long lines and looped synchronicity. Great players and highly creative writing as ever . Font line is Mike Fetcher alto and flute joined by Mark Handslip on tenor with Colin Somerville on double bass excellent stuff


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GIO (Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra) & GEORGE LEWIS
Artificial Life 2007 [FMRCD366]

arttfical life 2007 3 tracks were recorded at the CCA ib Glasgow in early Dec 2012 and was produced by Una Macglone and one of the saxophonists with the band Raymond Macdonald GIO (Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra) have not thoroughly established them selves as one of the most interesting and creative large improvisin ensembles in the UK, and had done man collaborations with great improvisers across the globe GIO first worked with Geroge Lewis in 2003 This new version of George Lewis’s Artificial Life 2007 was recorded at Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra’s tenth-anniversary festival in 2012. The innovative US trombonist and composer’s score is a set of instructions, presented graphically on a grid, which the musicians respond to as they see fit. When, what and how to play is up to them, unless indicated otherwise. The result is an extremely detailed music, based on textural rather than harmonic or rhythmic development.


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FRODE GJERSTAD LUIS CONDE
Mirrors Edges [FMRCD365]

Well dear listener, that you have in your hands looks like an impossible action, unreal object...moreover, borrowing a little from Groucho Marx style,(only his moustaches) we could also declare that this object will sound as an “impossible” music,so.let ́s give up all the ambiguities, because you have two ears and normally they don ́t fight between themselves. ,you can listen to this music and simply mean oh!, this is impossible!,which it will be well receibed too. In Fact., if you could imagine our lifes ,from Stavanger ,Norway to Almagro, Buenos aires,Federal District , you wouldn ́t believe on a strange good man with his horns and two fellows from his trío going ashore at the muddy waters of the very southest River Plate ́s coast only for playing in a few special places for an avid public,but it was true!,and you wouldn ́t say about this story is more unreal than this almost bizarre cd ,wouldn ́t you?? But the the subject/issue happened, and the unknown argentinian, who plays the same instruments as the norwegian, proposed to him to make a little session hurriying up to catch the come back plane.And this is all that you have in your hands, music from stolen moments played with the lot of energy that could bring the collision of our distant lands and our pretty heads. Luis Conde


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PAUL DUNMALLwith others
Red Dahl [FMRCD364]

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ENRIQUE MENDOZA
Below Sea Level [FMRCD363]

Recorded at the conservatorium of Amsterdam in July 2013 Below Sea Level contains 4 compositions performed by Enrique Mendoza, and two others by Boglarka Nagy and Dutch flautist Jos Swannenburg. All feature extensive electronic composition, much using STEIMS Lisa X software. With this alto saxophonist Nagy, flautist Swannenburg and composer Mendozas guitar do great battle producing highly stimulating sound fields enticing and stimulating electro acoustic music


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THE SHETLAND IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRA
First Steps [FMRCD362]

"Shetland Improvisers Orchestra grew out of a series of workshop sessions where we worked with Raymond MacDonald and George Burt. This is the group's first CD and features some of the work that grew out of the workshops as well as pieces played at Shetland Jazz Festival and a complete set from Glasgow Improvisers Festival. There is also a tribute piece dedicated to Lol Coxhill recorded the day after he passed away. These are Shetland Improvisers' first steps."


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NATURA MORTA
Decay [FMRCD361]

Recorded at the bunker studios in Brooklyn, NY in March 2012. The group Natura Morta featuring Frantz Loriot, viola , objects; Sean Ali double bass and objects; and Carlo Costa drums percussion play 4 improvisations. "Sirens", "Miasmata", "The burial of Memories" and "As the Dawn fades". To sum up the music the group quotes Shelley - "Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare. The lone and level sands stretch far away" the enigmatic graphic on the front of the cover (by Jaques Mandelbrojt) without out any titles creates an aura of enquiry and wonder equally revealed through the music-


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TREVOR WATTS DEREK BAILEY JOHN STEVENS
Dynamics of the Impromtu [FMRCD360]

Fantastic never before released recording by this legendary and seminal trio!!!!!!! 3 of the undoubted pioneers of improvised music! Unreleased material like this is rare, and gives further insight into the beginnings of this incredible movement and its subsequent development


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FRODE GJERSTAD KEVIN NORTON DAVID WATSON
lIVE TIPPLE [FMRCD358]

This a live recording made in Middletown Conneticut while the group was on tour in the US in 2013


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TREVOR WATTS
MOIRE MUSIC DRUM ORCHESTRA  [FMRCD357]

featuring Trevor Watts with Nana Tsiboe, Nee-Daku Patato, Nana Appiah, Jojo Yates, Liam Genockey, and Colin Gibson Continuing our look at Trevor Watts old as well as new music, this cd of 4 pieces was recorded in Venezuela as well as Mexico in 1990


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PAUL DUNMALL ED RICARD MARK HANSLIP PHILIP GIBBS
WEEPING IDOLS [FMRCD356]

Recorded in Bristol in 2012 the cd features 4 great improvisations including 1. 4 Souls , 8 Eyes 2. Bhutan 3. Better Than Words and 4 Weeping Idols oustanding music as always from the groups around Paul Dunmall


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PAUL DUNMALL MARK SANDERS PAT THOMAS
DESCENT III [FMRCD354]

A rare recording with Pianist Pat Thomas, these these 5 pieces were recorded in Birmingham in Feb this year the tracks are 1. Clouds that obscure the Sun 2. Descent III 3. abandon all Sorrow 4. The ocean bridged 5. The aerial car departed


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Susie Hodder Williams Chris Caldwell
3 MEDITATIONS [FMRCD353]

The dynamic duo emerge from deepest Darmoor to record 3 meditations, using flute and the gamelan at Kingston University where it was recorded by Ebby Acquah This cd comes after the extremely well received 'Northern Lights' that saw them playing the stunningly beautiful music of Stephen Goss along with virtuoso classical guitarist Graham Roberts. As usual the duo explore the beauty within the sound. Fabulous, pure, sonorous!!


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ROB HALL CHICK LYALL
CHRONICLES [FMRCD352]

Exciting saxophonist Rob Hall now living in Scotland teams up again with long term partner and incredibly talented and creative pianist Chick lyall. Chronicles is a tour de force of great writing and free improvising that merge imperceptively into wonderful music As usual Chick uses electronics in a thoroughly creative and imaginative way as well as piano, prepared piano and synthsizer , while Rob Hall is a master of Sopranino, Soprano and alto sax as well as the beautiful sounding bass clarinet Each new release sees these two raise the bar and are as good as any players in Europe who manage to extend the jazz heritage in a subtle but exciting way. great music from two totally great musicans who deserve much more respect. Listen!!!!!!!!!


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TREVOR WATTS
CELEBRATION BAND LIVE IN MACEDONIA [FMRCD351]

Trevor Watts Celebration band live in Skopje Macedonia 2004, with Amy Leake, Rob Leake, Marcus Cummins, Geof Sapsford, Roger Carey, GIampaolo Scalto, and Jamie harris percussion!!! 4 saxophones, drums, percussion and bass. The friendship Ship' was a vehicle used as a workshop ,. So we invited our Macedonian friends to come on stage and take part. On this occasion musicians from all the communities took part, Roma, Macedonian and Albania to play alongside their UK and Italian colleagues


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Pat Thomas
SKIP [FMRCD350]

brilliantly original innovator Pat Thomas suprises with a 9 track set of jazz standards accompanied by equally esteemed rythm section of Mark Sanders on drums and Dominic Lash double bass recorded at Brunel University, theres titles from the worlds greatest players and composers such as Ornette Coleman,Sam Rivers, John Coltrane, Monk, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Joe henderson and Charlie Parker!!! here another side to Pat Thomas!!


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FRANCOIS CARRIER
SHORES AND DITCHES [FMRCD349-0512]

Recorded while touring in Dec 7th in the wonderful acoustic of St leonards Church, London this CD is the third on FMR by the brilliant Canadian alto saxophonist Francois Carrier, who is based in Montreal, Canada The cd pit's him with his long time companion and excellent fellow Canadian drummer Michel Lambert, and English musicians flautist Neil Metcalfe, Guitarist Daniel Thompson and double bassist Guilaume Viltard The results are 58 Mins of sparking and tantalising improvisations of supreme quality and creative achievement alongside the music the album artwork includes many mini snapshots of Carriers other love photography, in which his astute ear is matched by his ever open eyes that capture the unusual, the abstract, that often missed in the pace of modern life Altogether the two paint a picture of a whole human being totaly alive and open to his existence and who can eloquently echo his experiance in music and art A major new voice in improvisation!!


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PAUL DUNMALL flute, soprano sax PHILIP GIBBS Electro acoustic guitar
DREAMWORLD [FMRCD348]

Dreamworld is Paul Dunmall's 51st cd for FMR and features a sparkling series of duos with guitarist Philip Gibbs Speaking of the music Paul says . 'In the subtle body music can come directly out of the heart region without any instrument being necessary. Whatever you feel and hear can emanate from the hear, full of love, beauty and devotion, one in a million, anything is possible because it is the sound which is being projected. The fellow listeners can feel all of what you wish to express, there are no boundaries, the music isn't heard through ears but through the subtle body'


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JIANNIS PAVLIDIS Guitar ADAM NUSSBAUM Drums GIORGOS KONTRAFOURIS organ
MIGRATION [FMRCD346]

This truly fantastic Internaional trio have been touring since 2007 and have finally released their first CD which certainly doesn't disappoint!!! with really, great tunes, great groove and stunning solos from all!! featuring Swedish born Greek Jiannis Pavlidlis on guitar, Greek compatriot Giorgos Kontrafouris on organ and the virtuoso legandary American jazz/fusion drummer Adam Nussbaum The musical approach the trio follows is open with a strong reference on groove.The material is mostly original as well as reworked standards with a new twist, and with refreshingly quirky arrangements. During the last tour (March 2011) the trio decided to record this, their first album, a decision made due to the natural chemistry between the three musicians.Good job they did , its terrific!!


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PAUL DUNMALL Flute, soprano sax PHILIP GIBBS Electro acoustic guitar TREVOR TAYLOR acoustic and Electric percussion
NEW ATMOSPHERES [FMRCD345]

Recorded at the white house Essex in late 2012 these three improvisations vary enormously The first features Paul Dunmall rarely on Flute, with electro acoustic guitar and percussion/ electronics, whilst the mood moves up a notch when he moves to soprano for the second of these three highly stimulating impovs


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FEDERICO UGHI Drums DAVID SCHNUG Alto sax MAX JOHNSON Bass KIRK KNUFFKE Cornet
FEDERICO UGHI QT [FMRCD344]

fantastic first release from this New York based group led by ace drummer Federico Ughi!


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STIAN LARSEN guitar ERIK AHLSEN guitar
KOOK [FMRCD339]

Norweigan guitarists Stian Larsen and Erik Ahlsen provide a tantilisingly wonderful selection of soundscapes in this, their first outing for FMR noth are expert in not just playing the guitar but the use of live electronics which can of course provide endless possibilities . 7 contantly changing textures and ideas from two of Europes greatest and most creative improvisors


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PETE JACOBSEN piano and various keyboards
FOR PETES SAKE [FMRCD338]

For all that knew him Pete Jacobsen was very special It was clear to all those that heard him in those early days that here was a quite extraordinary musician. A prodigious technique, perfect pitch, a formidable musical memory and an encyclopaedic knowledge of a vast area of music set him apart from his contemporaries. He was completely eclectic and could play authoritatively in almost any style. But for all his talent Pete was no Prima Donna. He gave himself generously to every band he played with. He was a uniquely sensitive accompanist and a strong group player. No matter what the musical context Pete would commit himself wholeheartedly to the enterprise. This is vol1 compilation of his work curated by Mick Sexton


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JON SEAGROAT Bass Clarinet,soprano, flute TIM CHATGIGIANNIS Laptop TREVOR TAYLOR Percussion electonics
CIRCUIT ILLUSION [FMRCD337]

Circuit is an ensemble with no fixed personel that aims to explore improvisation using electronics and electro acoustic instruments taking advantage of the far higher processor speeds that make real time manipulation of sound so much more exciting! Circuit have recorded 5 cds over 5 years GENESIS EPIPHANY KITAOKA PYRO ILLUSION


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VYV HOPE-SCOTT piano, loops TONY ORRELL drums percussion, loops
THE JELLILALAS [FMRCD336]

This is the first commercial outing by the duo of composer/pianist Vyv Hope-Scott and free jazz drummer and percussionist Tony Orrell. Both players contribute loops and electronic sounds that form the starting point of the pieces, occupying a musical terrain “somewhere between free improv and ECM”. The project uses looped samples and delay patterns as a sort of ‘armature’ around which free improvisation can be wrapped; then at the mixing stage these loops might be included, replaced with something else, or removed altogether. As well as providing a pulse where necessary, this subtractive approach makes it easier for the musicians to not play, eliminating the urge to fill the spaces with notes, allowing still or silent passages to form form within busy soundscapes. The resulting textures vary from simple piano and cymbals (Veljo) to something much more like IDM electronica (While She Drew), but always with the spontaneity captured at the original live recording sessions.


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PAUL DUNMALL saxophones NEIL McGOVERN saxophone
INTERVENTION [FMRCD334]

This cd sees Paul Dunmall playing using his book, '60 studies for Saxophone' as a basis along with classical saxophonist Neil McGovern. Matt London also joins the fray in a somewhat different direction from Dunmall but never the less a fascinating insight in do his ideas about saxophone technique from an undisputed virtuoso of the instrument!


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PAUL DUNMALL bagpipes and MARK SANDERS drums
PIPE AND DRUM [FMRCD333]

A fantastic new recording of the musicians who often play together in different ensembles but rarely together!!


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PAUL DUNMALL- SAM WOOSTER- MARK SANDERS - CHRISS MAPP
THE ICEBERG QUARTET [FMRCD332]

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PHILLIP WACHSMAN Violin HOWARD RILEY piano TONY WREN double bass
ST CYPRIANS 3 [FMRCD331]

Last of the 3 cd trilogy of wonderful improvisations recorded live from St Cypians!


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PAUL ROGERS Bass PAUL DUNMALL Saxophones PHIL GIBBS guitar
TRIBUTE TO TONY LEVIN [FMRCD328]

When we lost Tony levin recently we lost one of the finest and most creative drummers Britain has ever produced!! In this touching memorial 3 of his close compatriots pay tribute in 7 wonderful improvisations joined by three other great admires from foreign climes wishing to pay homage to a wonderful life in music, Bern, Rudi mad Otto Recorded In Bristol in June last year and mixed mastered by Jonathan Scott


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PAUL DUNMALL Saxophones STEVEN DAVIS Drums DAVE KANE Bass
CLOWN [FMRCD327]

5 Great new pieces by a new Dunmall trio recorded in Northern Ireland in 2001 but never previoulsy released, this little classic seems all the better for finally finding the light of day, its such terrific music where Dunmall adds pipes to his usual saxophone armoury


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PAUL DUNMALL saxophones,bagpipes,voices NICK JURD bass JIM BASHFORD drums
SALT DOLLY [FMRCD326]

More stunning improvisations from Dunmalls young Realisation Trio! Paul Dunmall on tenor & soprano saxes & bagpipes, Nick Jurd on bass and Jim Bashford on drums. This is the second disc from the Realisation Trio, who are Paul Dunmall's new, younger unit. I hadn't heard of either of Dunmall's rhythm section mates before the first disc and still haven't heard anything else from these young men. Unlike their first disc, this one was recorded at the Victoria Rooms studio in Bristol, UK by the consistently great Jonathan Scott, Dunmall's most reliable recording engineer.


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CHRIS CALDWELL / PETE WYMAN / FRANK VAN DER KOOIJ Pyongyang Express
AIRKRAFT [FMRCD324]

This CD is the retrospective recording which was the result of this ten day adventure back in the Spring of 2009. It is a travelogue which combines the trios collective improvisations, Frank Van De Kooijs musical sketches with field samples taken from the streets and state media of the DPRK.


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PAUL DUNMALL sax NICK JUDD bass jim bashford drums
THE REALISATION TRIO [FMRCD317]

Check out Dunmall's new trio of great new young players, extremely on song at the lamp Tavern Birmingham in June 2011 7 Tracks recorded by Chris Trent again


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BBC Concert Orchestra , Brian Irvine Ensemble , Paul Dunmall
MONTANA STRANGE [FMRCD315]

Fantastic recording showing Dunmall reacting to an orchestral and small ensemble setting with free improvisation, and boy does he deliver the goods!! Irvines compositions are wonderfull, creative, playful and constantly stimulating!


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FRODE GJERSTAD FRED LONBERG-HOLM
TISTEL [FMRCD313]

Fabulous new set of improvisations from long term collaborators saxophonist Frode Gjerstad (here playing clarinet) and cellist fred Lonberg-Holm 9 fascinating duo's showing these musicians endless creative ideas


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FRANK PAUL SCHUBERT MATTHIAS MULER
FOILS [FMRCD311]

Somehow, even though both Matthias and Frank play with a lot of the same musicians in and around Berlin (including me) I have never imagined they would play together. That wasn't a judgement about compatibility, or class, but essentially about desire - I always figured they were on separate paths, and wanted different things from their music. So when this recording landed in my hand, with the invitation to listen and write about it Although coming from different generations, and backgrounds, both Matthias and Frank share something very rare, and something very specific. They are both deeply sceptical musicians who, nonetheless, are looking for transcendence in their music. CLAYTON THOMAS


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SAKA
POSH [FMRCD309]

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DAVE DRAPER / NTSHUKS BONGA
SNOW IN NOVEMBER [FMRCD308]

We have played together in countless settings over the years, ranging from Dave’s large African music/Improvising ‘China Pig Orchestra’ down to a duo. The duo music on this CD is based on the traditional approach where two musicians engage in an instrumental dialog, reacting spontaneously to each other and changing the music as and when they see fit. A very significant further element is added by the ability to reintroduce recorded sounds the musicians have just played, recorded in real time and often looped and/ or processed so that although their origins can often be deduced, they have their own character, produce their owns sonic impact, and being autonomous to the live musical sounds, they cange the musical landscape in very often unexpected ways. This CD is made up mostly of two long improvisations recorded on 30th November 2010, when we had unseasonal snow (hence the title), and the three shorter pieces recorded in 2005 & 2006, all of which have distinctive musical characteristics. This CD allows us to document and celebrate our music collaboration that stretches almost two decades.


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FRODE GJERSTAD STEVE HUBBACK
ONE FOOT MOVING [FMRCD307-0211]

Legandry concert by master percussionist Steve Hubback with Norweigan saxophonist Frode Gjerstad here playing clarinet and B clarinet. Recorded at the Lille Konsertsat in Stavanger Norway in 2001


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PAUL DUNMALL
SUN INSIDE [FMRCD306]

Paul Dunmall takes off one more time, and sets sail for the sun with more interstellar explorations of improv at the galactic edge! Aided by the dream team of ridiculously talented and highly esteemed improvisational compatriots guitarist Phil Gibbs, flautist Neil Metcalfe and the incredible 7 string bassist Paul Rogers. Music is three pieces 'Sun Inside' Dissolving a Rock' and 'Inside the Sun'


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PYRO
CIRCUIT [FMRCD305]

Most recent of the Circuit release, an ensemble that aims to explore electronic and electro acoustic music taking advantage of the much faster current processor speeds giving amazing real time potential. As usual the group features a varied personell, this time with Taylor the only original. Jon Seagrott plays soprano sax and bass clarinet , Rob Stevenson alto sax, Wx7 and Geof Harris Electric upright and bass guitars. Taylor him self used acoustic modified drum kit, extensive percussion and his normall Kat Mallet electronic setup. All modulated their sounds via their own systems, many granular sytnth software, hardware and pedals including


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KIM-ERIK PEDERSEN KIM JOHNANNESEN CHRIS CORSANO
DOOR TO DOOR [FMRCD304]

Featuring Kim-Erik Pedersen on alto sax, Kim Johannesen on guitar and Chris Corsano on drums. This disc was recorded live in Oslo, Norway in November of 2009. Chris Corsano is one of the most creative and distinctive drummers to come down the pike in many years. Each time I see & hear him play (with Evan Parker or Joe McPhee or Sir Richard Bishop), he knocks me out. He has a completely unique approach to playing drums so until you get a chance to see him live, you have no idea how he gets certain sounds. . Except for certain more distinctive sounds, it is difficult to tell who is doing what on this disc. Suspense and space between the sounds is well-utilized throughout as well as spirited interaction and a strong balance between all three musicians. Even those over-the-top moments are well-placed. Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery


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CHRIS CALDWELL SUSIE-HODDER WILLIAMS GRAHAM ROBERTS
NORTHERN LIGHTS [FMRCD303]

Play the music of STEPHEN GOSS * 'utterly captivating' 'bristling intensity...music from the subtle side of things' Downtown Music Gallery, New York The new CD of Steve Goss' music includes the première recording of Northern Lights (for the trio) and The Sea of the Edge (for solo flute). Other works on the album are Autumn Song (for flute and guitar) a new arrangement of Welsh Folksongs and a piece inspired by The Cosmic Garden of Speculation


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DEEP JOY TRIO
LIVE IN AUSTRIA [FMRCD298]

Three quarters of the famous Mujician Qt, the Deep Joy Trio has established itself as one of the truly great free improv trios. The incredible Paul Dunmall powered by one of the greatest powerhouse rythm sections in Jazz, Paul Rogers bass and Tony Levin Drums . Tony Levin died just before this cd was released and it is dedicated to him


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PAUL DUNMALL, PHILIP GIBBS, MILES LEVIN
MANU [FMRCD296-0810]

Paul Dunmall steps out again with long standing compatriot guitarist Philip Gibbs and interestingly Miles Levin, the son of fellow MUJICIAN drummer Tony Levin, one of the finest Jazz Drummers the UK has ever produced. Its tantalising to make comparisons, but first thing that hits you is Miles levin is his own man, with all the technique and artistry of his father but fused into a different generation with its own sound and style. Phil Gibbs is always interesting with his multidirectional guitar and electronics ever changing but always enduringly interesting, while Dunmall continues his quest and never ending search for meaning through the music in his colossal instant compositions. A major voice that just gets stronger and stronger!!!!


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Paul Dunmall, Phil Gibbs, Nik Stevens, Trevor Taylor
ATMOSPHERES WITHOUT OXYGEN 4 LIVE IN OXFORD [FMRCD295-0810]

Live recording from Oxford Improv Club in 2010 opposite Red Square With Paul Dunmall saxophones, Phil Gibbs electric guitar and electronics, Nik Stevens double bass and Trevor Taylor electronic percussion


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BOB GLUCK TRIO
RETURNING [FMRCD292]

True to its title, Returning reprises the energetic trio led by pianist/composer Bob Gluck on his first critically acclaimed jazz recording Sideways. The 2008 date, "a potent first document of this expansive trio," (Cadence) has been described as "a near classic work of art." (JazzTimes Community) "Returning" is also an apt successor to Bob Gluck's recent "Something Quiet"


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SUSIE HODDER-WILLIAMS CHRIS CALDWELL
MARINER'S WAY [FMRCD291-0510]

A combination of improvisations and duets using gamelan, singing bowl, flute, alto flute, bass flute, soprano saxophone and bass clarinet, exploring the mythical journey of the mariner, traveling across Dartmoor, on the ancient track known as the Mariner's Way. As heard on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction. Tradition has it that for centuries there has been an ancient trackway which runs from Bideford in North Devon and Dartmouth in South Devon. The purpose of this route was for sailors to travel between the two ports when transferring from one ship to sail on another, hence the name, The Mariner's Way. 

As heard on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction, with broadcasts in UK, Belgium & Holland.


...the flute and soprano sax float around one another sublimely... 

While listening to this disc, I felt as if I were entering a calm dream-world, sitting on a raft in the middle of the ocean, peaceful and adrift. (Downtown Music Gallery, New York)

A beautiful evocative album that can work like a movie, a silent landscape documentary. (Radio Antwerp ****)

New, ambient soundscape music... (Dutch Radio)


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Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Nik Stevens (double Bass) Phil Gibbs (guitar), Trevor Taylor (electronic perc)
ATMOSPHERES WITHOUT OXYGEN 3 LIVE IN CHATHAM [FMRCD290-0410]

Recorded late last year live at Chatham's basement Jazz Club this concert was promoted by Colin Erswells 'Brutally Honest' organisation dedicated to presenting exciting cutting edge new music Small though the club is the audience is always knowledgeable and you can hear a pin drop, very much appreciated by these serious musicians whose dynamic range can take them from that pin dropping to a thunderstorm in seconds! Such is the variety and creativity of these four musicians who need no introduction here as four of the most talented and exciting in British free music. Saxophone, electric guitar, doubel bass and electronic percussion blend perfectly in this one long set, and their third CD in this lineup


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FRODE GJERSTAD, FRED LONBERG-HOLM, MICHAEL ZERANG
SUGAR MAPLE [FMRCD289-0410]

Caught live on an American tour with Frode Gjerstad during oct 2009, this recording focuses on two other great improvisers well know to FMR listeners, Fred Longerg Holm and Michael Zerang Sugar Maple is the name of the club in Milwaukee USA where this wonderfully stimulating music was recorded by Bruno Johnson. Unlike the title the music is not sweet but hard driving stimulating improv by three of the greatest improvisers in the genere!


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PAUL DUNMALL TONY BIANCO DAVE KANE
RITUAL BEYOND [FMRCD286-0210]

'The band were smoking, they were burning, they were on fire! Just some of the expressions used to denote a truly affecting jazz experience, but not to be taken literally, so wrote John Sharpe a witness to this incredible performance and recording the pairing of American Bianco and Kane with reedman paul Dunmall was a repeat performance of a Vortex gig almost a year before Typicall of Dunmall this was a totally improvised outing without any prior discussion of destination, played over two sets weighing in at almost 90 minutes. By the end , the metaphor had matched reality. They truly were on fire


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HUBBACK AND PEIJNENBERG
ARROWS [FMRCD283-0210]

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COORDINATES
GRID MESH [FMRCD282-0210]

The Trio GRID MESH, consisting of Frank Paul Schubert (alto and soprano saxophones), Andreas Willers (el. guitar and devices) and Rudi Fischerlehner (drums, percussion) perfoms suspenseful, multi-dimensional improvised music with a fascinating blend of acoustic and electric sounds. It‘s an energetic, subtle and intelligent musical trip on which the development of ideas and the interplay of these masterful musicians are equally impressive as their command of a modern, biting jazz language. This stands effectively alongside more abstract, fragile structures and massively archaic walls of sound that even can knock back into irony. Thus a band sound is revealed that can truely be termed as „21st century improv music“.


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JANNE TUOMI (Percussion)
ELG  [FMRCD280-0709]

Finnish percussionist Janne Tuomi’s second FMR release, was recorded in a studio located in a 100-years old cowhouse that has 1-meter thick stone-walls in Old-Ulvila, on the west coast of Finland. Over two spellbinding recording, Tuomi demonstrates his controlled grasp of his oeuvre. All the effects are created using old analogue devices, operated manually during mixing, leaving the music as a whole, organic and beautifully crafted recording.


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PAUL DUNMALL Saxophones PAUL ROGERS 7 string bass
REPERCUSSIONS [FMRCD277-0708]

A brand new recording by the dynamic duo of virtuoso Paul Dunmall and Paul Rogers following their highly acclaimed release 'Regeneration' The title 'Repercussions' gives a glue as the duo are aided and abetted on the title track by some percussion as well Recorded at the Unitarian Chapel in Warwick in Feb of this year it features Paul Dunmall playing soprano and as well as clarinet and his famous bagpipes and Paul Rogers wonderful 7 string custom bass. As always the music is fast moving and constantly inventive! …unsurprising considering these two virtuosos pedigree! Fabulous music


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SPLINT
INTELLIGENT DESIGN [FMRCD276-0909]

Scandinavian electro-improvisers Splint! are back with a new album, their first on FMR. Intelligent Design is a collection of contrasting pieces, from minimalist soundscapes to electro-chaos, every tune with its own unique sound and tense atmosphere. The working method is collective improvisation mainly on acoustic instruments with heavy use of loopers and other live-electronics. The result is carefully post-produced to bring out the essence of the music. The song "The Brick" features Gothenburg singer Malin Dahlström (known from Midaircondo and The Dora Steins), aka Disdishdance, who wrote lyrics and a melody to an improvisation recorded live in concert. The title is a tribute to the human creative force and is an attempt to reclaim the term "Intelligent Design" from the creationist movement


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GARY SMITH SOLO ELECTRIC GUITAR
MAGNIFY FMRCD273-0509 [FMRCD273-0509]

Guitar virtuoso Mark O'Leary is joined by Danes Stefan Pasborg and Jacob Andersoskov for his latest offering on FMR. Recorded in Copenhagen, its where Kid A meets Post-Ecm. A post surreal voyage influenced by the works of Lovecraft, Tarkowski, Komeda, Hesse and Coleridge. A worthy successor to the classic Ellipses recording and an embarkation towards new conceptual realms. Unmissable.


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ARE LOTHE KOLBEINSEN/TERJE EVENSEN & MARIA CASTRO
For Those Who Have Everything  [FMRCD272-0309]

Are Lothe Kolbeinsen (guitar/live looping), Terje Evensen (percussion), Maria Castro (electronics & arrangement on Søvngjenger)


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Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Evelyn Chang (piano), Philip Gibbs (guitar), Trevor Taylor (percussion & electronics)
ATMOSPHERES WITHOUT OXYGEN2 [FMRCD271-020908]

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FRODE GJERSTAD/JOHN EDWARDS/MARK SANDERS
Bergen [FMRCD269-0209]

Frode Gjerstad (alto sax and clarinets), John Edwards (acoustic bass), Mark Sanders (drums and percussion)


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Acksjöns Kapell
CRIME SCENES [FMRCD268-0209]

Andreas Hiroui Larsson (drums, percussion), Alexander Zethson (upright piano), Daniel Karlsson (electronics, cornet, voice), Johan Jutterström (saxophones) Crime Scenes are a Swedish quartett currently residing in Stockholm and Paris and one that proposes the sound of the new generation of free-improvisers of Sweden. With influences ranging from impressionism to noise, focus on playing together as one, rhythm and melody, Crime Scenes are an orchestra more interested in how the music feels than how it sounds. The album was recorded in Acksjöns Chapell, Karlstad, Sweden, 2008.


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JANNE TUOMI (Percussion)
Resonance [FMRCD266-0908]

Janne Tuomi (percussion) Recorded in the beautiful church of Kulhmalahti in Finland , Resonance features the solo percussion of percussionist Janne Tunomi. The church is recognised as having a spectaculary good acoustic as is evident on the sound his drums and percussion in this recording, excelently captured by Jussi Saivo Janne is one of those new breed of extremely talented musicians who are equally home playing complex and demanding contemporary classical music, tradional music as well as free improv, and for this opportunity he decided to explore free improvisation, something he is very passionate about


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MATTHEW SHIPP & MARK O’LEARY
LABYRINTH [FMRCD265-0508]

Matthew Shipp (piano), Mark O'Leary (guitar) Celebrated pianist Matthew Shipp joins Irish guitarist Mark O;leary for his follow up to his excellent Ellipses release on FMR. Mark and Matthew explore the many colloquial corridors of improvisation which manifest from their collective lexicons. Meditative, intense, dynamic, even ambient in parts, it is a new discourse in the history of Piano/Guitar duo.


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JASPER VAN'T HOF & FREDY STUDER
Pangramm [fmrCD264-0808]

Jasper Van’t Hof (keyboards, synthesizer, sound modules) Fredy Studer (drums, percussion, electronic devices)


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RED SQUARE
THIRTY THREE [FMRCD262-0508]

JON SEAGROATT (bass clarinet & soprano saxophone), IAN STAPLES (guitar & violin). ROGER TELFORD (drums & percussion) The release of this album documents a remarkable, pioneering British group that formed in 1972 and broke up in 1978. The material on ‘Thirty Three’ was recorded between those years, but was considered too extreme for release at the time.


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EMERGE
VANISHING PICTURES [FMRCD261-0606]

Dirk Wachtelaer (percussion), plus guests The Center for World Cultures Zuiderpershuis is the temple of world music in Belgium and enthusiastically dedicated to their mission : artistic communication between western and non-western cultures. It is that location and ethic that Wachtelaer and a vast erray of musicians from around the globe converge.


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THE ARTICLES
Goodbye Silence [FMRCD260-0508]

Pat Thomas (keyboards), Mats Gustafsson (Sax, electronics), Roger Turner (percussion)


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Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Evelyn Chang (piano), Philip Gibbs (guitar), Trevor Taylor (percussion & electronics)
ATMOSPHERES WITHOUT OXYGEN [FMRCD258-0508]

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MICHEL LAMBERT - RAKLAM BOB MOSES (FMRCD 256-0108)
MEDITATION ON GRACE [FMRCD256-0108]

.. Drums and visual art seem to me to go together. Many great drummers are also painters. Do we paint like we play or do we play like we paint or does it even relate? With two drummers playing together then drawing together does this help me understand the incredible process of creation? I embarked on the road to find out. I contacted Rakalam Bob Moses in Boston to see how his powerful drum language and expression with his intriguing visual art style would interplay with my sound and images iconographies. These are conceptual ideas and the real creative experience was beyond concepts. What a day! I arrived in Quincy late morning, just south of downtown Boston. I rang Rakalam's doorbell. I had driven a couple days before from Montreal and that morning, left my family behind in an hotel in rainy Old Orchard Beach hoping the sunshine would finally show up. We were in mid summer, July 15, 2004. Rakalam had already prepared two well furnished drum sets. Soon after, PJ showed up with his portable recording studio. We played non stop for quite a while....took a little break and then back at the drums again. Once I had stepped into Rakalam's door, I had entered the raw unknown, a world so magnificent! While playing, I was busy working with the multiple layers of sounds, creating, sculpting, conversing. Only later on did I realize the proportion, this encounter had taken. Much later, dark outside, we sat down and worked on a couple of small paintings together... In contrast with the afternoon work, our drawing session was very calm and playful. Late that night, we drove down the street to a small Asian restaurant and had some food, hung out little more. In the car, Rakalam played me a, then, recent tape of his and while listening, a clear vision came to me, one of galactic luminosity rising straight up from his drums. I will never forget this and, as you, Rakalam, express it so well, "To my brother in sound healing," ...Hu Rakalam, "love always"... Michel


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MARK O’LEARY
ELLIPSES [FMRCD254-0208]

Mark O'Leary (guitar, electronics), John Herndon (drums), Ståle Storløkken (synths/samples) Recorded in Cork, Fermoy and Chicago. Members of Tortoise and Supersilent join the hugely talented guitarist Mark O’Leary in a recording that pushes the boundaries on all levels, Post Miles Electronica could be an adequate description. Fusion, Rock, Soundscapes, Electronica all combine to create a kaleidoscope of musical images not too dissimilar from the manipulated film frame images of Stan Brakhage, whose work adorns the cd cover and lends its name to this recording.


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THAT IS A STEP (FMRCD253-0108)
PETTER O HANNA [FMRCD253-0108]

. This one of the surprise succesful releases so far this year! On the face of it a difficult combination turns out a most spectacular success with Hanna Gjermundrod’s seductive voice the perfect foil for Petter vaganns hard punching live electronics! The secret is both their ability to supply a uninterupted stream of constantly changing creative ideas. With the addition of live electronic modulation on the voice and the lapsteel as well the soundworld becomes thicker and more menacing, but always enticing and never fails to hold your attention and delight! Petters crackly electronics supply a constantly chattering barrage of bumps and squeaks with the electronic oscillators often raw and crude one moment, and dense and complicated the next! while Hanna is sometimes ethereal and otherworldly and then suddenly manic and threatening with the sampling and looping creating yet another dimension making it almost a trio!! !Even the title 'That is a step' is unlikely , taken from Shakespeares Macbeth. Just back from a successful tour of North America promoting the album This first recording of the duo is a masterpiece always challenging, stimulating and constantly rewarding, perfect improv!!!!!


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TREVOR WATTS' MOIRE MUSIC
MOIRE MUSIC [FMRCD250-0208]

Trevor Watts (as,s), Lol Coxhill (ss), Simon Picard - t/ss), Keith Beal (b/bass/ss), Peter Knight (v), Steve Dunachie (v), Veryon Weston (p), Ernest Mothle (bg), Liam Genockey (dr), Nana Tsiboe (marimba/talking drum/congas) FMR are proud to present the CD release of the classic album Trevor Watts’ Moiré Music!!!! Recorded live during the Arts Council Contemporary Music Network Tour in January 1985 and featuring an all star line up, this classic British jazz recording finally gets its debut on CD!!!!! “Watts has wed the flexibility and organic strength of the jazz idiom to the rigorous drive and depth to be found, for instance, in the music of Philip Glass, bringing an energy and fire to substantial composition. Moiré Music - for the head, heart and feet.” (Kenneth Ansell)


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CROSSING (FMR 247-1107)
PAUL DUNMALL, EVELYN CHANG, TREVOR TAYLOR [FMRCD247-1107]

.The title 'Crossing' was penned by the group as a metaphor for the way in which their individual experience and musics meet and interact, fueled by a common love of improvisation. Evelyn Chang is an exciting young concert pianist regularly giving concerts around the world, but who since meeting Paul Dunmall, discovered the totaly different world of free improvisation and found a liberating force for her expression. Paul Dunmall need no introduction as one of the UK's finest saxophonists ded- icated totaly to free improvisation, and Trevor Taylor comes somewhere in between with experience as a free improviser as well as a life-time interest in other serious musics as well, including electronics


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DIRK WACHTELAER AND KöHN
EVENING AND MORNING [FMRCD245-1207]

Dirk Wachtelaer (acoustic drums), Jürgen de Blonde (live electronics) In March 2007 Jürgen de Blonde (aka Köhn) and Dirk Wachtelaer were working together with two Chinese musicians for a Vanishing Pictures project in Antwerp, Belgium. This music is the result of the two musicians working late one evening and early one morning during the course of these two days of sessions, producing a unique sound that has a life of its own, complete as a seperate body of work all its own.


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PAUL DUNMALL, PAUL ROGERS, MARK SANDERS
DEEP WHOLE [FMRCD243-0807]

Paul Dunmall (tenor, soprano saxophones), Paul Rogers (7-string bass), Mark Sanders (drums) Continuing the series of small-group improvisations by saxophonist Paul Dunmall that has featured impressive performances by the likes of Peter Brandt (Occasional Rain, Deep Well), Tony Marsh (Occasional Rain), Tony Orrell and Jim Barr (Deep Sea), comes Deep Whole. Featuring excellent drummer/percussionist Mark Sanders and regular Dunmall partner in crime Paul Rogers on bass, this is a more than welcome recording of three of Britain’s top flight improvisers in top flight form.


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PAUL DUNMALL QUARTET
FOUR MOONS [FMRCD241-0807]

A new quartet recording spearheaded by one of Europes busiest and most productive musicians. Four Moons by the Paul Dunmall Quartet, a hand-picked group of formidable musicians from the current new wave of jazz and improv players, is a collection of four pieces recorded at Bristols University of West England.


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MARK O'LEARY, TERJE ISUNGSET
SHAMANIC VOICES [FMRCD240-0807]

Mark O’Leary (El guitar, el baritone guitar, table top guitar, 12 string baritone guitar, E-bow, implements, electronics) Terje Isungset (Drums, percussion, stones, bells, wood, gongs, jews harp) Mark O’Leary has paired up with the immensely creative percussionist Terje Isungset, well known throughout Europe for his use of ‘natural’ found objects( stones, wood and ice sculptures). The pair explore some beautiful soundworlds over the course of 13 tracks, using guitar, electronics and percussion to outstanding effect.


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MARK O'LEARY/DYLAN VAN DER SCHYFF/WAYNE HORVITZ
FLUX [FMRCD238-0607]

Mark O’Leary (guitar), Dylan van der Schyff (drums, percussion), Wayne Horvitz (piano, prepared piano) The Irish guitarist Mark O’Leary follows his debut FMR release ‘Signs’ (FMRCD214-1106) with this improvising trio recording. For ‘Flux’, O’Leary exchanges musical dialogue with ace drummer/percussionist Dylan van der Schyff and the dazzling piano and prepared piano of Wayne Horvitz over 15 taut improvisations that reveal these players as unique and individual performers of the highest calibre. This is another exceptional disc from the up and coming guitarist Mark O’Leary, a player who has definately broken into the upper echelons of the more-forward-thinking realms of jazz and improvisation. One to watch!!


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JEZ FRANKS' COMPASSIONATE DICTATORSHIP
COUP D'ETAT [FMRCD233-0507]

British guitarist Jez Franks has been on the UK scene for a number of years, becoming one of Britain’s guitarists of choice for many of Europes most respected jazz groups. FMR are proud to present Jez Frank’s Compassionate Dictatorship, an accomplished quartet of excellent musicians with whom Jez has an instinctive rapport. His electric and baritone guitars share a wonderful dialogue with Tori Freestone’s saxophone, and the dazzling backing of Ben Reynolds and Jasper Hoiby on drums and bass respectively create a winning formula for this unique and spellbinding guitar quartet.


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AS NOWHERE AS ANYWHERE
BLAST 6TET [FMRCD229-0407]

Hans Koch (sop saxophone, bass clarinet), Saadet Türköz (voice), Dirk Bruinsma (baritone saxophone, flute and electronics), Paed Conca (bass, clarinet), Frank Crijns (guitar and devices), Fabrizio Spera (drums) Blast’s sixth release in their eighteenth year of existence. The core of the group plays together since 2000 and consists out of Fabrizio Spera (I-drums,percussion), Paed Conca (CH-bass), Frank Crijns (NL-guitar) and Dirk Bruinsma (NL-reeds, flute,electronics). Joined by the Turkish-Kazakh singer Saadet Türköz and the Swiss reed player Hans Koch, on this CD Blast is playing a program of fully improvised music. Saadet's singing is a fusion of modern vocal techniques with elements of the Turkish-Mongolian music tradition. Hans Koch is known for his longstanding work in trio with Koch/Schütz/Studer, and for various international collaborations in the circuit of improvised music. This combination makes an obstinate music with moments of raw expression and refined lyrical quality.


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THE CONVERGENCE QUARTET
LIVE IN OXFORD [FMRCD223-0307]

Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet/flugelhorn), Harris Eisenstadt (drums) Alexander Hawkins (piano/small instruments), Dominic Lash (double bass) The Convergence Quartet, featuring an international line up of expert improvisers, present their first release for FMR. This live set was recorded at the prestigeous Jacqueline Du Pré Music Building in Oxford. “.....you’ll be listening even more closely the second time around, rather than sticking the CD on your shelf with the comfortable expectations-fulfilled assertion ‘yes, I really like that kind of music, and therefore I really liked that album’. After all, that would be too easy, and music can offer a much richer experience. Thank heavens the Convergence Quartet are prepared to stick their necks out on our behalf....” Simon H. Fell


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MOTSOL
STRAP ON [FMRCD219-0207]

Stine Janvin Motland (vocal), Stäle Liavik Solberg (drums) Co-produced by saxophone legend Frode Gjerstad, fellow Norwegian duo Motsol present their unique take on the duo format. With just drums and vocals, ‘Strap On’ presents through its eight tracks, a stunning take on improvisation featuring the drums of Stale Liavik Solberg and vocalist Stine Janvin Motland. Both original and satisfying, this debut recording is yet another great contribution from Norway, one of the worlds leading hotspots of modern music.


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CIRCUIT: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE
KITAOKA [FMRCD218-0207]

Pat Thomas (keyboards & Electronics), Gary Smith (guitar & Electronics), Roberto Filoseta (piano & Electronics), Trevor Taylor (percussion & Electronics) The third part in a series by the electro acoustic group Circuit, a group with largely variable personel. Like the other CD’s this music was recorded at Phoenix studio late last year and included the guitarist Gary Smith, the pianist Roberto Filoseta as well as the fantastic keyboardist Pat Thomas and leader/percussionist Trevor Taylor and is influenced by the japanese artist and illusionist Akiyoshi Kitaoka who perhaps serves as a metaphor for some of the musical ideas created by the group. All are experts in the improvisational process as well as being extremely proficient and prodigious in the use of electronics and live modulation, an area of great excitement these days with computer processor speeds fast enough to run extremely complex alogrithms in real time!


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PAUL DUNMALL, TONY ORRELL, JIM BARR
DEEP SEE [FMRCD217-0207]

Paul Dunmall (tenor/soprano saxophones), Jim Barr (bass), Tony Orrell (drums) This tremendous improvised trio recording features improv sax giant Paul Dunmall in yet another exchange of musical ideas with specially selected and equally vocal musicians. Jim Barr and Tony Orrell provide a top-notch rhythm section, and whether providing the stunning backdrops for Dunmall’s twisting horns or coming forth with their own strong bass and drum voices, this is a stunning trio performance. Deep See is another quality recording for Paul Dunmall’s sonic adventures on FMR.


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MARK O;LEARY
SIGNS  [FMRCD214-1106]

Mark O’Leary (guitar) Steuart Leibig (6-string electric contrabass), Alex Cline (drums, percussion) From the poignent acoustic guitar opening track this album promises something special and Signs covers an amazing amount of musical ground from slow and haunting electronica to hi energy free improv. Recorded in California, the success of much of this music is down to the excellent playing of leading American musicians Alex Cline and Steuart Leibig. If anything Signs is an interpretation of Irish guitarist Mark O’Leary’s wide musical language from cool jazzer to post Derek Bailey, each track appears to succeed on its own merits


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SIMON ROSE (solo alto saxophone)
PROCESSION [FMRCD213-1106]

This superb release from saxophonist Simon Rose was recorded during three sessions, at London’s Jackson Lane Centre and Bonnington Centre, and at the Oklahoma Café/Gallery in Manchester and captures this musician in fine form. Spread over three 19 minute sessions, ‘Procession’ reveals a player that understands the risks involved in undertaking a solo performance on such an instrument. That an individual voice is just as important as the creative freedom which comes with producing such a project. Simon Rose exhibits these qualities and more with ‘Procession’. A player that displays all the key ingredients to a successful solo saxophone recording, of which, this new release is definitely one of them!


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Frode Gjerstad (alto saxophone & clarinets), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), Amit Sen (cello), Paal Nielsen Love (drums)
THE CELLO QUARTET [FMRCD212-0906]

Norways expert reedsman Frode Gjerstad ventures into more new terrain here, for his latest FMR release. This time, along with the ever excellent percussion of Paal Nielsen Love, Gjerstad has recorded a wonderful set accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful sound of two cellos. The imaginative playing of Fred Lonberg-Holm and Amit Sen, captured in left and right speakers respectively, radiates a pitch perfect middle ground between the (always) fine alto sax/clarinet and drums of two of Europes heavyweight performers.


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Paul Dunmall (tenor/soprano saxophones), Peter Brandt (bass)
OCCASSIONAL RAIN [FMRCD211-1106]

“Creating true music for me is to play from the heart. Not fashion, not what you think people want to hear, but music played with total inner conviction. If that happens to produce some small progress in the development of music then fine, if not, it doesn’t matter as long as it is played with honesty. It may even help one’s spiritual development. I believe it has for me. You must be prepared for anything and let music lead you and not let the conscious mind get in the way. I have been playing with Peter for almost 30 years in many different situations and he is an open minded and very creative musician. On this session there is a wonderful sensitivity and gentleness in the music and I hope you feel this too. Peace and joy” (PD)


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PAUL DUMALL (saxophones & Electronics), JONATHAN IMPETT (trumpet, electronics), TREVOR TAYLOR (percussion,electronics) NIK STEPHENS (double bass)
EPIPHANY [FMRCD209-0906]

CIRCUIT: ELECTRO ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE The music recorded here is the first in a series of recordings by CIRCUIT using varying personnel, all of whom had shown an interest in using live electronics to expand their music. The musicians were also chosen for their expertise in improvisation and their dedication and openness in creating and exploring new musical language. The advent of much faster computer processors has challenged the musician to use this speed to utilise far more sophisticated alogrithms and complex programs that can modulate sound in incredible ways and provide unprecedented real time control What you hear here is exactly what was played live, there was no post production manipulation or overdubbing of any kind


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JAMES FAULKERSON/MICK GREEN/DAVID MURPHY
IN THE SAME BREATH [FMRCD208-0906]

James Fulkerson (trombone), Mick Green, David Murphy In the 1980s James Fulkerson taught at Dartington and naturally got to know some of the musicians who lived nearby in Totnes and the surrounding area. Mick Green and David Murphy are among the best of these, luminaries of the local jazz scene as well as freeform improvisers. Fulkerson eventually relocated to Amsterdam, but one night in August 2004 the trombonist passed through Totnes, marking the occasion with a concert of improvised music in the back room of the Kingsbridge Inn. The music was recorded by Richard Douglas-Green and the result is this CD of exquisite improvisation.


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PAUL DUNMALL (tenor/soprano saxophones), PETER BRANDT (bass), TONY MARSH (percussion)
DEEP WELL [FMRCD207-0606]

Three of Europe’s finest players in their fields unite for this tremendous improvised trio recording. Paul Dunmall has played regularly with both Peter Brandt and Tony Marsh for over 30 years and the ‘deep well’ of the title refers as much to the ‘deep well’ of experience they have as a unit, as it does to the ‘deep well’ of ideas and pure creativity they exhibit on these blistering seven tracks of sterling improvisation. An essential purchase for any true fan of the medium.


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FRODE GJERSTAD (Clarinets), EIVIN ONE PEDERSEN (accordeon), KEVIN NORTON (vibraphone)
THE WALK  [FMRCD206-0606]

Kevin Norton’s recent releases on FMR have shown that he is a truly gifted and imaginative percussionist as well as vibesman. Here he joins forces with other FMR regular and improv giant Frode Gjerstad (here dedicated solely on clarinet) for a wholly international musical journey. Along with the luscious accordeon of Eivin One Pedersen, whose supplied the wonderfully original and quite beautiful textures to Gjerstad and Nick Stevens’ recent Calling Signals releases


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BADAL ROYGEOFF WARREN/MARCELLO SEBASTIANI
FRAMMENTI DAMINI [FMRCD202-0506]

Badal Roy (tablas, percussion), Geoff Warren (concert & alto flutes), Marcello Sebastiani (double bass) “Frammenti d’anima” or “Fragments of the soul” is the product of three expert players working in different genres of music and this is their second release after the well received Kolkata Rose. Speaking of the music flautist Geoff Warren says: “This is not a free jazz album, it’s an album of improvised ethno-jazz, or, if you like, just three people playing music: an Englishman, an Italian and an Indian. Cue for a joke? Potatoes, pasta and papadoms? But there was no flag-waving when the music happened, just cohesion, co-operation and chemistry. Sebastiani’s bass seems born to the tablas, and Badal’s grooves just make the melodies happen


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TIN MAN
GREEN ROOM [FMRCD201-0506]

Chick Lyall (acoustic piano, multi timbral modules, sound synthesis, computer programming, sound samples, flute), David Garrett (percussion, prepared piano frame, prepared dulcimer, thumb piano, sound sampling) Pianist Chick Lyall and percussionist David Garrett’s second offering as Green Room continues their own personal exploration in the jazz and electronics idiom with style and plenty of substance. Tin Man is the rapid follow up to their recent debut release Undertow, in which the pair take their contemporary jazz roots through improvised and electronic soundscapes. But this recording is perhaps different in the sense of being more introvert, more subtle and with new directions and musical tangents.


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Paul Dunmall (saxophones & Electronics), Hilary Jeffery (trombone & Electronics), Roberto Filoseta (piano & Electronics), Trevor Taylor (percussion & Electronics)
CIRCUIT [FMRCD200-0606]

Although recorded over a two day period as part of a BBC radio 3 'Paul Dunmall' broadcast, 'Genesis' has a different quartet yet again. setting Paul Dunmall and percussionist Trevor Taylor with the amazing British Trombonist Hillary Jefferies (now resident in Holland) and the Italian pianist Roberto Filoseta As usual this continues the groups philosophy of having no fixed personnel with its main aim is to explore electronic and electro acoustic music through improvisation using the latest computers and processors. The title alludes this it's actually Circuits first album although not released until now this includes Circuits 'Epiphany' and 'Kitaoka' FMR218 plus Circuit Pyro released this week


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Gary Smith/Joe Gallivan/Pat Thomas
POWERFIELD [FMRCD199-0206]

Gary Smith (stereo guitar), Joe Gallivan (moog synthesizer, electronic percussion), Pat Thomas (keyboard & electronics) Powerfield comprise of three highly individual performers and stalwarts of the electro-acoustic scene. Gary Smith has, over the last few years, led his own field of stereo processed guitar techniques, demonstrated on his previous FMR release ‘Forgotten Room with Chairs’ (FMRCD52-V0798). Pat Thomas has supplied his breathtaking electronics to much of the best electro-acoustic & improv releases over the course of his career. Along with the highly reputed talents of Joe Gallivan, here with his electronic percussion and moog, this is sterling stuff for all fans of the genre.


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Trevor Watts Drum Orchestra
BURUNDI MONDAY [FMRCD198-0206]

Peter Knight (violin), Mmadi Kamara and Nana Tsiboe (African percussion), Ernest Mothle (bass), Liam Genockey (drum), Trevor Watts (saxophone) This CD represents in some ways a ‘first’, marking as this recording does a previously unreleased line-up, the Trevor Watts Drum Orchestra of the early 1980s. This was a crucial turning point in Trevor’s evolving career, following a succession of Amalgam line-ups in which this alto saxophonist, with an already deserved international reputation for contributions to the evolution of free jazz and improvised music outside the American diaspora, was evolving a complex, polyrhythmically-driven approach to spontaneously generating new ideas capable of sustaining ongoing developing structures.


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PAUL DUNMALL/PAUL ROGERS
FAR [FMRCD195-i0206]

Paul Dunmall (soprano saxophone, bass clarinet), Paul Rogers (7 string ALL bass)


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PAUL DUNMALL/PAUL ROGERS
DISTANT [FMRCD194-i0206]

Paul Dunmall (clarinets), Paul Rogers (7 string ALL bass)


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Chick Lyall David Garret: GREEN ROOM
UNDERTOW [FMRCD193-0206]

UNDERTOW is the latest release from GREENROOM after an interval of ten years. Originally working as a trio,percussionist David Garrett,along with pianist Chick Lyall and guitarist David Baird forged a musical language which drew from such wide sources as jazz,modern 'Classical music' and the radical sonic experiments of John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Conventional instruments such as piano, drums and guitars could be combined with electronic sounds driven by computer as well as newly constructed instruments and found objects. Since 1998 Chick Lyall and David Garrett have continued to evolve the music of Greenroom by means of a combination of live improvisation with prepared computer generated sequences. On UNDERTOW they produce an even wider range of colour than before. Multi timbral explorations are combined with detuned acoustic instruments,flutes,sampling and electronic programming. Composition and improvisation exist simultaneously and the music is somehow arrived at through a dialectic of structure and freedom.


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PAUL DUNMALL/TREVOR TAYLOR/PAUL ROGERS
ZOOCHOSIS [FMRCD189-i0106]

Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Trevor Taylor (percussion & electronics), Paul Rogers (7 string ALL double bass) Fresh from their recent highly succesful BBC radio 3 broadcast witht the 7 piece expanded group heres the trio recording .what does zoochosis mean? “Zoochosis”: You’re likely to find this word used by animal rights activists in reference to what they see as the degrading effect of zoos on the animals they contain. Many animals, especially the large carnivores, become deeply depressed, even psychotic, as the result of captivity. Symptoms of zoochosis include nervous pacing, head rocking, and self-mutilation. In this recording the three musicians experiment with a different form of Improvisation than they have been known for, by multitracking different sections over a period of time instead of in one live session. This has been done deliberatley to 'build' various sections and atmosheres in a form of composition created yet still by Improvisation. The results are stunning!!!!


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FEAT. DAVE LIEBMAN
TONY BIANCO'S MONKEY DANCE  [FMRCD188-i0106]

Tony Bianco - drums, bass & piano, Dave Leibman - saxes & wooden flute, Eric St-Laurent - guitar Ali Keita - Balaphon, Adam Lennox - Producer Expert US drummer Tony Bianco’s great new band was put together with his long term friends, producer Adam Lennox and saxophone legend Dave Leibman. A culmination of three friends appreciation of each others work. Bringing in Eric St-Laurent on bass and the great balaphon player, Ali Keita, do a piece with Dave. The resulting recording has an uncanny quality. With the pieces concentrating more on ‘form’ due to Bianco’s suberbly devised repetitive chord changes, Dave’s sense of space and Eric’s taste for rawness bring out that primal simplicity that brings the whole thing into focus. “I have for the theme of the recording Hanuman the monkey god, who serves the cause of Rama. Each piece reflects his adventure in the great Indian spiritual and romantic epic ‘The Ramayana’.” Tony Bianco


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Paul Dunamll/Paul Rogers/Tony Bianco
COSMIC CRAFTSMEN [FMRCD185-i1105]

Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Paul Rogers (6-string bass), Tony Bianco (drums) A superbly recorded slice of free improvisation from three of the leading exponents of creative music. Recorded at the Jackson lane venue in Highgate, London during a wonderful free improv event organised by the music specialist record shop Sound 323. Seperated into three sections, the performance begins with a performance of Tony Biancos Drone style drumming, followed by Paul Rogers and Paul Dunmall’s exquisite dynamic exchanges on 6-string bass and saxophone respectively. The recording is rounded off by a glorious trio performance. which cements the players’ reputations as the ‘cosmic craftsmen’ we already know them to be.


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Elton Dean, Tony Bianco, Jon Wilkinson
NORTHERN LIGHTS FREEBEAT [FMRCD182-i1105]

The concept of Freebeat came through Tony Bianco’s realisation that time signature is another way of phrasing. “In Freebeat you will feel the pulse, it kind of feels like 4/4, but when you try to count you’ll find that you can’t count anything into it. It’s a combination of beats and phrasing, more like the way speaking occurs. Three of these pieces freature my bass parts looped (sometimes up to a hundred bars), then I play the drums to the bass track, afterwards adding keyboard chords, then Elton and Jon add their parts where I was able to open up the pieces into more of a free zone, while still feeling the pulse.. All tracks were first takes by all on board. The great work that both Elton Dean and Jon Wilkinson contributed is obvious. Straight and Free. Chaos and Order. Liberty and Responsibility combining for Freebeat.” Tony Bianco


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Roger Smith/Adam Bohman
LIVE  [FMRCD180-i0905]

Roger Smith (guitar), Adam Bohman (found objects) Recorded live at The Dixon Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea this exhillarating music features the unlikely combination of Roger Smith?s acoustic guitar and Adam Bohman?s found objects and although this is their first CD release as a duo they have played together extensively. Needless to say, Smiths totally original and exhaustive exploration of the sound possibilities of the acoustic guitar are equally combated by Adam Bohmans vast array of fascinating household and industrial instruments. Together they traverse the well worn boundaries of noise and music, searching for pertinent music landscapes, no matter how abstract. A wonderful combination!


ERIK QVIK/STEVE HUBBACK:
WONDEROUS SOUNDS [FMRCD179-I0805]

This duo recording features two of the most original percussionists on the planet, the explosive drummer/percussionist/sculptor/smith Steve Hubback, a Welshman living in Iceland, and one of Swedens leading drummer/percussionists Erik Qvik. For this recording Steve uses his usual set up of sound sculptures made entirely by himself while Erik employs a more traditional acoustic drum kit with added sound sculpture and effects. Their styles are surprisingly different, but they quickly establish a healthy empathy and the wide range of stimulating percussion improvisations proves without doubt their status in the world of creative music.


CALLING SIGNALS [FMRCD177-I0505]

Coming after the major success of recent groups involving Frode Gjerstad such as ÔUltralyd' and his ÔSt Louis' Trio on FMR this is strangely different! Perhaps its the sound of the bandeon played by the wonderful Norwegian Ilvind Hendriksen that provides a more laid back and introspective texture for the groups overall sound. And again it is less frenetic, more folky and opens new frontiers for group improvisation and its sound palette.Fans of Frode Gjerstad will, however, not be disappointed, as with musicians such as as Paal Neilsen Love as well as Frode, British bass player Nick Stevens and the inclusion of Hendriksen, the outcome could only be as it is: highly stimulating improvisation, that like much of Frode Gjerstads music, breaks new ground!


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FRODE GJERSTAD/SABIR MATEEN
GOOD QUESTION [FMRCD175-I0705]

Following on from the excellent duo release with the legendary John Stevens, comes this dynamite duo recording with fellow saxophone guru Sabir Mateen recorded in New York City. Featuring ten improvisations which ably convey both players unique styles, skilfully interweaving, blending and playing off of each other in ways only the most competent saxophonists can. This is a must for all serious saxophone enthusiasts, and a wonderful document of two of the worlds most able players in the ever interesting duo setting and a continuation of Frode Gjerstads brilliant Duo Series.


WATT?: THE LONGEST MAUVAIS QUART DHEURE [FMRCD174-I0505]

Ibadet Ramadani (Voice/live electronics), Jorge Isaac (Blockflutes/live electronics), Charly Zastrau (Keyboards/live electronics), Jos Zwaanenburg (Flutes/live electronics), Tom Myrmel (Sound diffusion/tech support/anything else) Using a combination of strong software and traditional instruments to create a surprising world of electro-acoustic sound, songs and improvisation, the music of The Longest Mauvais Quart d'Heure, originally a music theatre piece uses E.M. Forster, B monster-movies, Beckett's shorter plays and blatantly old-fashioned science-fiction novels to supply the models for the sound, structure and imagery in this stunning performance. Within this wonderful work WATT? uses a live sampling program and a video-to-MIDI program developed by STEIM Amsterdam in which the vocalists movements are recorded by a digital video camera that triggers sounds stored in a computer. Although meant as a live performance piece it is presented here in a special CD version which preserves the feel of its original format to spellbinding effect.


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MAYAS/NUTTERS/OLSEN/GALVEZ
ITS DIRTY IN THE DIFFERENT TRADITION [FMRCD173-I0505]

Recorded in Studio Kockjoy in Berlin this brand new, firey quartet have burst onto the improvising scene to great effect. Abstract yet clearly a group working as a whole, Magda Mayas, Carlos Galvez, Koen Nutters and Morten J. Olsen clearly live inside the music they create, the players act as improvised music while the music acts as a real-time anchor ! .This music isn't easy to sum up in words, though the title of the recording gives the best description of this wonderful collection of seven joyous improvisations:


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KEVIN NORTON
QUARK BERCUSE [FMRCD172-I0505]

This is a brand new solo recording by one of North America's leading percussionists. Indeed, I could say that this music is inspired specifically by three musicians (Steve Lacy, Anthony Braxton and Haewon Min), but it is ultimately my music and I take responsibility for it. I've been developing this total percussion in improvised music idea for many years now and I feel that it's been encouraged by people like Anthony (amongst many others). This is an important journey for me and it will continue. Quark Bercuse is a culmination of where the musician has been heading in the last few years and an important platform for Norton's musical research and communication.


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PAUL DUNMALL/TREVOR TAYLOR
ILLUMINATIONS [FMRCD171-I0805]

Although old musical colleagues for over thirty years this is the first duo recording featuring in this case the saxophones and bagpipes of Paul Dunmall with the large sound sculpture, percussion and live electronics of Trevor Taylors new set up. The last recorded outing was with the larger ensemble, the Intuitive Art Ensemble (also on FMR), but here we have the more difficult medium of mixing live electronic sound with acoustic playing and the two succeed spectacularly. Dunmall of course is no newcomer to improvisation with drummers and percussionists and is often propelled to great creative heights when in the company of stimulating percussionists! But this is normally in a more formal jazz acoustic situation, so in that respect this is a different kind of music perhaps reflecting an even wider range of sound palette.


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ROB HALL
THE BEATON PATH [FMRCD170-C0505]

The Beaten Path is the much anticipated release from the Scottish-based contemporary duo of Rob Hall and Chick Lyall . Pooling their respective writing talents, both musicians contribute compositions, interspersed with a series of short, free improvisations. Their expressive range merges jazz, contemporary classical and Celtic sonorities, and this new CD recording exemplifies the fluid and engaging language these two fine musicians have developed over a two year period of performing together. The duo of Rob Hall/Chick Lyall has performed throughout the UK from concert halls to ceilidh rooms and is equally at home in jazz and multi-arts venues. British saxophonist Rob Hall has made a substantial impression on both the local and European scenes in recent years The Guardian. Chick Lyall is the most adventurous Scottish pianist of the current generation Penguin Guide to Jazz.


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PAUL DUNMALL
SOLO SOPRANO [FMRCD167-I0805]

The exceptional British improviser is captured on this recording during a magnificent solo set at The Priory in Southend on Sea during its 5th International Jazz Festival. Concentrating for this recording on solo soprano saxophone, an instrument for which he excels, this recording is a must for all collectors of this virtuoso saxophone collossus. Nothing more need be said but to simply listen to one of the worlds great virtuosos on a solo voyage of great beauty!


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GEORGE BURT/RAYMOND MACDONALD SEPTET
THE GREAT SHARK HUNT [FMRCD165-0305]

George Burt (guitar), Raymond MacDonald (alto/soprano saxes), George Lyle (double bass), Nicola MacDonald (voice/melodica), Bill Wells (piano), Daniel Padden (clarinet/voice/percussion) with Lol Coxhill (soprano sax). Recorded in East Kilbride Arts Centre, this is the fifth chapter in the celebrated saxophonist Lol Coxhills adventures with Burt and MacDonald. This new recording features the hugely successful pianist Bill Wells along with the presiding genius of The One Ensemble - Daniel Padden, a stalwart of the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra. Lol plays his bent soprano on this session (like a tiny alto) and features the first ever recorded duet between bandleaders George Burt and Raymond MacDonald


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DIDKOVSKYROGERS/NORTON:
THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, THE BIG TIME [FMRCD163-I0505]

Four of the greatest improvisers around meet in New York. I will say a few words about this music ... I love Nick and Paul as human beings and musicians. We decided to do a concert at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City on January 31, 2004. It was wonderful; the space had a wonderful vibe and the listeners received the music warmly and enthusiastically. I decided that we should record in a studio to capture all the details of the sounds we can make because live recordings (as exciting as they can be) tend to miss the quiet stuff. I knew it would be great because of the humanity and talent. Turn off the lights and listen..... Kevin Norton


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FRODE GJERSTAD/JOHN STEVENS
LETS JUST KEEP GOING [FMRCD162-I0405]

Norwegian saxophonist Frode Gjerstad recorded this wonderful, spirited meeting with his friend, the late, great John Stevens in 1994 and it is finally seeing a release on FMR. John and I did a few duos over the years and this is the last one we did. It was a warm up for a concert we were going to play with Kent Carter on May 2nd (which was released on Cadence as 'Last Detail'), I had just got my ADAT and this was the first recording I made on the machine. Listening back to the tape now, brings back a lot of memories. In between the tracks there is a bit of talking and joking. As we drove to the airport we talked a bit about future projects and he commented about what we had just done over the last few days, It's good what we've done, let's just keep going. In retrospect, those words get another meaning late-on Frode Gjerstad


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THE DARTINGTON TRIO Keith Tippett, Julie Tippetts, Paul Dunmall
LIVE AT THE PRIORY [FMRCD161-I0205]

Recorded live at The Priory, Priory Park, Southend-on-Sea as part of the 3rd Southend International Jazz Festival on Sunday 8th August 2004.


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FREDY STUDER/HAMID DRAKE/MICHAEL ZERANG:
DRUMMIN' CHICAGO [FMRCD160-0505]

Fredy Studer (drums, cymbals, gongs, metal, multiple percussion), Hamid Drake (drums, cymbals, metal, frame drum, tabla, multiple percussion), Michael Zerang (drums, cymbals, gongs, metal, darabuka, zither, tambourine, whistles, bells, multiple percussion).This recording in Chicago while Fredy Studer had a residency took place over the course of one day and night, and covers an enormous breadth of stylistic terrain, from heavy textural improvising to deep and inventive grooves. In some places, the three musicians contribute in extremely different and readily audible ways, while elsewhere their personalities merge into a startling group sound. From Zerang's amazing friction-percussion on snare drum, through Studer's other-worldly evocations on a giant gong, played with a mallet that's outfitted with a superball on its end, to Drake's infectious reggae rhythm on drum-kit (and this is just on track one!!) John Corbett


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VANISHING PICTURES
LIKE ONE FEATHER [FMRCD159-I0105]

Third outing for percussionist Dirk Wachtelaers superb Vanishing Pictures project. This time he has selected an even wider range of musicians from all over the world. Traditional Chinese music merging with free improvisation, North African vocals meeting laptop electronics. It’s music that can only be made today — impossible without the past — indicating a possible future. Also features a magnificent live track “And The Sun”, recorded in 2000 at the Beursschouwburg, Brussels, a classic electro-acoustic performance by a truly stellar line-up that includes Philipp Wachsmann and turntable and electronics guru Otomo Yoshihide and DJ Grazzhoppa. This is a collection of staggeringly executed music, taking in all the corners of world, electronic, and free improvised music to create a beautiful, complete whole. An album that not only crosses continents but bridges the divide between them


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METAL MOVES
ILLUMINATOR II [FMRCD148-i0206]

Steve Hubback and Bertus Fridael ( Sonorous Sculptures created by Steve Hubback) Music created with fire and anvil. Metal Moves perform unique music with a deep energy and feel, percussion music that is something unto itself. All the instruments and musical sculptures are forged by hand by percussionist, sculptor and bronze/blacksmith Steve Hubback who has invented an amazing collection of gong and cymbal sculptures, a multitude of one off percussion sculptures and mobiles, Iron Mountain Horns, resonating steel sculptures and harps. Steve Hubback and Bertus Fridael return with the third release from Metal Moves on FMR, where they continue to explore their ever expanding sound pallette of Hubbacks spellbinding sound sculptures. Always a unique experience ‘Illuminator II’ is not to be missed!!


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AMALGAM: WIPEOUT
AMALGAM: WIPEOUT [FMRCD11-L0203]

Trevor Watts (saxophones), Keith Rowe (guitars), Liam Genockey (drums) plus Colin McKenzie (bass), George Lyle (bass) Without question one of the most important releases for Trevor Watts’ Amalgam and available for the first time on CD, this excellent 3CD digibox set was originally released on Impetus in the early eighties. The three discs feature live recordings of twelve original Amalgam performances which originally consisted of six LPs, and a booklet duplicated exactly here. Featuring excellent guitar improvisor Keith Rowe and regular drummer Liam Genockey, plus the bass work of Colin MacKenzie and George Lyle. This is an unmissable part of Amalgam’s output, one of the most creative periods for the band and of British jazz itself!

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