CD

Mats Gustafsson / Paul Lovens

1991

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten New York Quartet

2012

"Together, this drummer-less quartet floats differing pulses, favoring interactions such as the conversation between Morris and Flaten on "Pent," and Wooley's fluttering notes against bowed bass on "Knicks." The startling speed of "Giants" represents a heart-pounding four minutes of spontaneous felicity, while Wooley and Flaten open "As If" by setting the table for the quartet's harmonies. McPhee and Morris slide inside this and other pieces, working each track and maintaining the originator's framework. Each brief improvisation—the longest running 9:34 and the shortest a brief 2:13—is a well-woven tapestry of sound."

Atomic / School Days

2004

"The 3rd release by Ken Vandermark's School Days is a double CD of studio material recorded with the Oslo quintet Atomic. Both bands have the same rhythm section of Paal Nilssen-Love on drums and Ingebrigt HÂker Flaten on bass. The group includes Magnus Broo: trumpet, Jeb Bishop: trombone, Fredrik Liungkvist: reeds, Ken Vandermark: reeds, Hevard Wiik: piano & Kjell Nordeson: vibraphone. 9 new compositions 1 each by all the members (2 by Mr. Liungkvist)."

Ken Vandermark & Barry Guy

2015

"For British bassist Barry Guy the concert that produced this fine double disc package occurred at the end of a four day intensive residency in Krakow culminating in the premier of an ambitious new work by his Blue Shroud Band. While for Chicago reedman Ken Vandermark, the event was the final episode in two months on the road. But whether relief or exhaustion were the dominant feelings, neither resulted in any lowering of standards or resting on laurels. Occasional Poems captures in unvarnished fidelity both sets in their entirety from the storied Alchemia club before a packed and enthusiastic audience."

Tim Daisy

2014

"Relay Records is proud to present the latest release in it’s catalog: “October Music (vol 1) 7 Compositions For Duet” (relay 009) documents a set of duet compositions written by Chicago based percussionist Tim Daisy, each piece performed in a duo format, and each written specifically for seven Chicago based musician"

Tim Daisy

2018

"Relay Records is proud to present the third volume in it’s October Music catalog: "Tim Daisy October Music (vol 3) 7 Compositions For Duet" (relay 024) documents a set of new compositions written by Chicago based percussionist and composer Tim Daisy; each work performed in a duo format and written specifically for these seven Chicago based musicians. "

David Grubbs / Mats Gustafsson

2002

Jeb Bishop & Tim Daisy

2012

"Daisy and Bishop eschew the groove-oriented nature of some of their larger groups, namely The Engines and Vandermark 5. Old Shoulders is heavy on smart and playful extended investigations of textures and tones, of atmosphere and mood more than rhythm, aggression or melody."

Joe McPhee Po Music

2004

Günter Christmann / Mats Gustafsson

1997

"this is music that challenges as it subverts, its highly esoteric, yet disarmingly attractive lines an attractive hook. Highly ambitious, subtly exciting, and always formidable, Christmann and Gustafsson make a delightfully revolutionary pair. Not easy listening, but rewarding listening, and continuously challenging listening, these guys shake the heavens with heartfelt cries of mercy. There are no liner notes but what could be said? Powerful stuff, but you have to look below the surface."

Details in the Air (Ken Vandermark, Michał Górczyński, Mikołaj Trzaska)

2018

"***** (5 stars) "The results of this superposition/mixture are spectacular! The set starts with a wonderful collective improvisation "Departure of the Birds"... [and the] set closes with "Calling from a Wooden Phone", another masterpiece of triologue. Difficult and complex record, but clearly extremely interesting for any possible fan of this kind of music. -Maciej Lewenstein, December 21, 2018 "

Powerhouse Sound

2007

"Vandermark conceived Powerhouse Sound in the summer of 2005 to explore composition focusing on the bass, rather than writing from the proverbial "top down." Inspired by the rhythms of James Brown, the dub experiments of Lee Perry, and the textural collages of Public Enemy, Vandermark arrived at a concept more funky, electronic and rockin' than anything he's done before."

ADA

2013

ADA

2013

"The ADA Trio of saxophonist Peter Brotzmann, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love performing live at Cafe OTO in London on February 20, 2012, joined by percussionist Steve Noble"

Otomo Yoshihide & Paal Nilssen-Love

2014

Joe Morris / Mat Maneri / Joe Maneri

2001

Double Tandem

2012

"Double Tandem has build up music whose real expression lies below the surface. It injects an unsettling sleaziness into a funny, occasionally wild and boastful collection of tracks that walk the line between postmodernism and sincerity. The tracks are all living, breathing entities, not blank slates to project my plain ideas and desires of how to review music on. This is music about honesty and truthfulness."

Mats Gustafsson

1994

"Recorded in Chicago in 1994, Parrot Fish Eye presents Mats Gustafsson in two lineups: a duo with percussionist Michael Zerang, and a trio with Gene Coleman on bass clarinet and Jim O'Rourke, who moves between guitar, accordion, and percussion. Gustafsson and Zerang incorporate their vast vocabularies as they improvise through the eighth track, "Shut Up!"; the remainder of Parrot Fish Eye is improvised by the trio. An interesting and exciting listen for big fans of Mats Gustafsson."

Ab Baars Trio & Guests

2003

""Concision and concentrated emotion commingle with technical proficiency at a quite rarefied level throughout. Discipline and definitude are combined with a sometimes-dizzying willingness to explore uncharted territory in a thoroughly engaging fashion. Baars can be bracingly abstract at times - particularly on clarinet - then turn around and prod your viscera with tenor playing nakedly ardent enough to give Gene Ammons a run for his money. … Discipline and definitude are combined with a sometimes-dizzying willingness to explore uncharted territory in a thoroughly engaging fashion. ... Party at the Bimhuis is a brilliant recording." Bill Barton, Sudden Thoughts CD Reviews credits "

Angles 3

2018

"After concerts and recordings as Angles 10, Angles 9, Angles 8 and Angles 6, here is back the original Angles line-up, Angles 3. It was 2004 and for a gig at the Glenn Miller Cafe it’s mentor and saxophonist, Martin Küchen invited two Scandinavian musicians now living in the United States (respectively, Austin – Texas and San Diego – California), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Kjell Nordeson. “Parede”, the title, is a tribute to the Portuguese town near Lisbon where the album was recorded live, at a venue called SMUP which in few years became the equivalent in this Southern European country to The Stone, Cornelia Street Café and Nublu. Most of the compositions, like Küchen’s classics “Satan in Plain Clothes” and “By Way of Deception”, are the same of those other Angles investments, of course with different arrangements. This version functions as a reduction to the essence of the music conceived by the Swedish musician, resulting in an energetic, even brutal, kind of free bop delivered to the ears as if it is punk or metal, echoes of Sonny Rollins and Albert Ayler mixing with something that could come from… The Melvins. credits "