Avant Music News

Squonk Opera’s summer tour schedule includes one whole month of shows in Scotland as well as a number of shows in Philadephia.

Sad news…apparently Berio has passed away. Cause of death is not certain at this time, but it is possibly related to his recent spinal problems.

One of the most unique and long running avant efforts, Biota’s music is notoriously difficult to describe. A recent set of reviews do a reasonably good job.

Los Angeles based Cryptogramophone has released two new titles.
Erik Friedlander “Quake”
“The new CD by the incredible NY ‘cellist is his most exciting and beautiful yet. Featuring Andy Laster on saxophones, Stomu Takeishi on bass and Satoshi Takeishi on percussion, this CD has many fine Friedlander compositions, taking you on an exciting journey from the […]

Never one to shy away from booking creative, boundry-pushing music, plans are underway for the seventh annual Kerrytown Concert House Edgefest in Ann Arbor Michigan.
The dates of the festival are October 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Scheduled to apprear are the Guy Klucevsek-Phillip Johnston Duo, Trevor Watts Ensembles, Trevor Watts Celebration Band, Hamster Theater, […]

Henry Grimes was a bassist who played with Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins in the 60’s, then just disappeared. Thought dead by most, he was recently tracked down living in LA. Given a bass by William Parker, he’s now playing again. There’s a lot […]

On the heels of their BBC Radio Soft Machine release, Hux Records continues to release archival material from the BBC vaults. British jazz/rock band Nucleus is their latest effort and this release is from performances in 1971 and 1982 and is called “The Pretty Redhead”.

Its in Italian, but the Official Demetrio Stratos Website contains photos, a history, a discography, and more.

Yet another interesting new release on Innova. A supergroup of sorts.
Blurb”Myra Melford, Mark Dresser, Chris Speed, Briggan Krauss, Eyvind Kang, Andrew Drury. What more is there to say? A stellar group of avant-jazz notables from New York’s downtown plays Drury’s intricate music with volcanic intensity. A Momentary Lapse is Andrew Drury’s breakthrough […]

Curlew’s leader is the front man of a new band, GloryLand PonyCat, who have released their first effort on Innova.
Blurb: “George Cartwright is probably one of the most important names in jazz that you have never heard of. As the leader of the group Curlew and hero of the New York’s Downtown scene […]

Bridge Records has release the latest in its Carter cycle, Volume 5.
Blurb: “Volume Five of Bridge’s ongoing Elliott Carter series contains five premiere recordings, including Carter’s bracing Oboe Quartet of 2001. Performed by many of the leading Carter advocates of our time, this recording is a must for those interested in keeping up […]

According to RedLudwig, Berio recently underwent reconstructive spinal surgery.

Once again proving the theory that everything eventually gets reissued, Crammed is announcing the release of this CD that many thought would never see the light.
“In this legendary album recorded back in 1977, Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis playfully deconstruct and fuse many different genres to create a unique musical vision. With its elements of […]

Edition RZ has released a 2CD set of what seems to be Xenakis pieces that are not easy to find.
“Iannis Xenakis collection of historical recordings of essential works including Syrmos, Le Polytope de Montreal, Terretektorh, Nomos Gamma, ST/48-1,240162, Achorripsis, Persepolis, Polytope de Cluny“

Looks like the Magic Band has gotten back together, sans the good Captain of course. A live show in LA and an album is in the works.
Blurb: “The reformed Magic Band have played their two UK dates and are set to play one more show in the United States (Los Angeles, June 2003). An […]