Sam Rivers clearly didn’t show up for work the day they decided avant-garde jazz was supposed to be harsh and un-listenable. Whereas much of what is known as “downtown,” “postmodern,” “free,” or ...

The group that started at Antioch College in Ohio went to Africa and returned “transformed,” one of its members said. A new boxed set collects its little-heard albums from the 1970s. By Marcus J.

Fragmented memories and activist archives -- Influences, antecedents, early engagements -- The jazz loft era -- Freedom -- Community -- Space -- Archive -- Aftermaths and legacies "The New York loft ...

One of the most multifaceted saxophonists to come out of the 1970s-80s jazz avant-garde, Julius Hemphill exuded both fervid power and delicate sensitivity, always with an underpinning of swing to help ...

This challenging subgenre, including the subset of free jazz, is driven by the fire of spontaneity, and its rules are still being written. Eleven writers, critics and musicians share their favorites.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – For a lot of music fans, The Bad Plus came to public attention as a piano-based trio, covering the likes of Nirvana, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Rush and Blondie alongside their own ...

Released under his avant-garde nom de plume, Mad King Edmund, Pettersen's new Happening: A Movement in 12 Acts is a politicized — if not overtly political — operetta that references the free jazz ...