A complete classic from British pianist Howard Riley – exactly the sort of record that made him as important a new voice on the piano as Cecil Taylor in the US or Alexander Schlippenbach and Martial Solal on the European scene! The set's got the free, fiery vibe of some of Taylor's best work – but with even more inventive sounds from the whole trio – which also includes Barry Guy on bass and Tony Oxley on drums and amplified percussion – a tremendous lineup that's equally matched, and brilliant throughout! Riley is as wonderful as on his solo sessions – but he's almost even more incredible here for the way he balances things between all the players, and gives both Oxley and Guy some key space to make themselves known. Titles include "Cirrus", "Motion", "Flight", "For Lesley/For Sue", and "Forgotten Game". LP, Vinyl record album

Most likely our favorite album by John McLaughlin – and one that features him in a wonderfully spare setting – alongside John Surman on saxes, Brian Odges on bass, and Tony Oxley on drums. The playing has a free and loose quality that McLaughlin would later lose on some his more fusion-y outings, and the group runs through some excellent post bop originals and modal excursion – all done with a wide open sound and a great sense of dynamics. Titles include "Extrapolation", "It's Funny", "Argen's Bag", "Pete The Poet", "This Is For Us To Share", "Spectrum", "Binky's Beam", "Really You Know", "Two For Two", and "Peace Piece". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary session of avant garde jazz – recorded by MPS at the Baden Baden Free Jazz Meeting in 1969! The centerpiece of the record is the performance by the Baden-Baden Free Jazz Orchestra – which is led by Lester Bowie, and features Albert Mangelsdorff, Eje Thelin, Kenny Wheeler, Roscoe Mitchell, Alan Skidmore, Steve McCall, Tony Oxley, Willem Breuker, and other American and European avant players. The group performs a 2 part version of the title track – and their set is a beautiful mix of out styles, and a rare occasion to hear AACM players interacting with other European free jazz musicians. The other tracks on the record feature smaller groups culled from the larger one – and they include Terje Rypdal's group with Karin Krog doing "Ved Soerevatn", Karin performing "For My Two JBs" on a multitrack recorder, and Willem Breuker and John Surman dueting on "May Hunting Song". LP, Vinyl record album