Pretty wild stuff from Annette Peacock – almost a "no wave" record at times, with lots of quirky art rock overtones next to the jazz vocal stylings that are more of her typical bag. The album's got lots of heavy guitars from rockers that include Mick Ronson, Chris Spedding, Bill Bruford, and Brian Godding – but it's also got a kind of cool approach to the music that goes for some nice faux-soulful takes on a few tracks, creating funk where we wouldn't expect it – and going for some warmer moments that soften Annette in ways that sound very nice. Our favorites are the cuts "This Feel Within", "Real & Defined Androgens", and "Questions" – and other titles include "Don't Be Cruel", "Dear Bela", and "My Mama Never Taught Me How To Cook". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums by offbeat jazz singer Annette Peacock – one with a loose, very innovative vibe in arrangements – with some pretty darn cool electronics! Annette not only has a strong voice, she's fearlessly creative in her use of it – and on this album, her vocals are often processed through the electronics – in a way that's a good decade ahead of the curve, but never in a way that never denigrates her strength as a singer! At times, she's screaming like Betty Davis in a funky mode, at others she's getting raw and dirty in a Tom Waits vein, and at others she presages 80s club oddities like Klaus Nomi! Somehow these divergent modes work together, making this one of the most unique and trailblazing albums of Annette's career! Includes the funky break track "Pony", a pretty compelling number, plus "I'm The One", "Been & Gone", "Love Me Tender", "Blood", "One Way", "Gesture Without Plot", "Did You Hear Me Mommy?" and "7 Days". CD

Early work from pianist Paul Bley – material that really shows his commitment to the songwriting strengths of the great Annette Peacock! The first two thirds of the set features European material recorded in Rome and Baarn in 1966 – Bley working alongside bassist Mark Levinson and drummer Barry Altschul, both of whom had joined Paul on the groundbreaking Blood album – and who work here in similar territory, but on shorter tracks that are still relatively free and open overall! The tracks represent key recordings of songs that Bley would rework later on – titles that include "Blood", "Touching", "Nothing Ever Was Anyway", "Kid Dynamite", "Mister Joy", "Albert's Love Theme", and "El Cordobes". The last third of the record features material from 1968, recorded in Seattle with a trio that features Gary Peacock on bass and Billy Elgart on drums – revisiting some of the same material, but with a very different vibe – on tracks that include "Mister Joy", "Touching", "Kid Dynamite", "El Cordobes", "Blood", and "Nothing Ever Was Anyway". CD

A great ECM trio date – tracks include "Open, To Love", "Touching", "Albert's Love Theme", "Cartoon", "Blood", and the title track "Nothing Ever Was, Anyway". CD

Pivotal work from piano genius Paul Bley – an important recording done in Rome in the mid 60s, and one of those sessions that really helped Bley reinvent the sound of jazz piano at the time! The record's got this beautiful mix of free improvisation and group structure – a vibe that's very different than territory that Cecil Taylor was starting to explore, even though Bley can be relatively bold on the keys – with this sense of melody that lingers throughout, even on the more percussive passages – which feature superb work from a young Barry Altschul on drums, alongside bass from Mark Levinson, who is a subtle but powerful force in the proceedings! Titles include key tracks penned by Annette Peacock and Carla Bley – "Both", "Albert's Love Theme", "Ida Lupino", and "Touching" – plus a great take on Ornette Coleman's "Ramblin". CD

Prime modern work from the great Paul Bley – a pianist who was really expanding his sound at this time – to a level that would soon make him a legend around the globe! The European date is a great chance to hear Bley really opening things up – playing freely, with an amazing command of the keyboard – faster flurries of notes at times than you might hear on his 70s material, but with an equally sensitive ear for space and sound – all balanced by perfect work from Kent Carter on bass and Barry Altschul on drums! There's an instantly haunting quality to the music – which is all unique original material from Bley's scene – titles that include his own compositions Bley's "Pablo" and "Mazatlan", plus Annette Peacock's "Both" and "Cartoon", and Carla Bley's "Start". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work from Paul Bley – and a record that captures him in his excellent electric period, working in a different setting than we've heard him elsewhere! The group on the set is a trio – one that matches Bley's work on electric piano and synthesizer with percussion from Han Bennink and vocals, piano, bass, and additional synthesizer from a young Annette Peacock! Peacock is especially restrained on the record – especially if you only know her later, straighter work – and her contribution here is wonderfully subtle and extremely lovely. Side one features the track "Improvisie", a free improvisation with Bley on electric piano and synthesizer – and tonalities are as "out" as the playing, which is generally quite spacious and dynamic – though hardly quiet. The second side features a Peacock tune titled "Touching" that's a bit more intense – very much in the spirit of the work on the first side, and a unique slice of magic from this one-off session! CD

One of the greatest albums ever from vocalist Norma Winstone – a set that really helps bring her talents into sharp focus! Like Karin Krog, Annette Peacock, Sheila Jordan, and other female jazz singers of her generation, Winstone was always pushing the boundaries of her craft – taking a style that began with a simple jazz-based approach, and turning it into a whole new array of sounds and voicings! This landmark album from 1972, one of Winstone's first on her own (although she'd sung to great strength on some of Mike Westbrook's Deram sessions), features the singer moving into territory that has distinct touches of progressive jazz rock, but which also retains a mellow sense of melody – despite an easy temptation to get too overblown. Arrangements are handled by Neil Ardley, John Surman, and John Taylor – and titles include "Song Of Love", "Erebus", "Shadows", "Perkins Landing", and "Edge Of Time". CD