Amazing work from this seminal group on the FMP scene – a quartet led by pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach, but equally balanced between the saxes of Evan Parker, bass of Peter Kowald, and percussion of Paul Lovens! We're not sure how much to take the "nails" in the title seriously, but it does sound as if Schlippenbach is playing prepared piano at times – or perhaps his command of the keyboard is just so strong, he can make other-worldly elements come from the instrument whenever he wants! Much of the music has a full-on FMP intensity – that non-stop, sonically adventurous quality inherited from Machine Gun – spun out over three great live improvisations, titled "Range", "Black Holes", and "Three Nails Left". CD

Sam Rivers on reeds and Alexander Von Schlippenbach on piano. CD

Rare material from one of the greatest avant garde ensembles ever! The CD features two long tracks – one recorded in 1967, one recorded in 1970 – both from the tapes of Sudwestfunk Baden-Baden, and never issued until now. The material features the collective at its finest – with players that include Schlippenbach, Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, Heinz Sauer, Hank Bennink, Peter Kowald, Manfred Schoof, and Willem Breuker – and the quality of the work, and the recording, is on a par with any of the group's early LPs. Titles include "Globe Unity 67" and "Globe Unity 70". CD

The earliest album ever to be issued under the Globe Unity label – a very early project headed up by the mighty pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach – and a record that's noteworthy for the first album to feature the work of Peter Brotzmann and Peter Kowald! Right from the start, the vibe is completely in line with the highest ideals of the improvising orchestra – Schlippenbach directing the group and playing piano – in a large lineup that also features Brotzmann on alto, Manfred Schoof on cornet, Gerd Dudek on tenor, Willem Breuker on baritone, Gunter Hampel on bass clarinet, Karl Berger on vibes, and Peter Kowald and Buschi Niebergall on basses, one in each channel! And alongside these free jazz heavyweights, the album also sports the amazing rhythm duo of future prog rock giants Jaki Liebezeit and Mani Neumeier – both working here at a level that matches the free improvisations of the others – on two side-long tracks, titled "Globe Unity" and "Sun". CD

The earliest album ever to be issued under the Globe Unity label – a very early project headed up by the mighty pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach – and a record that's noteworthy for the first album to feature the work of Peter Brotzmann and Peter Kowald! Right from the start, the vibe is completely in line with the highest ideals of the improvising orchestra – Schlippenbach directing the group and playing piano – in a large lineup that also features Brotzmann on alto, Manfred Schoof on cornet, Gerd Dudek on tenor, Willem Breuker on baritone, Gunter Hampel on bass clarinet, Karl Berger on vibes, and Peter Kowald and Buschi Niebergall on basses, one in each channel! And alongside these free jazz heavyweights, the album also sports the amazing rhythm duo of future prog rock giants Jaki Liebezeit and Mani Neumeier – both working here at a level that matches the free improvisations of the others – on two side-long tracks, titled "Globe Unity" and "Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful solo material from of the greatest avant European pianists of the past 50 years – a musician that we'd rank right up there with Cecil Taylor for his sense of freedom on the keys – but who's even more amazing given his tighter focus at times, and his richer sense of jazz history! The album's one of Schlippenbach's best – really wonderful throughout, with a sense of imagination that never lets up – sometimes leading to Monkish moments or Herbie Nichols whimsey – sometimes much freer and fiercer – and extremely moving throughout. Titles include "Payan", "Nimmy Pimmy", "Pumpkin", and "Kinds Of Weirdness", which features Schlippenbach on added percussion! LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing work from this seminal group on the FMP scene – a quartet led by pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach, but equally balanced between the saxes of Evan Parker, bass of Peter Kowald, and percussion of Paul Lovens! We're not sure how much to take the "nails" in the title seriously, but it does sound as if Schlippenbach is playing prepared piano at times – or perhaps his command of the keyboard is just so strong, he can make other-worldly elements come from the instrument whenever he wants! Much of the music has a full-on FMP intensity – that non-stop, sonically adventurous quality inherited from Machine Gun – spun out over three great live improvisations, titled "Range", "Black Holes", and "Three Nails Left". CD

Alexander Von Schlippenbach on piano – with Rudi Mahall on bass clarinet, Antonio Borghini on bass, and Heinrich Kobberling on drums. CD

This might be the sexiest-looking cover we've ever seen on a record from avant piano genius Alexander Von Schlippenbach – who we're used to seeing presented in a more abstract manner – but the sound of the record is no less wonderful than some of his classics over the years, and represents a fantastic live performance with pianist Aki Takase! The recording quality is wonderful – there's this strong sense of room that really lets you separate the presence of both players, even when things really heat up – a quality that only gets better when the notes cascade and collide together! Titles include "Jackhammer", "The Morlocks", "You Are What You Is", "Misterioso/Evidence", "Lulu's Back In Town", "Mingus Mix - Duke's Choice/Boogie Stop Shuffle", and "Nan Na Na Ist Das Der Weg". CD

Evan Parker on soprano and tenor saxophones, Alexander von Schlippenbach on piano, and Paul Lovens on cymbals and drums. CD

Alexander von Schlippenbach on piano, Evan Parker on tenor and soprano saxophone, and Paul Lovens on drums. CD

One of the most ambitious albums ever from the Globe Unity Orchestra – a set that not only features work from some of the key free jazz musicians you'd usually find on their records, but also the choir of the NDR Orchestra – who make all these amazing vocalizations next to the equally amazing sounds from the musicians! As with other outings, the group is led by pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach – who's clearly outdone himself here, and who must have been completely worn out by the end of the performance – as he does a masterful effort directing the vocalists alongside a top-shelf lineup that includes Manfred Schoof and Kenny Wheeler on trumpets, Cunter Christmann and Paul Rutherford on trombones, Peter Brotzmann and Evan Parker on reeds, and Han Bennink and Paul Lovens on drums. The album features two extremely long tracks entitled "Hamburg 74" and "Kontraste Und Synthesen". LP, Vinyl record album

A very hip lineup – conducted by pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach, and featuring Benny Bailey and Kenny Wheeler on trumpets, Misha Mengelberg on piano, and Gerd Dudek on reeds! Three long tracks – two by Mengelberg! CD

Steve Lacy on soprano saxophone, Gerd Dudek on tenor saxophone, Evan Parker on tenor and soprano saxophone, and saw, Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, Albert Mangelsdorff and Paul Rutherford on trombone, Alexander von Schlippenbach on piano, Peter Kowald on bass and tuba and Paul Lovens on percussion, strings and saw. CD

Pretty outside stuff from the duo of percussionist Masahiko Togashi and pianist Yosuke Yamashita – a record that leaps from the gate with the very first note, alive with creative improvisations between these two key players of the Japanese avant scene! There's a depth of tone here that we really love – a color complexity that gets past some of the colder elements that sometimes hold us back from other Togashi records – and in a way, the whole thing seems really driven by the amazing energy of Yamashita on the keys of the piano – a player we'd rank right up there with Western avant piano greats like Cecil Taylor or Alexander Von Schlippenbach! Titles include "Action", "May Green", "We Now Singing", and "Duo Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most sensitive, almost fragile albums we've heard from the legendary Globe Unity Orchestra – a set that makes beautiful use of brass patterns from players that include Enrico Rava, Gunther Christmann, Paul Rutherford, Manfred Schoof, Kenny Wheeler, and Albert Mangelsdorff! The tones and colors of the set are wonderful – out there at times, but often a bit more restrained than you'd expect from these players – almost in the mode of some of Mangelsdorff's best work in a more subtle time from the decade. Other players include Steve Lacy, Evan Parker, Gerd Dudek, Paul Lovens, and leader Alexander Von Schlippenbach – and titles include "The Forge", "Nodagoo", "Trom-bone-it", "Flat Feet", and "Boa". CD

Evan Parker on soprano and tenor saxophone, Alexander von Schlippenbach on piano, Barry Guy on bass, and Paul Lovens and Paul Lytton on percussion. CD