A very different record than usual for Arto Lindsay – definitely one that's at the more artistic side of his spectrum – as the music was done for a sonic installation at a gallery in Switzerland, and is very different than some of Lindsay's guitar work and vocals! In fact, Arto didn't play most of the sounds within himself – and instead, the package features percussion recorded at a temple in Brazil, used in slow-building ways to recreate the energy of a carnaval experience – but with a leaner level that's more suited to the artistic nature of the work. The original 27 channel presentation of the music was reworked into a style that is more suitable for vinyl playback. LP, Vinyl record album

The great Arto Lindsay solo, and at a level that really has his unique character coming out more than ever – definitely different than some of the more song-based records he gave us decades back, and very much in the territory of the sounds that made him such a force during the no wave generation! Arto sings and plays guitar – but the results are hardly as ordinary as that might make you expect – as Lindsay moves from noise one minute to sweeter crooning the next – all with an understanding of the boundaries of sound, and the pleasures in stepping back after reaching them in performance. Every track is a new surprise – and titles include "A Mirror Trying To Do Its Job", "Parallel", "Nothing", "The Famous Land Of Evening", "Your Hair Sticks To My Cheek", "Many Body", and "Yoga". CD

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A set that's brimming over with improvising jazz talent – but one that's an especially great reminder of the guitar genius of the great Arto Lindsay! Lindsay is amazing here – playing with energy to match the brilliance of Ken Vandermark and Joe McPhee – which is really saying a lot, and which has us almost feeling like a younger version of Arto's self stepped forward straight from the New York no wave scene, in order to create a pan-historical bridge with the improvising strengths of the Corbett Vs Dempsey universe! Drummer Phil Sudderberg is wonderful too – a master of sounds and moments – and the short tracks allow for plenty of sharp changes, and shifts in energy between each selection. McPhee blows alto, tenor, and pocket trumpet – and Vandermark is on tenor, baritone, and clarinet – on titles that include "The Push & Pull Beneath The Surface", "She Must Have Known", "Whether You Were There Or Not", "When I Lose Any Sense Of Perspective", and "The World's Longest Afternoon". CD

A tremendous all-star tribute to the writings of Ishmael Reed – one that matches his visionary text with contributions from a whole host of jazz musicians and artists in other styles – all put together in the same spirit as the great Kip Hanrahan albums on the American Clave label at the time! As with some of Kip's projects, the mix of talents here is really incredible – as the set features organ and piano from Allen Toussaint, tenor from David Murray, trumpet from Lester Bowie and Olu Dara, guitar from Arto Lindsay and Taj Mahal, drums from Billy Hart, and congas from Milton Cardona – with readings of Reed's text by David Murray, Brenda Norton, Taj Mahal, Ejaye Tracey, and Ishmael himself! The combination of elements is wonderful, and really suits the spirit of the words – and titles include "Jes Grew", "Oakland Blues", "Dualism", and "Dualism (2)". CD

One of Kip Hanrahan's incredible albums for American Clave – sides that are beyond description, and which seemed to emerge out of nowhere, offering some of the few true cross-cultural experiments in jazz in the 80s that didn't sound like they were forced or prepackaged! Kip's got a strong Latin influence here – working with players that include Jerry Gonzalez, Daniel Ponce, and Nicky Marrero, as well as New York downtown luminaries like Anton Fier, Arto Lindsay, and Carla Bley. Add in some strong soulful jazz players like Carlos Ward and Chico Freeman, and the album's got a depth that's surprising – and which makes Hanrahan's experiments in style work perfectly! Titles include "Sketch From Two Cubas", "No One Gets To Transcend Anything", "A Lover Divides Time", "This Night Comes Out Of Both Of Us", "At The Moment Of The Serve", and "India Song". CD

A really unique blend of Jazz, Latin, and world music influences – and one of the first albums ever by Kip Hanrahan! Hanrahan's records are always better than we expect – and we really have to give him credit for mixing together so many diverse influences, especially in the early 80s, when not that many folks were doing things like this! The record features players that include like minded jazzers like Steve Swallow and Arto Lindsay, Latin percussionists like Jerry Gonzalez and Milton Cardona, and even the legendary Jack Bruce, who sings on a few tracks. The result is a captivating blend of all elements involved, served up with a nice warm production style that doesn't stifle, but which gels everything nicely. Titles include "Two", "Far From Freetown", "Trust Me Yet?", "Nancy", and "Sara Wade". CD

An important early 90s album from Caetano Veloso, one that marked a strong return to form at the time – and the beginning of growing global influence in years to come! The album features guest work from an array of non-Brazilian talents – including Riyuichi Sakamoto, Melvin Gibbs, Marc Ribot, and Arto Lindsay, who also produced the record. The record's done in a beautiful style that's spare and slightly poetic – showing Lindsay's influence clearly, but still very much in the best mode of Caetano's work in later years. And the set's also noteworthy for featuring some strong early work by Bebel Gilberto and Moreno Veloso – who sing along with Caetano on a few tracks. Titles include "Circulado De Fulo", "Itapua", "Boas Vindas", "Ela Ela", "Santa Clara Padroeira Da Televisao", "Lindeza", and "Baiao Da Penha". CD

A really wonderful later project from the legendary poet Allen Ginsberg – a set put together by Hal Willner, and one that may well be better than any of his previous efforts to blend together words and music! The tunes often still have that hypnotic quality of Ginsberg's earlier recordings, but maybe with less of a hippie sense of self-consciousness – more understated, and handled by a very hip lineup of downtown New York players who include Steve Swallow on bass, Gary Window on tenor, Beaver Harris on drums, and Marc Ribot, Arto Lindsay, and Bill Frisell on guitars! Titles include "Scribble", "Complaint Of The Skeleton To Time", "The Shrouded Stranger", "Cleveland The Flats", "The End", "Sunset", and "The Lion For Real". This expanded 2LP version has been completely remixed and remastered – and includes eight songs not on the original album! LP, Vinyl record album

The first – and still the best – album by this legendary NY downtown jazz combo that featured actor John Lurie, brother Evan, Arto Lindsay, and Anto Fier! The record was a real standout at the time of release – a strange return to the sounds of 50s crime and modern jazz, yet done without cliche or any punk-copy sort of weakness – a true real jazz album that illuminated the New York scene unexpectedly, and which still stands as the best record by the group. The sound is raw dark jazz, played with a lot more conviction and sense of tradition than you'd expect – and the record includes a number of stunning originals by Lurie, including "Conquest Of Fear", "Incident On South Street", "Wangling", "Fatty Walks", and "You Haunt Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A sharp blend of edgey guitar, offbeat vocals, and lots of other electronic elements – but still served up with plenty of warmth, thanks to the unique approach of Thiago Nassif! Nassif works here with contributions from Vinicius Cantuaria and Arto Lindsay – and in a way, his music is in a similar territory to both of those artists – but as unique as any of their recordings over the years too! Nassif clearly understands the deeper corners of Brazilian music, and has an ear for more experimental modes – but also finds a way to make music with a very personal statement, as he weaves together electric drums with real percussion, guitar loops and keyboards, and even some "Venom synth" of his own. Titles include "Pele De Leopardo", "Voz Unica Foto Sem Calcinha", "Plastico", "Trepa Trepa", "Feral Fox", and "Transparente". CD

A sharp blend of edgey guitar, offbeat vocals, and lots of other electronic elements – but still served up with plenty of warmth, thanks to the unique approach of Thiago Nassif! Nassif works here with contributions from Vinicius Cantuaria and Arto Lindsay – and in a way, his music is in a similar territory to both of those artists – but as unique as any of their recordings over the years too! Nassif clearly understands the deeper corners of Brazilian music, and has an ear for more experimental modes – but also finds a way to make music with a very personal statement, as he weaves together electric drums with real percussion, guitar loops and keyboards, and even some "Venom synth" of his own. Titles include "Pele De Leopardo", "Voz Unica Foto Sem Calcinha", "Plastico", "Trepa Trepa", "Feral Fox", and "Transparente". LP, Vinyl record album

A big breakthrough moment for Caetano Veloso – a set that got a bit more global exposure than some of his other 80s releases – thanks to work from some of the hipper artists on the New York scene! Production is by Arto Lindsay and Peter Sherer – and Lindsay himself plays on the record, as does Marc Ribot and Bill Frisell – both players who help Caetano reach out with some nice modern elements, and also help get the record a bit of international critical attention too! Titles include "Etc", "Jasper", "Este Amor", "Rai Das Cores", "Outro Retrato", "Geniapap Aboluto", and "Estrangeiro". CD

A groundbreaking album, put together by Zorn and a group of downtown New York hipsters, as a fitting hommage to the genius of Ennio Morricone! The track list sticks to mostly the bigger known numbers, and the album's got a darkness that we'd actually say was a bit out of place, considering the choice of tracks – but the groups formed by Zorn do a pretty good job of breathing new life into some of the tracks, and the album was a key moment in the recognition of Morricone as one of the century's greatest composers. Players include Robert Quine, Tim Berne, Arto Lindsay, Jim Staley, Bill Frisell, Christian Marclay, Anton Fier, and even Big John Patton. Titles include "Erotico", "Once Upon A Time In The West", "Giu La Testa", "Battle Of Algiers", and "The Big Gundown". CD

A big breakthrough moment for Caetano Veloso – a set that got a bit more global exposure than some of his other 80s releases – thanks to work from some of the hipper artists on the New York scene! Production is by Arto Lindsay and Peter Sherer – and Lindsay himself plays on the record, as does Marc Ribot and Bill Frisell – both players who help Caetano reach out with some nice modern elements, and also help get the record a bit of international critical attention too! Titles include "Etc", "Jasper", "Este Amor", "Rai Das Cores", "Outro Retrato", "Geniapap Aboluto", and "Estrangeiro". CD