Irene Schweizer on piano. CD

A fantastic combination of players – both musicians who have an incredible ability to be all over their instruments at once, yet always somehow sound completely in control! Drummer Joey Baron's demonstrated this ability for years, but maybe not as strongly as on this recent album with pianist Irene Schweizer – a set that has him matching all the wonderfully dynamic energy we've always loved on her albums for Intakt – sounds that are almost a small separate branch of the European improvising world, because they've got a quality that's so individual and distinct! Irene can keep things surprisingly tuneful, even when free – and Baron opens up the most tuneful side of his percussion talents, really at home in the territory. Titles include "String Fever", "Up The Ladder", "The Open Window", "Saturdays", and "Jungle Beat II". CD

Irene Schweizer on piano and Pierre Favre on drums and percussion. CD

A tremendous pairing of talents – the piano of Irene Schweizer and drums of Louis Moholo – set loose here in a style that's free, but never too far to swing – so that there's a sense of focus and energy that really brings out the best in both musicians! Schweizer has a very rhythmic approach when she's in some of her most compelling modes – and the approach works here very well alongside Moholo, who also vocalizes a bit in this really unusual way. The whole set has strong echoes of Louis' South African roots – in both the titles and overall progressions of the songs – and titles include "Angel", "Mra", "Free Mandela", and "Exile". CD

With Fred Frith on guitars, Tim Hodgkinson on organs and reeds, Lindsay Cooper on rreds, Chris Cutler on percussion and electronics, and even Irene Schweizer on piano! CD

With Fred Frith on guitars, Tim Hodgkinson on organs and reeds, Lindsay Cooper on rreds, Chris Cutler on percussion and electronics, and even Irene Schweizer on piano! CD

A legendary moment in European free jazz – performances all recorded on a single Sunday in 1969 – but which stand as some of the most powerful music of the time! The vibe here is often in the best spirit of early FMP, or maybe the most outside work of MPS – and the recording quality equals the best avant jazz on both labels – with very long performances on each track that represent the pinnacle of all players involved! One side alone is worth the price of admission – a searing track titled "Finally", performed by an octet with Peter Brotzmann at the helm, alongside Evan Parker on tenor and soprano sax, Fred Van Hove on piano, Paul Rutherford on trombone, Peter Kowald on bass, and Pierre Favre on drums. Favre returns on "Let's Talk About The Weather" – played by a trio with Kowad on bass and Irene Schweizer on piano. Other tracks include "Five To Five" and "Gluga Gluga Blues" by the Joki Freund Quintet, "In Memory Of John Coltrane" by Marion Brown, "Vibration" by the group of saxophonist Joe Fiera and trombonist Ed Kroger, and "Circus Live" by a quartet led by Rolf Kuhn on electric clarinet, with Joachim Kuhn on piano and Stu Martin on drums. CD