Free jazz, often viewed as the most maligned music in history, can be a challenging listen for those unfamiliar with its unique sound. Thurston Moore's journey into this genre began with his friend Byron Coley providing him with a selection of jazz tapes to explore on tour. As he delved deeper, Moore discovered free jazz's liberating yet indebted nature, which resonates with experimentation found in noise and art rock.
Sonic Youth played live with the New York Art Quartet, while releasing free jazz albums on Ecstatic Peace! label. The latest project is "Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz and Improvisation Recordings 1960-80," co-written with Coley and Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson. This book aims to introduce the music to a broader audience, offering engaging two-fisted writing and featuring Neneh Cherry's foreword.
Despite its complex nature, free jazz can evoke strong emotions and reactions. Joakim Haugland, owner of Smalltown Supersound label, describes it as relaxing and beautiful when listened on low volume. In contrast, Cecil Taylor's Silent Tongues is too complex to act as ambient music, but its complexity is fascinating.
Thurston Moore recommends exploring Joe McPhee's Tenor, which provides an instinctive emotional response. Unlike Machine Gun by Peter Brötzmann Octet, Tenor shifts from a melancholic lyricism to piercing discordancy without feeling jarring or difficult.
The key to free jazz lies in exploration and research, as suggested by Moore. "The records are the research," he says, "and the research is the spirit of so much of this music's essential vocabulary."
Recommended listening: Joe McPhee's Tenor and Peter Brötzmann's Machine Gun.
Books: "Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz and Improvisation Recordings 1960-80" by Thurston Moore, Byron Coley, and Mats Gustafsson; "Free Jazz and Improvisation on LP and CD 1965-2024" by Johannes Rød.
Sonic Youth played live with the New York Art Quartet, while releasing free jazz albums on Ecstatic Peace! label. The latest project is "Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz and Improvisation Recordings 1960-80," co-written with Coley and Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson. This book aims to introduce the music to a broader audience, offering engaging two-fisted writing and featuring Neneh Cherry's foreword.
Despite its complex nature, free jazz can evoke strong emotions and reactions. Joakim Haugland, owner of Smalltown Supersound label, describes it as relaxing and beautiful when listened on low volume. In contrast, Cecil Taylor's Silent Tongues is too complex to act as ambient music, but its complexity is fascinating.
Thurston Moore recommends exploring Joe McPhee's Tenor, which provides an instinctive emotional response. Unlike Machine Gun by Peter Brötzmann Octet, Tenor shifts from a melancholic lyricism to piercing discordancy without feeling jarring or difficult.
The key to free jazz lies in exploration and research, as suggested by Moore. "The records are the research," he says, "and the research is the spirit of so much of this music's essential vocabulary."
Recommended listening: Joe McPhee's Tenor and Peter Brötzmann's Machine Gun.
Books: "Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz and Improvisation Recordings 1960-80" by Thurston Moore, Byron Coley, and Mats Gustafsson; "Free Jazz and Improvisation on LP and CD 1965-2024" by Johannes Rød.
. Remember that thread about Sonic Youth's experimental phase? Thurston Moore's journey into free jazz reminds me of how they pushed boundaries with their music back in the day 
. And now, he's sharing his love for the genre through this book and album recommendations 
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. It's like, you either feel it or don't... and I think that's what makes it so compelling 
. Have you guys explored any of these artists before? Joe McPhee's Tenor is supposed to be a game-changer 
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. It's like, the more people who experience this music, the more it'll evolve and grow 
. Can't wait to dive into some of these recommendations! 
. I'd love to check out Joe McPhee's Tenor and Peter Brötzmann's Machine Gun, thanks for the recs! 
But hearing that he's exploring it with his friend Byron Coley and Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson has me super excited to give it a try. I mean, who wouldn't want to check out some 100 essential recordings from the 60s-80s?! 
Can't wait to dive in and experience this liberating yet complex music for myself! 
I've been listening to Sonic Youth's live shows with the New York Art Quartet and that sonic experimentation is wild! I need to check out Joe McPhee's Tenor - I love how music can evoke such strong emotions. It's weird, some free jazz stuff sounds like ambient music, but others are just super jarring... what's up with that? 
. And I'm stoked to see the new book coming out - "Now Jazz Now" sounds like a must-have for anyone interested in experimental music 
. Anyone else got any fave free jazz jams or albums to share? 
. I'm not gonna lie, I had to listen to some free jazz tracks before reading this article and I was like "what is this?" 
. Seriously though, this genre is like the cousin at the family reunion who's always like "oh, you're not doing it right, let me show you how it's done". And Thurston Moore getting into it? Please, he's like the weird uncle who's always pushing boundaries... in a nice way, I guess 
. Anyway, if you're into experimental stuff and don't mind having your ears perked up a little too much, then hey, go for it! Just don't say I didn't warn you 
. It's like embarking on a meditation practice – you gotta be willing to let go of expectations and dive into the unknown. I mean, think about it, Thurston Moore was introduced to free jazz by his friend Byron Coley, who shared some tapes with him on tour... what if he hadn't taken that step? 
Would Sonic Youth have ever made those incredible live jams with the New York Art Quartet?
. And then there's Cecil Taylor's Silent Tongues... that complexity is like trying to solve a puzzle blindfolded – you gotta be willing to get lost in the process.
. Thurston Moore is right when he says, "The records are the research," and I think that's so true... it's like, the more we explore, the more we understand ourselves, you know? 
I mean, I love Sonic Youth as much as the next person, but can't we just get a decent discovery feature on streaming services already? 
Thurston Moore's free jazz project sounds super interesting, but it's hard to find these records online without digging through hours of music. And don't even get me started on how frustrating it is to try and read the liner notes on a phone screen... 
Can we just have an app that allows us to browse jazz albums in a more organized way? 
! I've always been fascinated by its complexity and emotional depth, but can be a bit intimidating if you don't know where to start 
. Moore's journey into this genre is super inspiring, especially since he was introduced to it through his friend Byron Coley... that's some awesome serendipity 
. And Mats Gustafsson is a genius, no question 
. The book "Now Jazz Now" is gonna be a must-read for anyone interested in exploring free jazz... the foreword by Neneh Cherry had me hooked from the start 
. Have you checked out Joe McPhee's Tenor or Peter Brötzmann's Machine Gun? They're definitely worth a listen! 
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. I mean, I can see why it'd be a challenge for some people, but at the same time, its beauty lies in its complexity - it's like trying to navigate through our busy streets on a Friday night, you gotta know where you're going 
I've been listening to it on repeat since I saw Thurston talk about how it helps him focus 
I think it's so cool that free jazz is getting more recognition! It's like, people need to chill out and give this genre a chance 