Best Avant-Jazz Records of the 1990s

Over at Destination Out there’s been a fascinating survey on the “best” avant-jazz records of the 1990s. Lists are always fun, so here’s mine, in chronological order, taken from my own collection:

1. Sun Ra: Purple Night (A&M 75324 2) (1990)
See also: Somewhere Else (Rounder CD 3036) (1990/1993)

2. Cecil Taylor: In Florescence (A&M CD 5286) (1990)

3. Anthony Braxton: Willisau (Quartet) 1991 (hat ART4-61001-4) (1992)
See also: Quartet: Victoriaville (1992) (Victo cd021) (1992); 4 (Ensemble) Compositions 1992 (Black Saint 120124-2) (1993); Quartet (Santa Cruz) 1993 (hat ART 2-6190) (1997)

4. Ornette Coleman: Naked Lunch: Music from the Original Soundtrack (Milan 5614-2) (1992)
See also: Prime Time: Tone Dialing (Harmolodic/Verve 527 483-2) (1995); Sound Museum: Three Women (Harmolodic/Verve 531 657-2) (1996); Sound Museum: Hidden Man (Harmolodic/Verve 531 914-2) (1996); [with Joachim Kuhn]: Colors: Live from Leipzig (Harmolodic/Verve 537 789-2) (1997)

5. Henry Threadgill: Too Much Sugar for a Dime (Axiom 514 258-2) (1993)
See also: Carry the Day (Columbia CK 66995) (1995); Where’s Your Cup? (Columbia CK 67617) (1997); Makin’ a Move (Columbia CK 67214) (1995)

6. Charles Gayle: Touchin’ on Trane (FMP CD48) (1993)
See also: Repent (Knitting Factory Works KFWCD122) (1992); More Live at
the Knitting Factory (Knitting Factory Works KFWCD137) (1993)

7. James “Blood” Ulmer: Music Revelation Ensemble: In The Name Of… (DIW-885) (1994)
See also: Elec. Jazz (DIW-839; 1990); Knights of Power (DIW-905) (1996); Cross Fire (DIW-927) (1997); Harmolodic Guitar With Strings (DIW-878) (1993)

8. Matthew Shipp Quartet: Critical Mass (2.13.61 CD 003) (1995)
See also: Quartet: Points (Silkheart SHCD 129) (1990); Trio: Circular
Temple (Quinton QTN1) (1990); Duo (with William Parker): Zo (Rise RR-126) (1991); Trio: Prism (Brinkman BRCD058) (1993); Solo: Symbol Systems (No More Records No.1) (1995); Quartet: The Flow of X (2.13.61 CD thi21326.2) (1997); Duo (with Roscoe Mitchell): 2-Z (2.13.61 CD thi21312.2) (1996); Solo: Before the World (FMP CD81) (1997); “String” Trio: By the Law of Music (hat ART CD6200) (1997); Duo (with Joe Morris): Thesis (Hatology 506) (1997); Horn Quartet: Strata (Hatology 522) (1997); Trio: The Multiplication Table (Hatology 516) (1998); Duo (with Mat Maneri): Gravitational Systems (Hatology 530) (1998); “String” Trio: Expansion, Power, Release (Hatology 558) (1999)

9. Joe Morris Ensemble: Elsewhere (Homestead HMS233-2) (1996)

10. David S. Ware: Go See the World (Columbia CK 69138) (1998)
See also: Flight of I (DIW/Columbia CK 52956) (1992); Third Ear Recitation (DIW-870) (1993); Earthquation (DIW-892) (1994); Cryptology (Homestead HMS220-2) (1994); Dao (Homestead HMS230-2) (1995); Godspelized (DIW-916) (1996); Wisdom of Uncertainty (AUM Fidelity AUM001) (1996)

11. William Parker: In Order to Survive: The Peach Orchard (AUM Fidelity 010/11) (1998)
See also: In Order to Survive: Compassion Seizes Bed-Stuy (Homestead HMS231-2) (1996); In Order to Survive: Posium Pendasem (FMP CD105)
(1999)

12. Cecil Taylor/Dewey Redman/Elvin Jones: Momentum Space (Verve 559 944-2) (1998)

13. Roscoe Mitchell: Nine to Get Ready (ECM 1651) (1999)

14. Sam Rivers Rivbea All-Star Orchestra: Inspiration (RCA 64717-2) (1999) and Culmination (RCA 68311-2) (1999)

15. Evan Parker: Electro-Acoustic Ensemble: Drawn Inward (ECM 1693) (1999)
See also: Toward the Margins (ECM 453 514-2) (1997)

--rgc