Ronald Shannon Jackson (Jan. 12, 1940 — Oct. 19, 2013) was an American jazz-funk drummer on the New York avant-garde scene. He emerged as a free-jazz sideman for Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and James Blood Ulmer. As a bandleader, Jackson led the No Wave-inspired Decoding Society on the 1980–83 albums Eye on You, […]
The Lounge Lizards were an American avant-jazz ensemble from New York, formed in 1978 by saxophonist John Lurie. Emerging from the No Wave scene, they subverted jazz conventions with abrasive textures and theatrical irony. Their 1981 debut appeared on Editions EG, followed by live and studio releases on Europa and Island. The group’s early output […]
James Blood Ulmer (February 8, 1940 – June 3, 2026) was an American avant-jazz/rock guitarist who played on Seventies albums by Rashied Ali Quintet, Larry Young, Joe Henderson, and Arthur Blythe. He went solo with the 1979 album Tales of Captain Black on Artists House, followed by the 1980 Rough Trade release Are You Glad […]
Curlew was an American avant-rock/jazz band from NYC that debuted with an eponymous release on Landslide Records in 1981, followed by the album North America on the German Moers Music label in 1985. The band’s 1988 release Live in Berlin kicked off a seven-disc run on Cuneiform over the ensuing 15-year period. Members: George Cartwright […]
James Chance (1953–2024) was an American saxophonist who proliferated on New York’s No Wave scene. In 1979, he headed avant-funk titles by The Contortions (Buy) and James White & The Blacks (Off White), both on ZE Records. Contortions members: James Chance (vocals, saxophone), James Nares (guitar), Pat Place (slide guitar), Reck (bass), Adele Bertei (organ), […]
Material was an American avant-rock/No Wave band from NYC that released three EPs between 1979 and 1981 on Red Records, followed by two albums on Celluloid. Bassist Bill Laswell and drummer Fred Maher worked concurrently with Material guest Fred Frith in Massacre. Members: Bill Laswell (bass), Fred Maher (drums), Michael Beinhorn (keyboards), Cliff Cultreri (guitar), […]
Massacre was an English-American avant-rock/No Wave trio based in NYC that released the album Killing Time on Celluloid in 1981. The band comprised guitarist Fred Frith (Henry Cow, Art Bears, Skeleton Crew), bassist/producer Bill Laswell (Material), and drummer Fred Maher, who subsequently joined Scritti Politti. In 1998, the Material nameplate was resurrected with drummer Charles […]
The Dance was an American post-punk band that emerged on the New York No Wave scene with the 1980 EP Dance for Your Dinner. On the European Statik label, they made the 1981/82 albums In Lust and Soul Force. Members: Steven Alexander (guitar, vocals), Eugenie Diserio (vocals, organ, steel drums, violin, shakers), Robey Newsom (drums, […]
Bush Tetras were an American No Wave/punk-funk band from NYC that released three shortplayers on the specialty labels 99 and Fetish in 1980/83. A live cassette, Wild Things, appeared on ROIR upon the band’s initial breakup in 1983. Guitarist Pat Place hailed from James Chance‘s Blacks/Contortions conglomerate and the ZE Records super-project Aural Exciters. Members: […]
Doctor Nerve was an American avant-rock band from NYC that released the 1984 album Out to Bomb Fresh Kings on Punos Music, followed by five discs between 1987 and 2000 on Cuneiform. Members: Nick Didkovsky (guitar), Greg Anderson (bass), Leo Ciesa (drums), Yves Duboin (soprano saxophone), Rob Henke (trumpet), Michael Lytle (bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet), […]
Defunkt was an American avant-jazz/funk band from N.Y.C. that released two albums on Hannibal Records between 1980 and 1982, followed by a lengthy run of studio and live albums on assorted labels from 1988-onward. Members: Joseph Bowie (trombone, vocals), Kim Clarke (bass), Ronnie Drayton (guitar), Bill Bickford (guitar), John Mulkerin (trumpet), Kenny Martin (drums), Kahil […]
