Results for "Ishmael Ali"

Ishmael Ali

Ishmael Ali is a dynamic cellist, guitarist, improviser, and composer based out of Chicago. His work centers on exploring sound through improvisation, experimentation, composition, and collaboration, focusing on a wide array of idiomatic approaches in an ever-changing, always-growing list of projects informed by diverse influences.

While varying drastically, a common thread in his work is the juxtaposition of seemingly disparate elements to create something new: both foreign and familiar.

Ishmael is leader or co-leader of a plethora of working projects including Hearsay, Ensemble Ziraph, and Akjai.

Burn The Plastic, Sell The Copper

By Ishmael Ali

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2026
Track listing: Reflected, Refracted; The Cut and the Turn; Stars In My Pocket; Fear Chased Hope In Tight Circles; Everness; Pastiche; On Nights of the Full Moon, He Dreamed of Buffalo; Anathema; Vitality of Brushstroke; Every Circle a Moon.

2026 New Releases, Part 1

by Jon Greenbaum
August 1, 2026

These kinds of lists are like a mirror; our aesthetic preferences reflect back to us who we are. This list is saying I-don't-care-much-for-walking-bass-or-the-accepted-conventions-of-the-jazz-tradition. I don't want to accept that truth. I want to love The Tradition. And in my defense of my fealty to straight ahead jazz I will say that I just got ...

Archie Shepp's The Magic of Ju-Ju, Serbian Improvisors + New Releases from Caroline Davis, Ishmael Ali, Phil Haynes, Rodrigo Amado and others

by Jon Greenbaum
May 10, 2026

Creative improvisors from Chicago to Brooklyn to Serbia.Playlist 8 Bold Souls “Chapel Hill" from 8 Bold Souls (Sessoms) 00:00 Archie Shepp “The Magic of Ju-Ju" from The Magic of Ju-Ju (Impulse) 12:31 Ishmael Ali “Anathema" from Burn The Plastic, Sell The Copper (Amalgam) 32:04 São Paulo Underground “Evetch" from Beija Flors Velho E Sujo ...

Harriet Tubman, Peter Brötzmann, Angelika Niescier and many exciting new releases

by Jon Greenbaum
April 26, 2026

Featuring music from Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity, Ornette Coleman & Prime Time, Elliot Sharp, Ishmael Ali, Ken Vandermark Pulverize, The Sound Harriet Tubman & Georgia Anne Muldrow, Angelika Niescier/Christopher Tordini/Gerald Cleaver, Filippo Sala, Albert Mangelsdorff/Jaco Pastorius/Alphonse Mouzon, Peter Brötzmann/John Edwards/Steve Noble/Jason Adasiewicz, Adam Schatz, Chrome Hill & DŌJŌ NPV, Chris Speed Trio, Aruan Ortiz with Andrew ...

New Music from Bill Frisell, Melissa Aldana and Nicole McCabe

by Hobart Taylor
February 25, 2026

Bill Frisell comments on “Small Hands," Melissa Aldana evokes feelings in her new release Filin and saxophonist Nicole McCabe contemplates “Hues" via her Color Theory. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Anna Kolchina “So Many Stars" from Reach for Tomorrow (OA2) 00:08 Martial Solal/Dave Liebman “All the Things You Are" from Masters in Bordeaux (Sunnyside) 3:00 ...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Haeun Joo, Ishmael Ali & Satoko Fujii

by Maurice Hogue
December 16, 2025

Two never-heard-before releases present Rahsaan Roland Kirk holding forth at two 1960s gigs, recorded live at the Village Vanguard in New York and at The Penthouse in Seattle are the highlights in this episode of One Man's Jazz, along with a tasty piano trio recording by South Korean pianist Haeun Joo, Chicago cellist Ishmael Ali, a ...

Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Open Me: A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit

by Chris May
February 23, 2024

The first few bars of Open Me: A Higher Consciousness Of Sound And Spirit promise the listener is in for a treat. Corey Wilkes' muted trumpet plays Miles Davis' “All Blues" counterpointed by Alex Harding's rugged baritone saxophone and Kahil El'Zabar's ankle bells and kalimba. Here is Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in all its enchanting bare-bones singularity, ...

Nick Fraser Quintet, Paula Shocron & Jörg Schippa

by Maurice Hogue
October 6, 2021

Toronto's noted drummer, Nick Fraser, kindly shared a preview track from If There Were No Opposites back in June as part of the 1200th show, and now the full album is ready to go, released by the much-respected Hat Hut label. Nick's got his usual crew of Tony Malaby, Rob Clutton and Andrew Downing, and the ...

New music from Anthony Pirog, Mary Halvorson, Toine Thys, & Dan Fortin, and more

by Bob Osborne
November 30, 2020

On this edition exciting new music from Anthony Pirog, Mary Halvorson, Toine Thys, Dan Fortin, Jeff Kimmel Ishmael Ali & Bill Harris, and, Sabir Mateen Christopher Dell Christian Ramond & Klaus Kugel, a subscriber special from Dave Douglas, plus rereleased albums from the 1960s from Marion Brown. Playlist Anthony Pirog “Adonna The Painter" from ...