A double album live performance of the quartet featuring Matt Mitchell, Anthony Tidd, and Sean Rickman. Released in August of 2023 on limited edition double vinyl.

“The slipstream intricacies of Miles Okazaki’s Trickster — a longstanding quartet with Okazaki on guitar, Matt Mitchell on piano, Anthony Tidd on electric bass, and Sean Rickman on drums — have never been captured better than they are on a new album, Trickster: Live in Brooklyn. Recorded last summer during a three-week residency at SEEDS, it’s a staggering testament to the high degree of intellectual rigor and intuitive play among these musicians, who share a deep understanding of form.” - Nate Chinen, WRTI

“a reminder of just how inspiring it can be to hear top-shelf music made without constraints, and with a readiness for the unexpected.” - Troy Dostert, All About Jazz

“Trickster is an easy band to love . . . this is one of the very best 2023 jazz albums” - George Grella, Kill Yr Idols

“a live recording from an intimate club setting only adds to the appeal of the record, an ideal encapsulation of the last several years of Okazaki's work” - All About Jazz, Best albums of 2023

Trickster, Part III. A four part suite for quartet featuring Matt Mitchell, Anthony Tidd, and Sean Rickman. Released in April of 2022.

“a revelation . . . a blend of the rapport and comfort of an old fusion date with the ambitions of today’s vanguard.” - 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2022, Popmatters

“a tapestry of ideas that surprise and captivate” - JazzTimes, best 40 albums of 2022 (#16)

“convulsive beauty, propulsive rhythm, elusive meaning...This is freedom." - from the liner notes by Robin D.G. Kelley

“Trickster have never sounded as unbounded as they do on their newest album” - The New York Times

“a transporting, farsighted new album . . . it confirms the extraordinary level of intuition that Okazaki has cultivated with his partners in the group” - Nate Chinen, WBGO, “Take Five”

“If I told you that this album is through composed, you’d probably believe me because it’s so sure footed.” -NPR, All Songs Considered, Best music of April 2022

“a sonic representation of how the most intensely felt emotions are comprised of seemingly disparate elements” - Best of Bandcamp, April 2022

“a labyrinth of divergent musical themes . . . cinematic in scope ★★★★” - Downbeat

“Disarming and triumphing with its advanced level of sophistication, Thisness is Okazaki’s masterpiece. An unmissable treat. - JazzTrail

“this band of masters shuffle and traverse ideas, motifs, and a thoroughly modern collision of influences. They make it sound easy.” - Will Layman, Popmatters

“Okazaki is back with another triumph . . . Thisness takes another significant artistic step forward.” - Something Else

“This music is never static; like a river, its current can be swift but the eddies are enthralling.” - Step Tempest

“his musicianship always displays consummate thoughtfulness and dedication to craft” - All About Jazz

“the music never feels anything but spontaneous and alive.” - Textura

“una obra vibrante, auténtica y, hasta cierto punto, apegada a los aspectos más revolucionarios del surrealismo.” - El Intruso

“un disco in fin dei conti elusivo e sfuggente, da scoprire con l’atteggiamento dell’appassionato du enigmistica” - Blow Up, Italy

“transcendental moments . . . at the edge of conscious perception, we find the “thisness” promised by the title” -NYC Jazz Record

“Consistently confounding expectations” - Jazztimes

“Une experience surprenante et passionnante” - Jazz Magazine, France

A duo album with long time collaborator Dan Weiss, featuring two suites commissioned by John Zorn. Available on CD and deluxe double Vinyl, released in October 2021.

“composer-improvisers of absurdly expansive imaginative resources. Both pieces feel intricately designed yet wide open to possibility, and to the whims of a nearly telepathic rapport.” - WBGO, “Take Five”

“Both are absolute masters on their instruments . . . they are both deeply dedicated to realizing each other’s artistic visions.” – The Paris Review

“This music is hyperacute and superdynamic, with myriad strategies at play.” – Nate Chinen, WBGO

“Dig deeply into "Music for Drums and Guitar" and you will find a world of endless possibilities.” - Richard Kamins, Step Tempest

“they have developed a certain shorthand: the ability to intuit each other’s next move, no matter how complex the musical terrain negotiated.” - NYC Jazz Record

“a high-order musical brainteaser and a memento of a deep, longstanding mind-meld between these two” - Hank Shteamer

“einen virtuoser Schlagabtausch mit ruhig fliessenden Meditationen, melodischen Patterns und ihren abstrahierten Entfaltungen bis hin zu dichten und rockigen Momenten.” - Jazz n More (Switzerland)

“Hypnotic and energizing” - Jazztimes

Trickster, “live.” A full-length concert film of original compositions from previous albums, recorded at home during during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quartet featuring Matt Mitchell, Anthony Tidd, and Sean Rickman. Audio and video, released in July 2020.

“Okazaki is a wildly versatile musician, freakishly precise, but also full of emotion. Trickster, an aggressive but not ear-splitting blend of contemporary jazz and rock styles, is his best band, and Trickster’s Dream is an ideal way to sample their music. The album only gets better if you keep its making in mind as you listen.” – The Paris Review

“. . . the ensemble’s signature dynamics hold true. Tidd and Rickman have developed extraordinary synergy. Mitchell is more architect than painter, the timing and nature of his chordal choices erecting new structures on the fly. Okazaki smolders, flames, retreats into multicolored embers.” – JazzTimes

“an invocation that begins in stormy free tempo and then lunges into gear” – Nate Chinen, “Take Five” (WBGO)

“the band’s best album yet.” – NYC Jazz Record

Trickster, Part II. An album of original compositions for quartet featuring Matt Mitchell, Anthony Tidd, and Sean Rickman. Released in October 2019.

“a go-for-broke quartet, capable of shifting the ground underfoot without ever losing its balance.” – Nate Chinen, “Take Five” (WBGO)
“a riveting journey . . . He is in the vanguard of creative guitarists.” – Will Layman, PopMatters
“a wellspring of creativity” – Bandcamp
“leyendas y mundos imaginarios para enhebrar un relato musical de indiscutible creatividad.” – El Intruso
“just submit to the joyful creativity of Okazaki’s latest triumph.” – Point of Departure
“some of Okazaki‘s most resonant compositions, all delivered by a truly inspired quartet.” – AllMusic
“Okazaki is actually telling a story” – Stereogum
“an artist whose depth and breadth steadily increases” – Something Else
“will not only challenge the listener but make them move their feet” – Step Tempest
“intricate structure and elegant convolution” – Nate Chinen, “Fall Preview 2019: The Best in Jazz Across the Board”
“channeling a kind of epic storytelling” – JazzTimes
“an architectural marvel” – Jazz and Blues Blogspot
“masterwork” –  JazzTrail
a “lyrical spin on advanced ideas” – Rolling Stone, best Jazz of 2019
Best music of 2019, NPR Critic’s Poll

The entire Thelonious Monk songbook recorded for the first time on a solo instrument. Released as a six-album set in August 2018.

“monumental statement of devotion” – The New York Times “Best Jazz of 2018”
“an act of immersive scholarship and exhaustive scope . . . a singular achievement” – Nate Chinen, WBGO
“The first of its kind . . . engrossing” – The New York Times
“All I can say is ‘wow.‘” – Ted Gioia
“seventy tunes . . . he does them justice and also turns them inside out.” – Sasha Frere-Jones, Best of 2018, Boomkat
“the six-string equivalent of a free solo climb up El Capitan” – Nate Chinen, WBGO
“a heartfelt, thoughtful exercise” –  David Summer, Best of 2018, Bird is the Worm
“real artistry” – NYC Jazz Record, Best of 2018 (Solo Album and Tribute categories)
“an intimate, warm, enigmatic, playful, gentle experience” – The New York Times
“balance between the personal and the reverential” – Free Jazz Collective
“a heck of a surprise” – NextBop.com
“jaw-dropping” – All About Jazz
“delivers an emotional charge” – Bandcamp “The Best Jazz, August 2018”
“dazzling invention” – JazzTimes
“a monumental project” – Free Jazz Blog, 2018 Top Ten List”
“heroic” – NPR, “Fresh Air”

WORK made the Best of 2018 lists by critics Giovanni Russonello (New York Times, #5), Martin Johnson (WSJ, #7), Adam Shatz (#5), Ted Gioia (no order), Peter Hum (#4), David R. Adler (#5), Mark Stryker (no order), Jim Macnie (no order), Alexander Dubovoy (#10), Dave Summer (#50), John Chacona (#1), Chris Haines (#8), Gustav Lundqvist (#1), David Menestres (#2), Mark Corroto (#6), Richard B. Kamins (#10), NPR Jazz Critics Polls (#13), editors of JazzTimes (#26), and the New York City Jazz Record “Best solo recording” (#2) and “Best Tribute” (#5).

Debut of the Trickster band. An album of original compositions for quartet featuring Craig Taborn, Anthony Tidd, and Sean Rickman. Released in 2017.

“a brilliant individual statement” – Pop Matters “The Best Jazz of 2017”
“immersive, groove-heavy and ultimately immediate” – Los Angeles Times “Best of 2017”
“an expression of deep, systemic intrigue” – New York Times (live performance review)
“a mature work for the ages.” – Pop Matters
“glorious braids of melody.” – Pitchfork
“a true concept album” – The Wall Street Journal
”individual and distinct imagery” – Bandcamp “Best New Jazz”
“a real breakthrough.” – JazzTimes “Editor’s Pick”
“an intellectually hefty album that feels weightless” – Downbeat “Editor’s Pick”
“beguiling new quartet album” – WBGO
“a new reflection of the music’s roots in jazz, funk and blues” – The Los Angeles Times
“autoridad y convicción” – El Intruso
“un disco sorprendente” – All About Jazz Italy
“une musique intense et colorée” – Jazz Magazine (France)
“un vero e proprio capolavoro” – Musica Jazz (Italy)
“complex and grooving . . . ★★★★“ – Downbeat
“latticework of bouncy rhythms” – Financial Times
“new forms of expression” – JazzScene
“ferocious forward momentum” – Textura
“an eruptive guitarist” – Stereogum
“precision-oriented approach” – AllAboutJazz
“elaborate, internally rhyming forms” – NYC Jazz Record
“both adventurous and accessible” – Improvised
“elaborate layers of sound that intrigue and astound.” – JazzTrail
“Play it loud . . . you can dance to it!” – Step Tempest

Part III of the MIRROR trilogy. A live album of original compositions for quartet featuring Miguel Zenón, Thomas Morgan, and Dan Weiss. Released in 2012.

“slowly evolving puzzles of brilliant jazz logic” – New York Times “Top 10 albums of 2012”
“natural, connected to the body . . . elegant, precise, dramatic and well played” – New York Times
“consummate exhibitions of form and freedom” – All About Jazz
“each song is a Medusa-like living organism” – All About Jazz
“a fretboard poet” – NYC Jazz Record
“focus on aural pleasure” – Jazzfeast
“a definitive roadmap” – eMusic

Part II of the MIRROR trilogy. A continuous suite of original compositions for septet featuring Jen Shyu, Miguel Zenón, David Binney, Christof Knoche, and Dan Weiss. Released in 2009.

“The sonic equivalent of Escher and Borges, but with real emotional heft” – Vijay Iyer, Artforum, “Best music of 2009”
“great soloists burn while tumbling rhythms wash overhead” – NPR Music “Best new jazz of 2009”
“commanding and understated at the same time” – Downbeat
“worthy and brilliant music” – AllMusic
“triumphant human spirit” – All About Jazz
“startling original” – Alibi
“unfolds as gracefully as a sunrise” – Seattle Weekly
“striving and succeeding to stretch the boundaries of music and imagination” – JazzChicago
“delicate but bold” – JazzWise
“staggering” – Something Else

Debut album. A 15-part suite of original compositions featuring Miguel Zenón, David Binney, Christof Knoche, Chris Potter, Jon Flaugher, and Dan Weiss. Released in 2006.

“A work of sustained collectivity as well as deep intricacy” – New York Times, “Critic’s Choice”
“strikingly original material” – JazzTimes
“an impressive and distinctive sound” – Downbeat
“a stunning debut . . . as logical as Euclid and as untidy as birth” – Alibi
“breaks the mould with a vengeance” – JazzChicago
“a dynamic work of ingenuity” – All About Jazz
“an encyclopedic command of guitar styles” – Hot House
“a deeply searching, highly emotional musician” – All About Jazz