The Door
Artist: Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy's second Novus release uses a variety of different instrumental combinations and each of the selections deserves a comment or two. "The Door" (a whimsical piece built off of the knock of a door) and Thelonious Monk's "Ugly Beauty" (played as a waltz) are performed by the soprano-saxophonist's quintet (consisting of altoist Steve... Read More

Judith
Artist: Davka

Davka is a modern Jewish renaissance trio making unique, accoustic arrangements that glean from jazz and chamber music, and incorporate the two into klezmer from sephardic and ashkenazi traditions. On Judith, they are joined by bassist Stuart Brotman, who also plays cymbalom, and Sheldon Brown, an exquisite clarinetist. The group weaves... Read More

Rendezvous
Artist: Jerome Harris

For his fourth recording as a leader Harris uses the Taylor AB-1 acoustic bass guitar, unique for its softer tone than an acoustic bass, and absence of twang from an electric bass guitar. Harris wields it beautifully on these seven compositions, six are his originals. Longtime combomate Marty Ehrlich is here exclusively on alto sax, Steve Nelson... Read More

Hold the Elevator: Live in Europe & Other Haunts
Artist: Orange Then Blue

OTB have made great strides in the past 15 years to lead the way in innovation amongst large modern ensembles. On these concert sessions from NYC, Berlin and Nijmegen, The Netherlands, the George Schuller-led group shows a love for Balkan-cum-Weill/Carla Bley circus jazz, free improvisation in and out of frameworks, a grand collective spirit, a... Read More

Morenica
Artist: Sephardic Tinge

Downtown jazz pianist Anthony Coleman's Morenica release picks up where his earlier Sephardic Tinge release left off, as he continues to explore the space between traditional Jewish and Spanish music. Known for his work with Marc Ribot's Cubanos project and John Zorn's Masada, this delightful and thoughtful album takes both traditions and... Read More

Smash, Clap!
Artist: Naftule's Dream

Naftule's Dream blends klezmer with rock and doesn't forget to add some improvisation into their inspired mix. With the thrilling originals on Smash, Clap!, they course through a wide array of moods. Often wild and raucous, there are extraordinary solos; even during the opening tune, the piano takes virtuosic runs that would incite howls of... Read More

Pacifica
Artist: Fred Frith

Performed by the ensemble Eva Kant (named after a 1960s comic-strip heroine, and originally an improvising ensemble), "Pacifica" is a composition in three parts for a large, unusual ensemble (including prepared guitars, a performer on records/CDs/tapes, three percussionists, single winds, brass, saxes and vocalist). The primary text is from... Read More

Mayan Temples
Artist: Sun Ra

One of the finest Sun Ra recordings from his final years, this effort is particularly recommended due to the many Ra keyboard solos and John Gilmore features, the latter of which include a tenor showcase on "Opus In Springtime." Trumpeters Michael Ray and Ahmed Abdullah, altoist Marshall Allen and singer June Tyson also have their spots, and the... Read More

Welcome to Love
Artist: Pharoah Sanders

When this was first released, the slow, straight sounds of Pharoah Sanders on a series of mostly famous ballads came as a bit of a surprise to some. Others saw Sanders as following the road of his mentor, John Coltrane, who had recorded most of these tunes himself. In retrospect, the inside playing of Sanders is less of a surprise, the... Read More

My Funny Valentine
Artist: Mario Schiano

Alto saxophonist Mario Schiano singing standards! No, this is not a typo; you read it right. Italian avant-garde lion, Mario Schiano, with more than forty albums under his name, and known for his work with leading free-style players from around the world, has finally succumbed to the commercial itch, and dropped his horn, lovingly cooing through... Read More