The 4th collaboration between electronics maestro Kieran Hebden & free jazz drum titan Steve Reid – a duo that might have seemed an odd fit at first, but actually makes a lot of sense given their adventurous sensibilities – and their joint body of work keeps growing in surprising ways! NYC is, you guessed it, and ode to the great city – with a pretty diverse approach that builds throughout the six longish tracks. Some find Reid hitting pretty hard and heavy while others are more dexterous and complicated in the rhythms, while Hebden works in both a groove based mode and in artier, Eno-esque experimentation. Truly inspired work from a duo we hope work together for years to come. Titles include "Lyman Place", "1st & 1st" & "25th Street" (both of which work in some avant garde funk), "Arrival", "Between B & C" and "Departure". CD

With Frank Greene and Terell Stafford on trumpet, Steve Turre on trombone, Ted Nash on alto sax and flute, Scott Robinson on bass sax, baritone sax, and flute, Gerald Clayton and Michael Wess on piano, Peter Washington and Rufus Reid on bass, and Winard Harper on drums. CD

Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet, Jim Hobbs on alto saxophone, Ingrid Laubrock on soprano and tenor saxophone, Matt Bauder on tenor and baritone saxophone, Steve Swell on tromobone, Bill Lowe on bass trombone and tuba, Vincent Chancey on French horn, Nate Wooley and Stephanie Richards on trumpet, Tomeka Reid on cello, Mary Halvorson on guitar, Jay Hoggard on vibraphone, Jason Hwang on violin and viola, Ken Filiano on bass, and Tomas Fujiwara on drums. CD

No Mirage here – as the album's got a presence that's impossible to deny – a solid, soulful uttering from this key Chicago combo of the 70s! The group's led by reedman Ari Brown – better known for his later avant work – and they've got a wicked blend of keyboards and horns with lots of complicated touches, played out over funky rhythms that are completely mindblowing! The great Ken Chaney plays keyboards, and in addition to Brown's reeds, the set also features trumpet from Frank Gordon, trombone from Steve Galloway, and bass from Rufus Reid – plus cool percussion from Arlington Davis and Drasheer Khalid. Most cuts are instrumental, and recorded beautifully – but one number, "The Ultimate Frontier", also features vocals from Anita Jefferies. Other cuts include "Slinky", "Mirage", "Just a Little Peace", and "March On". CD

An incredible feather in the already-large hat of Rob Mazurek – work that more than lives up to some of his boldest visions on previous recordings, but does so in a completely new direction! The album features a set of larger-form compositions all put together by Rob – in ways that show a remarkable ear for mature colors and concepts – handled by players who are both from the third coast of the Chicago scene, and from Brest in France – where all the music here came together! Even if you already know and love Mazurek's other music, there's something very different and special here – as Rob's cornet and direction shape the sound of a lineup that features incredible performances from Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Christiphe Rocher on clarinets, Jeff Parker on guitar, Lou Malozzi on electronics, Steve Berry on trombone, Christofer Bjurstrom on piano, Philippe Champion on trumpet, Tomeka Reid on cello, Nicolas Peoc'H on alto and soprano sax, Irvin Pierce on tenor, and Avreeayl Ra on drums. There's also some beautiful texts penned by Alexandre Pierrepont and background voice from Yannick Leblay – and while the idea of such trans-Atlantic avant jazz collaboration is nothing new, there's a very special, very unique quality to this set – almost as if the players had been working together for many years to realize Rob's vision. Titles include "Under The Hearts Snow", "The Game Circle", "Wild Gale", "On The Trapeze Of Minds Ferns", "Cobalt Of Chance", "This Is The Atoll", and "Drinkable Gold With Shadows' Liquor". CD

A tremendous 70s album from Charles Tyler – one recorded with a rich, raw tone that's simply mindblowing! Tyler here has all of the deep soul we first came to love during his ESP years, but also a sound that's a bit more focused too – one that's extremely powerful, and boldly righteous – not exactly spiritual jazz, but also not loft jazz either. The sound is wonderful – Tyler's sharp-edged alto out front, in a group with trumpeter Earl Cross – a player who's a really great match in spirit and tone. Other group members include Steve Reid on drums, and bassist Ronnie Boykins and John Ore – players who each play in a different channel of the record! The set is billed as "a polyphonic sonic drama performed live by the Charles Tyler Ensemble" – which is a wonderful summation of the music. CD

No Mirage here – as the album's got a presence that's impossible to deny – a solid, soulful uttering from this key Chicago combo of the 70s! The group's led by reedman Ari Brown – better known for his later avant work – and they've got a wicked blend of keyboards and horns with lots of complicated touches, played out over funky rhythms that are completely mindblowing! The great Ken Chaney plays keyboards, and in addition to Brown's reeds, the set also features trumpet from Frank Gordon, trombone from Steve Galloway, and bass from Rufus Reid – plus cool percussion from Arlington Davis and Drasheer Khalid. Most cuts are instrumental, and recorded beautifully – but one number, "The Ultimate Frontier", also features vocals from Anita Jefferies. Other cuts include "Slinky", "Mirage", "Just a Little Peace", and "March On". CD

Sure it's not the Blue Note years, but this is an excellent late set by Byrd that shows he was still one hell of a leader! Byrd's at the head of a strong group that includes Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Joe Henderson on tenor, Donald Brown on piano, and Rufus Reid on bass – and the tracks are a blend of modal and soul jazz styles, awash with color and warmth, really stretching past earlier work by Byrd. Lorice Stevens sings soprano vocals on two tracks – "A City Called Heaven" and "Remember Me" – and the other tracks include "Del Valle", "King Arthur", "Not Necessarily The Blues", and "Buck Down In Lu Easy Anna". CD