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One of the freshest string quartets we've heard in years – a group of young musicians with roots in many different styles, coming together in a really evocative way – and with a sound that's free from any gimmicks or tricks! In the years since Kronos, there's been lots of messing with the string quartet format – to the point where it's almost a joke at times – but these guys show that there's plenty of new life to be brought to the form, without resorting to kitschy cover versions or too oft-tread territory! The music is from a great range of talents – including jazz musicians like Bill Frisell, Ethan Iverson, and Vijay Iyer – but the group's presentation is very unique, and makes a diverse array of compositions come together with a distinctly Americanist take on the format – one that is quite far from the European roots of the string quartet, but still deeply respectful of the musicianship required. Titles include "Necessary Henry", "Simpson's Gap", "Five Legged Cat", "Exit", "Morris Dance", "John Steinbeck", "Ping Pong Fumble Thaw", "Dig The Say", and "Show Me". CD

(Classical, Out Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

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Includes the 30 minute title piece, plus a short adaptation of Samuel Beckett's "What Is The Word" – read by Cream bassist Jack Bruce! CD

Matt Moran on vibraphone, Adam Good on electric guitar and E Bow, John Hollenbeck on drums, percussion, bells, and melodica, and Oscar Noriega on alto saxophone and bass clarinet. (Jazz, Out Sound) CD

A brilliant series of creative performances pulled from Option – a weekly music salon hosted organized by Chicago avant jazz talents Ken Vandermark, Tim Daisy, and Andrew Clinkman – featuring contributions from some of their greatest contemporaries, and a few older legends too! Most of the material here is free improvisation, but the scope is also nicely wide – with a mix of elements that really keeps things interesting, and which also makes for a hell of a double-length record, even if you don't care at all about the weekly event! The set features performances by Susan Alcorn on steel guitar, Wayne Horvitz on piano with Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, Ladonna Smith on violin and vocals, Havard Wilk on piano, Gerry Hemingway on percussion and electronics, Lou Mallozzi on electronics and turntables with Douglas Ewart on reeds and percussion, Greg Kelly on trumpet, Bonnie Jones on electronics, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor, Kris Davis on piano, Sandy Ewen on guitar, Louise Dam Eckerdt Jensen on alto and Kent Kessler on bass, and the trio of Booker Stardrum on percussion, Beth McDonald on tuba, and Dave Rempis on alto. (Jazz, Out Sound) CD