Modern Hammond hero Brian Charette gets some great help here – tenor legend George Coleman, whose presence in the group makes an already-solid combo really sound great! Coleman was never a tenor player to work with an organ back in the 60s and 70s – but his work here is really wonderful, and turns that depth of soul that he can bring from the horn into a perfect match with Charette's great sense of phrasing and timing on the Hammond B3 – a pairing that might recall the match of either Booker Ervin or Sonny Stitt with organist Don Patterson back in the Prestige Records heyday. As with those sessions, there's also a great guitarist providing a whole new layer of color here – the mighty Vic Juris – and drums on the set are handled by George Coleman Jr. Titles include "Autumn Leaves", "Stella By Starlight", "On A Misty Night", "Body & Soul", and "Tenor Madness". LP, Vinyl record album

The start of a fantastic tradition – the first-ever recording of the SF Jazz Collective, a kickoff to a series that would give us amazing records for years to come! This time around, the group work through a series of Ornette Coleman tunes, re-arranged by Gil Goldstein for the octet – which features an all-star lineup that includes Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Joshua Redman on tenor, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Miguel Zenon on alto, Josh Roseman on trombone, Renee Rosnes on piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Brian Blade on drums – all strong leaders on their own, but doing a remarkable job here of putting aside egos and working together as a whole! Coleman tunes include "Una Muy Bonita", "Lonely Woman", "School Work", "Happy House", and "When Will The Blues Leave" – and originals include "Of This Day's Journey", "Wages", "March Madness", and "Rise & Fall". CD

There's nothing too dreamy here – as Joshua Redman takes on the energy of the Old & New Dreams that featured his father, Dewey Redman – an excellent late 70s ensemble filled with members of Ornette Coleman groups, working in a very Ornette-like mode! The style is similar here – no piano at all, and a quartet that features Ron Miles on cornet, Scott Colley on bass, and Brian Blade on drums – exploding with energy that criss-crosses the rhythmic and melodic roles of all players – which might well make for one of the liveliest Joshua Redman albums in years. Miles is wonderful in the setting, and Colley and Blade are right on the money – and titles include the originals "The Rest", "Haze & Aspirations", "New Year", "It's Not The Same", "Blues For Charlie", and "Unanimity" – plus versions of Charlie Haden's "Playing" and Ornette's "Comme Il Faut". CD

Chef Raekwon cooks up one of finest hip hop albums in history – a standout moment in the Wu Tang canon and the 90s in general! Given Ghostface's presence throughout, the prime RZA production and other top shelf guests, you could almost call this one a Wu Tang Clan album, if not for Raekwon's incredible leadership behind the mic. Guests include Nas, Method Man, Inspektah Deck and more from the Wu Tang family. An absolute standard-bearer! Titles include "Spot Rusherz", "Can It Be All So Simple", "Knuckleheadz", "Criminology", "Ice Water", "Wisdom Body", and "Wu-Gambinos". This beautiful Get On Down 2LP pressing includes the bonus track "North Star (Jewels)". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Steve Coleman on alto and soprano sax, Stanley Cowell on piano, Santi W. Debriano on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. Tracks include "Theme For Ernie", "Wail", "Sylvia's Place", "Come Sunday", "St. Croix", and "Prayer For Peace". CD