One of the few ECM sides recorded by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – easily some of the hippest work the label issued at the time, and a key way for the avant collective to get a bit of large audience exposure! The sound is still very much in the best AEC style here – and if anything, ECM's sensitivity to sound has allowed the group to explore some of the farther reaches of their sonic sensibilities – those contemplative moments that could sometimes be lost in the hands of other producers, captured beautifully here in a range of instruments far too many to mention! Some of the bolder tracks have Lester Bowie's trumpet right out front – almost hinting at his own solo association with the label – and titles include "Care Free", "Magg Zelma", "Full Force", and "Old Time Southside Street Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A key later session from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – a record that gained them global exposure through the ECM label, and which has them working in a beautifully subtle sense of sound, space, and tone! The work is less all-out challenging than some of the group's earliest recordings – but no less strong, as if anything, the AEC has mastered their musical vision so well, they're coming across here with an extremely cohesive sound. Instrumentation includes a wide range of percussion, plus the usual bass of Malachi Favors and the saxes of Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell – and tracks include "Ja", "Folkus 11", "597-59", and "Dreaming Of The Master". CD

An extremely well done collection of the Art Ensemble's recordings for ECM – featuring tracks from the albums Nice Guys, Full Force, Third Decade, and Urban Bushman – as well as related material by Roscoe Mitchell and Lester Bowie. The package features a great booklet with photos of the group and notes on the material – and titles include "Charlie M", "Magg Zelma", "Nice Guys", "Nine To Get Ready", "Folkus", "Rios Negros", and "Prayer For Jimbo Kwesi". CD

A surprisingly great little album – recorded on the occasion of the Ensemble's third decade in music, and a record that sounds a lot better than we remember! At the time of release, we kind of "pooh poohed" this one because of its divergence from some of the group's other styles – some tracks are straighter, more composed, and less improvised; others use a larger sound palette, and go for themes that are almost sentimental and nostalgic at times. Yet somehow, going back to this one, we're stunned at how interesting we find the whole thing – as each track seems to offer up a new surprise, and the series of musical visions expressed shows how much the group had grown during their time together. Includes the wonderful "Prayer For Jimbo Kwesi", the percussive jammer "Third Decade", the sonorously-wonderful "Bell Piece", and the tracks "Walking In The Moonlight", "Zero", and "Funky AECO". CD

A surprisingly great little album – recorded on the occasion of the Ensemble's third decade in music, and a record that sounds a lot better than we remember! At the time of release, we kind of "pooh poohed" this one because of its divergence from some of the group's other styles – some tracks are straighter, more composed, and less improvised; others use a larger sound palette, and go for themes that are almost sentimental and nostalgic at times. Yet somehow, going back to this one, we're stunned at how interesting we find the whole thing – as each track seems to offer up a new surprise, and the series of musical visions expressed shows how much the group had grown during their time together. Includes the wonderful "Prayer For Jimbo Kwesi", the percussive jammer "Third Decade", the sonorously-wonderful "Bell Piece", and the tracks "Walking In The Moonlight", "Zero", and "Funky AECO". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best records we've heard by the Art Ensemble of Chicago in years – and a wonderful tribute to departed bandmate Lester Bowie! The work is performed by the trio of Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors, and Don Moye – and the music is much more in the spirit of some of their classic recordings from 20/25 years back – performed with a real sense of space, sound, and shared interplay between the members of the group. Titles include "Sangaredi", "Tutankhamun", "As Clear As The Sun", and "He Speaks To Me Often In Dreams". CD

A live set from 1980 – and one that shows the Art Ensemble still able to capture some of the warmth and imagination from their early years. Most tracks are fairly long, and the group move through their usual panopoly of instruments along the way. Titles include "Urban Magic", "Sunprecondition Two", "Theme For Sco", "New York Is Full Of Lonely People", and "Ancestral Meditation". CD

A live set from 1980 – and one that shows the Art Ensemble still able to capture some of the warmth and imagination from their early years. Most tracks are fairly long, and the group move through their usual panopoly of instruments along the way. Titles include "Urban Magic", "Sunprecondition Two", "Theme For Sco", "New York Is Full Of Lonely People", and "Ancestral Meditation". CD

A huge chapter of work from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – one that not only includes their own albums for the ECM label, but also related solo and side projects too! The set begins with four Art Ensemble albums – Nice Guys, Full Force, Urban Bushman, and The Third Decade – all of which came out as a statement of the group's strengths in the late 70s and early 80s – their first mainstream appearance after a few years of being very underground, and material that helped set a whole new standard for avant jazz expression in the generation to come! Next is the fantastic album Divine Love, by trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith – not necessarily an Art Ensemble album, but one that does feature great work from trumpeter Leo Smith – plus trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, bassist Charlie Haden, and vibist Bobby Naughton. Next are four albums by Lester Bowie – two smaller group, and two with his Brass Fantasy ensemble – the records The Great Pretender, All The Magic/The One & Only, I Only Have Eyes For You, and Avant Pop. Then, after Bowie's early passing, the Art Ensemble recorded their beautiful Tribute To Lester – as a trio lineup with Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors, and Don Moye. Mitchell takes the helm next – on a surprisingly big flurry of projects for ECM – records that often show a deeper compositional strand in his music – on records that include Nine To Get Ready, Composition/Improvisation, Far Side, Bells For The South Side, and Boustrophedon – the last of which was led by Evan Parker, with Mitchell in the Transatlantic Art Ensemble. Last up are three records by drummer Jack DeJohnette for ECM – New Directions and New Directions In Europe, both featuring a group with Lester Bowie on trumpet – and Made In Chicago, which features Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, and Muhal Ricard Abrams. Recordings were made between 1978 and 2015 – and comes in a box set with a big booklet of notes! CD

Features John Taylor on piano and organ, Norman Winstone on vocals, and Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and fluegelhorn. LP, Vinyl record album

The stunning debut of this ultra-hip trio – not to be confused with the similarly-named Brazilian group Azymuth, but instead a British combo who really helped find new ways of expression in an ECM setting! All three artists here had already made waves on their scene in the years before – pianist John Taylor, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and vocalist Norma Winstone – the last of whom often uses her voice as more of an instrument than an conveyor of words, which is an approach that sounds beautiful here. There's an open, airy quality to the record that's completely sublime – and which is an especially fantastic setting for Taylor's piano, who also delivers some great electronics – matched with really thoughtful expressions from Kenny Wheeler, whose sound here is incredible. Titles include "Jacob", "Greek Triangle", "Azimuth", "Siren's Song", and "O". LP, Vinyl record album

The stunning debut of this ultra-hip trio – not to be confused with the similarly-named Brazilian group Azymuth, but instead a British combo who really helped find new ways of expression in an ECM setting! All three artists here had already made waves on their scene in the years before – pianist John Taylor, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and vocalist Norma Winstone – the last of whom often uses her voice as more of an instrument than an conveyor of words, which is an approach that sounds beautiful here. There's an open, airy quality to the record that's completely sublime – and which is an especially fantastic setting for Taylor's piano, who also delivers some great electronics – matched with really thoughtful expressions from Kenny Wheeler, whose sound here is incredible. Titles include "Jacob", "Greek Triangle", "Azimuth", "Siren's Song", and "O". LP, Vinyl record album

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Jon Balke on keyboards, Amina Alaoui on vocals, Jon Hassell on trumpet and electronics, Kheir Eddine M'Kachiche on violin, Helge Norbakken on percussion, and Pedram Khavar Zamini on zarb. CD

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A rhythmic, moody and moving set from Nik Bartch's Ronin for ECM – somewhat relaxed material that still has an something of sinister melodic undercurrent. Bartch's piano leads some dynamtic, and quite wonderful drum work by Kaspar Rast and percussion by Andi Pupato, with bass by Bjorn Meyer and alto sax and bass clarinet by Sha. Patterns repeat for hypnotic effect, but it's an ever evolving landscape. 7 pieces including "Modul 48", "Modul 52", "Modul 55", "Modul 47", "Modul 53", "Modul 51" and "Modul 49_44". LP, Vinyl record album

With Sha on contrabass clarinet & bass clarinet, Bjorn Meyer on bass, Kasper Rast on drums & Andi Pupato on percussion. CD

With Salvatore Maiore on double bass & Roberto Dani on drums. CD

One of our favorite 70s albums from pianist Richie Beirach – a set that has this wonderfully flowing energy – almost a more forceful take on the ECM sound of the 70s, yet still a bit warmer than some of Beirach's other work too! The group's a trio – with Frank Tusa on bass and Jeff Williams on drums – both players who come in strongly when needed, but also let Richie step out and state some of the strongest lines of the tunes – especially on the leads. Titles include "Eon", "Bones", "Mitsuku", "Places", and "Nardis". LP, Vinyl record album

Saxophonist Tim Berne has found a great recent home in his Snakeoil group – combo that allows him to try out many different tones and colors, really pushing his music forward with a freshness that it maybe hadn't had in previous years! Berne's sharp-edged at the head of the group on alto – alongside Oscar Noriega on clarinet and bass clarinet, Ryan Ferreira on guitar, Matt Mitchell on piano and electronics, and Ches Smith on drums, vibes, percussion, and timpani – an instrumental mix that's often used in these very unusual, very compelling ways – sometimes blocking out spaces in sound with unusual combinations of elements, often with more surprising brightness than the darker or more obtuse moments you might expect. Titles include "Hora Feliz", "Stingray Shuffle", "Incidentals Contact", "Prelude One/Sequel Too", and "Sideshow". CD

A great mix of shadow and noise from Tim Berne's Snakeoil group – one of the best projects he's created in recent years, and a group who really set a new sort of fire to Berne's imagination! There's a wonderful blend of texture, tension, and individual expression going on here – modes that are initially familiar to an ECM setting, but which often break free with the sort of energy that Tim brought to his music years back – especially when his alto sax takes off in some searing solo moments. The group features Matt Mitchell on some especially great piano – very spaced, but very powerful – plus Oscar Noriega on clarinet and bass clarinet, and Ches Smith on drums, vibes, and percussion. Titles include "Static", "Psalm", "OC/DC", "Socket", "Cornered Duck", and "Son Of Not So Sure". CD

Tim Berne really seems to have found his great energy of old while working with his Snakeoil group – that richly-expressive sense of tones and timings that made him such a powerful force at the start, and which has really gotten us listening to his music all over again these days! Berne's on alto, but that's only part of the equation here – as the group also features these amazing lines from Oscar Noriega on clarinet and bass clarinet – used at a sharper level, to bring out even more edge than Tim's instrument. The group also has some excellent piano from Matt Mitchell – whose acoustic lines are a masterpiece of space and strength – sometimes balanced by his own electronics, and use of vibes, timpani, and other percussion by Ches Smith, the group's drummer. The guitars of Ryan Ferreira are used selectively, but in a way that only increases their power – and titles include "Lost In Redding", "Angles", "You've Been Watching Me", "Semi-Self Detached", and "False Impressions". CD

Ketil Bjornstad on piano and David Darling on cello. CD

Duets between guitarist Terje Rypdal and pianist Ketil Bjornstad. CD

Carla Bley on piano, Wolfgang Puschnig on alto saxophone, Andy Sheppard on tenor saxophone, Steve Swallow on bass, Victor Lewis on drums, Larry Goldings on organ, Gary Valente on trombone, and Lew Soloff on trumpet. CD

One of those records from a time when Carla Bley was really finding her voice as a leader – working here on organ and keyboards with Steve Slagle on flute and alto, Hiram Bullock on guitar, Kenny Kirkland on piano, and Steve Swallow on bass – plus some guest work from Michael Mantler on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful trio session from Carla Bley – with longtime partners Andy Sheppard on tenor and soprano saxes and Steve Swallow on bass – whose work together has only gotten more lyrical, poetic, and sublime over the years! The 3-part "Andando El Tiempo" builds beautifully in sound – from haunting and meditative, to knowingly sad (though no less beautiful), to brighter and hopeful in mood over its 3 longish pieces. "Saints Alive" is a slow-building gem itself, with the most brilliant interplay between Bley's piano and Swallow's bass of the entire session, and the closer "Naked Bridges/Diving Brides" evokes a variety of moods in its long run on the record. Inspiring work from a longtime favorite composer! CD

Beautiful sounds from pianist Carla Bley – a musician who just keeps on blowing us away as the decades move on – and that's saying a hell of a lot, given how many years she's been making music! There's a really special quality to this record – a warmth and maybe just a slight touch of humor, but not in the overdone way of some of Carla's records from the 80s – much more subtle, and mixed with occasional currents of darkness – all handled with this understated sense of personality that perfectly showcases all three members of the group – Bley on piano, Steve Swallow on bass, and Andy Sheppard on tenor and soprano saxes. Swallow maybe sounds more wonderful here than we've heard in years – the record is a great reminder of how many great contributions he can make to music – and titles include the longer cycles of songs "Life Goes On", "Copycat", and "Beautiful Telephones (parts 1 to 3)". CD

Features Bley on piano, John Surman on saxes, Bill Frisell on guitar, and Paul Motian on drums! CD

Beautiful solo piano work from Paul Bley – spare, stark, and almost lovely – and a real contrast to some of his more aggressive experiments of the late 60s. The Bley here has almost a hint of sadness and longing, especially on the numbers that have him revisiting tunes he'd done on earlier records with an approach that was a bit stronger. It's hard to define the gentle charm that he brings here to "Ida Lupino", "Closer", "Harlem", "Seven", "Open To Love", and "Nothing Ever Was Anyway" – but one listen to the record, and its gorgeous recording of Bley's piano, should be enough! LP, Vinyl record album

Ten numbered variations – performed by Paul Bley on piano. CD

Features Paul Bley on piano, Gary Peacock on bass, Tony Oxley on drums, and John Surman on baritone saxiphone and bass clarinet. Tracks are all originals and include "Portrait of Silence", "Speak Easy", "Alignment", "Spe-cu-lay-ting", and "Afterthoughts". CD

Great work from this classic trio! CD

Stefano Bollani on piano. CD

Two great settings for this Art Ensemble trumpeter – The One & Only is a solo set, and All The Magic features bowie with Ari Brown on tenor and soprano sax, Art Matthews on piano, Fred Williams on bass, Phil Wilson on drums, and both Fontella Bass and David Peaston on vocals! LP, Vinyl record album

Lester Bowie's no pretender here – as he really sounds great as a leader on his own, away from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – really finding his voice in music, and dipping into a full range of styles and expressions! Bowie's keen wit and sensitivity both come into play here – and the album's a bit more open and free than his Brass Fantasy years – almost hearkening back to elements of his St Louis scene, but with a bit more dynamism overall. Other players include Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, Donald Smith on piano and organ, Fred Williams on bass, and Phillip Wilson on drums – and both David Peatson and Fontella Bass sing on the extended track "The Great Pretender", which spans a good chunk of the album's first half. Other titles include "It's Howdy Doody Time", "Rose Drop", "Rios Negros", and "Oh How The Ghost Sings". LP, Vinyl record album

With Stanton Davis, Malachi Thompson, Bruce Purse, and Bowie on trumpet – plus Craig Harris and Steve Turre on trombone, Vincent Chancey on French horn, and Phillip Wilson on drums. Titles include "Coming Back Jamaica", "Nonet", "When The Spirit Returns", and "Lament". CD

With Stanton Davis, Malachi Thompson, Bruce Purse, and Bowie on trumpet – plus Craig Harris and Steve Turre on trombone, Vincent Chancey on French horn, and Phillip Wilson on drums. Titles include "Coming Back Jamaica", "Nonet", "When The Spirit Returns", and "Lament". LP, Vinyl record album

With Francois Couturier on piano. CD

With Jakob Bro on guitar, Thomas Morgan on bass, and Jon Christensen on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Guitarist Jakob Bro leads a trio with Thomas Morgan on bass and Joey Barron on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

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With Jim Odgren on alto, Steve Swallow on bass, and Mike Hyman on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s album from Gary Burton – a set that definitely has the "new" promised in the title, as it takes off more from some of Gary's work in previous years! The record's got this explosive sense of color that really comes through in Gary's vibes – and in the way the group can leaop into the fray when needed – almost funky at points, but also able to shift into more sensitive modes too – balanced between the guitar of Michael Goodrick,bass of Abraham Laboriel, and drums of Harry Blazer. Burton's got a bit more bite at times than before – pushing even past his Atlantic Records sound and the tunes are a well-chosen array of songs by contemporaries who include Keith Jarrett, Mike Gibbs, Chick Corea, and Carla Bley. Titles include "Open Your Eyes You Can Fly", "Coral", "Tying Up Loose Ends", "Olhos De Gato", and "Mallet Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s album from Gary Burton – a set that definitely has the "new" promised in the title, as it takes off more from some of Gary's work in previous years! The record's got this explosive sense of color that really comes through in Gary's vibes – and in the way the group can leaop into the fray when needed – almost funky at points, but also able to shift into more sensitive modes too – balanced between the guitar of Michael Goodrick,bass of Abraham Laboriel, and drums of Harry Blazer. Burton's got a bit more bite at times than before – pushing even past his Atlantic Records sound and the tunes are a well-chosen array of songs by contemporaries who include Keith Jarrett, Mike Gibbs, Chick Corea, and Carla Bley. Titles include "Open Your Eyes You Can Fly", "Coral", "Tying Up Loose Ends", "Olhos De Gato", and "Mallet Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-done collection of Gary Burton's fantastic recordings for ECM! CD

One of Gary Burton's more free-flowing albums of the 70s – a bit more fusion than some of his other work of the time, with key guitar contributions from Mick Goodrick and a young Pat Metheney! The album's still filled with plenty of Burton's great work on vibes, but the guitars also soar out strongly too – bringing in a sense of pulse that's matched by the basses of Steve Swallow and Eberhard Weber, and percussion by Bob Moses. The groove's still a bit softer-edged than traditional fusion sides of the time – thanks to a mellower ECM approach – but there's also a bit more dynamic energy on some of the tracks than you might be used to hearing from the label. Titles include "Silent Spring", "The Colours Of Chloe", "Intrude", "Unfinished Symphony", "Tunnel Of Love", and "Mevlevia". CD

One of Gary Burton's more free-flowing albums of the 70s – a bit more fusion than some of his other work of the time, with key guitar contributions from Mick Goodrick and a young Pat Metheney! The album's still filled with plenty of Burton's great work on vibes, but the guitars also soar out strongly too – bringing in a sense of pulse that's matched by the basses of Steve Swallow and Eberhard Weber, and percussion by Bob Moses. The groove's still a bit softer-edged than traditional fusion sides of the time – thanks to a mellower ECM approach – but there's also a bit more dynamic energy on some of the tracks than you might be used to hearing from the label. Titles include "Silent Spring", "The Colours Of Chloe", "Intrude", "Unfinished Symphony", "Tunnel Of Love", and "Mevlevia". LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful setting for the vibes of Gary Burton – a special ECM session that pairs his quartet with larger orchestral backdrops – all conducted by Michael Gibbs, who also wrote the music for the date! Gibbs had already risen to fame by the time of this record – thanks to some groundbreaking albums for large ensembles on the British jazz scene of the late 60s – where he demonstrated a tremendous ear for intimate tones and subtle sounds amidst a larger group. Here, that talent turns out to work perfectly for the rich tones of Burton's vibes – allowing them to develop slowly and spaciously, despite the larger orchestra. The core quartet also features Michael Goodrick on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Ted Seibs on drums – and titles include "The Rain Before It Falls", "Three", "Phases", "Throb", and "Nocturne Vulgaire/Arise Her Eyes". CD

A great quartet date – Gary Burton on vibes, with Steve Swallow on electric bass, Tiger Okoskhi on trumpet, and Roy Haynes on drums! The set features a number of tunes by Swallow, plus a few by Keith Jarrett too. LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow vibes and spacious piano – a 70s classic from the team of Chick Corea and Gary Burton, serving up some of their finest work of the decade! The style is a bit mellower and more contemplative than some of Chick's harder-hitting fusion of the time – and he seems to nicely borrow a page from Burton's book on the record, letting space seep into the tracks as much as his own work on the acoustic piano – which is used here in a warmer, more contemplative mode than we normally expect from Corea. Titles include "Senor Mouse", "Desert Air", "I'm Your Pal", "What Game Shall We Play Today", "Crystal Silence", "Falling Grace", and "Children's Song". CD

Mellow vibes and spacious piano – a 70s classic from the team of Chick Corea and Gary Burton, serving up some of their finest work of the decade! The style is a bit mellower and more contemplative than some of Chick's harder-hitting fusion of the time – and he seems to nicely borrow a page from Burton's book on the record, letting space seep into the tracks as much as his own work on the acoustic piano – which is used here in a warmer, more contemplative mode than we normally expect from Corea. Titles include "Senor Mouse", "Desert Air", "I'm Your Pal", "What Game Shall We Play Today", "Crystal Silence", "Falling Grace", and "Children's Song". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from the team of Chick Corea on piano and Gary Burton on vibes – both players who were already making a lot of magic in the 70s, but who really seem to explode in the company of each other! Burton's tones are wonderfully bold and firm – these cascading colors that merge perfectly with Corea's piano lines – which themselves have a beautifully understated feel that's quite different than his fusion material – but which seems to pack an even more powerful punch! The album features no other instrumentation at all – yet the range of feeling and expression is much more powerful than most full group performances – on a sublime set of tracks that include "Duet Suite", "Never", "La Fiesta", "Radio", "Song To Gayle", and selections from Corea's "Children's Songs". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful showcase of the early ECM style at its best – as the set features Gary Burton on organ and marimba, in addition to his usual vibes – alongside bass and piano from Steve Swallow! CD

Gary Burton takes on the music of Carla Bley – in a wonderfully sensitive set that opens up rich new colors in her music! The group here is a particularly well-chosen one for the effort – a quintet with Burton on vibes, Mick Goodrick on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Bob Moses on drums – plus a young Pat Metheny on guitar, really shading in the tunes with his evocative tones. Burton's vibes are angular one minute, spare and spacious the next – and in a way, his treatment if Bley's tunes is some of the most sensitive we've ever heard. Titles include "Ictus/Syndrome", "Dreams So Real", "Intermission Music", "Doctor", and "Vox Humana". CD

Gary Burton takes on the music of Carla Bley – in a wonderfully sensitive set that opens up rich new colors in her music! The group here is a particularly well-chosen one for the effort – a quintet with Burton on vibes, Mick Goodrick on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Bob Moses on drums – plus a young Pat Metheny on guitar, really shading in the tunes with his evocative tones. Burton's vibes are angular one minute, spare and spacious the next – and in a way, his treatment if Bley's tunes is some of the most sensitive we've ever heard. Titles include "Ictus/Syndrome", "Dreams So Real", "Intermission Music", "Doctor", and "Vox Humana". LP, Vinyl record album

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A really great record from David Byrne – songs and spoken bits that were originally designed to be used in Robert Wilson's Civil Wars – but which work great on their own! Byrne is completely charming in the spoken bits – with a sense of dry wit mixed with humanism, not that different from Laurie Anderson at the time – and instrumentation features a range of reeds and trumpets, gently cascading with the rhythms of the tunes – but in a relatively subtle way. Tracks include the wonderful "Tree" – aka "Today Is An Important Occasion" – plus "In The Upper Room", "Sound Of Business", "Admiral Perry", "I Bid You Goodnight", "In The Future", "Where The Sun Never Goes Down", "Theadora Is Dozing", "Social Studies", "Winter", and "The Jungle Book". LP, Vinyl record album

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Features Don Cherry on trumpet, Lennar Aberg on saxophones and flute, Bob Stenson on piano, Anders Jormin on bas, Anders Kjellberg on drums, and Okay Temiz on percussion. CD

The first album from this key group of Ornette Coleman alums – an all-star combo that features work from Don Cherry on pocket trumpet, Dewey Redman on tenor, Charlie Haden on bass, and Ed Blackwell on drums! The sound here is quite Ornette-inspired at times – with a definite late 70s harmelodic groove – but given the organic, acoustic nature of the lineup, the sound is almost more faithful to Coleman's vision than Ornette's records of the time. Haden and Blackwell are great together, as always – driving the tunes with a rhythmic force that Cherry and Redman can't help but carry through. Titles include "Handwoven", "Dewey's Tune", "Chairman Mao", "Next To The Quiet Stream", "Augmented", and "Old & New Dreams". CD

A mellow but striking blend of world and jazz styles – featuring Walcott on a variety of Indian instruments, Cherry on trumpet, flute, Doussn'Gouni, and voice, and Vasconcelos on berimbau, cuica, and percussion. Titles include "Codona", "Mumakata", "New Light", and "Colemanwonder", a blending of Stevie Wonder and Ornette Coleman tunes! LP, Vinyl record album

The second album by this wonderful world jazz ensemble – a trio featuring sitar, tabla, and vocals by Colin Wolcott; trumpet, melodica, and percussion by Cherry; and assorted percussion and voice from Nana Vasconcelos. The tracks are mostly atmospheric and exploratory, but work in a style that's better than other examples of this sort of session – and which have made the Codona records stand longer than some other world jazz sessions from the time. Titles include "Walking On Eggs", "Malinye", "Que Faser", "Drip Dry", and "Again & Again Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Three groundbreaking albums from this ethereal ECM ensemble – a very hip trio that features Don Cherry, Nana Vasconcelos, and Collin Wolcott – all coming together in a beautiful blend of jazz, world music, and a touch of ECM atmospherics! The instrumentation is quite compelling with Cherry on trumpet, flutes, organ, and doussn'gouni; Vasconcelos on berimbau, cuica, talking drum, and percussion; and Wolcott on sitar, tabla, dulcimer, and percussion – all instruments that are used sparely, often away from their original cultural context, in ways that unlock new sounds and new meanings in the hands of the trio! The record is quite open and airy at points – really resonating in that sweet ECM style of production, which almost seems to build a new sense of majesty out of the simplest acoustic elements. 3CD set features each individual album, plus new notes – and titles include "Like That Of Sky", "Codona", "Mumakata", "Drip Dry", "Walking On Eggs", "Goshakabuchi", "Clicky Clacky", "Trayra Boia", "Lullaby", "Travel By Night", and "Inner Organs". CD

An essential 2LP set that's just about the only vinyl release you can find that documents the work of the legendary (and short-lived) Circle group – an important avant jazz combo that featured Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Barry Altschul. The record captures a Parisian concert from 1971, and the band runs through a great reading of Wayne Shorter's "Nefertitti", plus original material like "Duet", "Toy Room – Q&A", "Song For The Newborn", and "Lookout Farm". LP, Vinyl record album

Chick Corea's almost borrowing a page from the ECM book of Keith Jarrett here – working in a solo acoustic piano mode that's incredibly fluid and free – filled with warm touches that stand in really stark contrast to his more avant-leaning keyboard styles of a few years before! The tunes are often built around a simple structure, but are extremely compelling – themes that often have the bracing humanity of some of Corea's first work on the Return To Forever records, even though they're served up here in spare solo piano versions. Titles include the extended "Where Are You Now" suite, plus "Noon Song", "Song For Sally", "Ballad For Anna", and "Song Of The Wind". CD

A really beautiful record – filled with sublime short solo pieces from Chick Corea – small songs filled with warmth and joy! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful solo piano from Chick Corea – almost in a Keith Jarrett mode on ECM – mostly original improvisations, plus extrapolations on work by Thelonious Monk and Wayne Shorter! CD

One of Chick Corea's greatest moments on record – the self-titled album by the legendary Return To Forever group – a combo that included Joe Farrell on saxes, Flora Purim on vocals, Airto on percussion, and Stanley Clarke on bass! The sound is archetypal 70s fusion at its best – filled with soaring electric keyboard work from Chick, and plenty of great Brazilian touches by Airto and Flora. Farrell's reeds help the tunes get a really sharp edge, especially once they get going – and the whole album is an electric piano classic through and through, filled with great titles that include "Sometime Ago/La Fiesta", "Return To Forever", "Crystal Silence", and "What Game Shall We Play Today". LP, Vinyl record album

A hip trio session for Chick Corea – one that features Miroslav Vitous on bass and Roy Haynes on drums – a double-length split set that features one batch of improvisations, and one batch of interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk! LP, Vinyl record album

An unusuallly hip trio for Chick Corea – one that features Miroslav Vitous on bass and Roy Haynes on drums – a double-length split set that features one batch of improvisations, and one batch of interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk! CD

Wonderful work from this famous pair – piano and vibes mixed with string quartet! LP, Vinyl record album

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A rare non-Strata East 70s session from pianist Stanley Cowell – but one that still carries much of the same soul and spirit overall! The group here is a trio – with Stanley Clarke on bass and the wonderful Jimmy Hopps on drums – and the tunes themselves are perhaps a bit slower to get going than some of Cowell's creations on Strata, but they still often explode with freely lyrical energy and a great sense of creation. A few compositions are familiar from other records, but redone here with slightly different flavors – and Clarke plays a bit of electric bass on the set, which changes some of the pulse up a bit. Titles include "Emil Danenberg", "Miss Viki", "Cal Massey", "Astral Spiritual", and "Maimoun". LP, Vinyl record album

Marilyn Crispell on piano, Mark Helias on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. CD

Solo piano album – titles include "Gathering Light", "Stilleweg", "Little Song For My Father", "Vignettes II-V", and "Cuida Tu Espiritu". CD

A great ECM trio date – tracks include "Open, To Love", "Touching", "Albert's Love Theme", "Cartoon", "Blood", and the title track "Nothing Ever Was, Anyway". CD