A lost chapter in the all too short history of Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra – an album recorded shortly after the group's better-known album for ECM in the 80s! Like other Liberation Music outings, Carla Bley is a very strong presence on this set – penning original tunes for the album, handling arrangements, and sharing Charlie Haden's love of rhythms and inspirations from Latin and African sources – inspirations that are brought in subtly, and shaped to fit the overall spirit of the group. Players include Tom Harrell, Ken McIntyre, Joe Lovano, Dewey Redman, and Ray Anderson – and titles include "Dream Keeper", "Rabo De Nube", "Nkosi Sikelel'I Afrika", and "Sandino". CD

The last Liberation Music Orchestra effort from the great Charlie Haden – offered up here in a set that brings together two live performances from a time when he was still on the planet, plus three more songs by the group on their own – working under the guidance of longtime musical partner Carla Bley! The set begins with a beautiful reworking of Miles Davis' "Blue In Green" – redone here by Haden and the group as a masterpiece of color and tone – and the record closes with a version of Haden's "Song For The Whales", both recorded with Charlie and the group in 2011. In between are three more new performances, post-Haden – the beautiful titles "Time Life/Silent Spring", and "Utviklingssang" – all of which really live up to that long legacy of amazing colors and tones that the group did so well. The two different slices of music come together beautifully, and make for a surprisingly unified set in the end. CD

One of the most beautiful albums that Charlie Haden ever recorded – and if he only ever appeared on one record in his life, we'd still love him tremendously for this one! The album has a feel that's very much in keeping with both the "liberation" and "orchestra" in the title – "liberation", in that the music is filled with inspiration from South American sources, and has a strongly political feel at times; and "orchestra" because the group here is somewhat large, and filled with a tremendous array of expressive players – including Gato Barbieri on tenor, Dewey Redman on alto and tenor, Don Cherry on cornet and flutes, Michael Mantler on trumpet, Roswell Rudd on trombone, Robert Northern on French horn, Paul Motian and Andrew Cyrille on percussion, Carla Bley on piano, and Perry Robinson on clarinet. Haden leads these disparate talents through a set of tremendously focused music – filled with as many ideas as it is with a sense of humanity and soul – all to brilliantly point the way forward for the new sound of Impulse Records in the years after Coltrane's death! Titles include the classic "Song For Che", plus Ornette's "War Orphans", Carla Bley's "The Interlude", and "Song Of The United Front", by Hans Eisler, and with words by Brecht! CD

One of the most beautiful albums that Charlie Haden ever recorded – and if he only ever appeared on one record in his life, we'd still love him tremendously for this one! The album has a feel that's very much in keeping with both the "liberation" and "orchestra" in the title – "liberation", in that the music is filled with inspiration from South American sources, and has a strongly political feel at times; and "orchestra" because the group here is somewhat large, and filled with a tremendous array of expressive players – including Gato Barbieri on tenor, Dewey Redman on alto and tenor, Don Cherry on cornet and flutes, Michael Mantler on trumpet, Roswell Rudd on trombone, Robert Northern on French horn, Paul Motian and Andrew Cyrille on percussion, Carla Bley on piano, and Perry Robinson on clarinet. Haden leads these disparate talents through a set of tremendously focused music – filled with as many ideas as it is with a sense of humanity and soul – all to brilliantly point the way forward for the new sound of Impulse Records in the years after Coltrane's death! Titles include the classic "Song For Che", plus Ornette's "War Orphans", Carla Bley's "The Interlude", and "Song Of The United Front", by Hans Eisler, and with words by Brecht! LP, Vinyl record album

Our favorite side of Charlie Haden – one that we love from classic recordings on Impulse and ECM – and heard for the first time in years on this new album of gentle protestations against the current state of the US! The album features wonderfully evocative arrangements from Carla Bley – who also plays piano on the sessions, and co-leads the group of younger players with Haden. Tunes are a tapestry of themes designed to offer a different vision of America than the one that's currently getting dragged through the mud in a host of foreign relations disasters and poorly-planned military outings – and Haden and Bley draw from a surprising range of sources for the material in the set. Titles include Haden's "Not In Our Name", Bley's "Blue Anthem", Pat Metheney's "This Is Not America", Ornette Coleman's "Skies Of America", and versions of "Amazing Grace", "Adagio", "Lift Every Voice & Sing", "America The Beautiful", and "Goin Home". CD

The cover looks a bit punk rock, but the music here is all jazz – pulled from the great catalog of DIW Records – the groundbreaking imprint of Japan's Disk Union record stores! Back at the end of the 80s, the company really started to put its money where its heart was – and launched a series of recordings of artists who weren't getting their fair shake in the studio, or the sort of freedoms that DIW was allowing them! The label's approach often allowed for unique combinations, or different expressions than some of the more familiar work of some of their artists – which made for a stretch when we were joyously awaiting each new DIW release, and the sorts of surprises they would bring. This package is a well-selected batch of classics, with a strong focus on the label's commitment to the New York avant scene – all newly remastered – with titles that include "Tahah" by John Zorn Masada, "Burning Like Love" by James Blood Ulmer, "Kush" by Art Ensemble Of Chicago, "Autumn Leaves" by David S Ware, "Anaba Aozo" by Ayibobo featuring Jean-Paul Bourelly, "Deep River" by David Murray, "Spiritual" by Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, and "In Time" by Music Revelation Ensemble. CD

An insanely wonderful album from bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg – a player we've loved for many years, but who seems to be hitting a new level of genius with this record! As with other key bassist-driven ensembles over the years – like the work of Charles Mingus, or more appropriately, the Liberation Music Orchestra of Charlie Haden – Zetterberg has this way of driving the group from the bass position with a vivid, fluid sort of energy – never overstating his own role, and getting this wonderfully dynamic performances out of the other members – so that although the group's just a sextet, it feels as if it's got a lot more parts in motion. The lineup is as tremendous as Torbjorn's leadership – Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Mats Aleklint on trombone, Jonas Kullhammar on tenor and flute, Alberto Pinton on baritone and flute, and Jon Falt on drums – working beautifully through long Zetterberg originals. titles include "Cherry Tree Carol/Weekday Miracles", "The Oracle In Finnaker", "Tiny Slippers", and "Song From The End Of The World". CD