Fred Hersch on piano, Michael Moore on clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto saxophone, and Gerry Hemingway on drums and percussion. CD

Includes Michael Moore on sax and clarinet, Wolter Wierbos on trombone, Ernst Reijseger on cello, Mark Dresser on bass and Gerry Hemingway on drums. CD

Tenorist Ellery Eskelin's in a very compelling setting here – a trio that has the great Gerry Hemmingway on drums, and organist Gary Versace on the Hammond B3 – an instrument we're not sure we've ever heard on any other records from Ellery! Yet the set's hardly a conventional version of tenor and organ jazz – as the Hammond's often used in ways that are a sonically creative as Eskelin's approach to tenor, with waves of sound that are often far beyond music, but which also can hit some tuneful moments as well – all over the course of songs that are familiar, but which are completely transformed by the process! The group does hit a slightly soulful vibe on a reading of "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance Without You", but really takes off on versions of "We See", "East Of The Sun", "Blue & Sentimental", and "My Melancholy Baby" – as well as their own "On Or About". CD

Gerry Hemingway on drums and steeldrums – with Michael Moore on alto sax and clarinets, Wolter Wierbos on trombone, and Mark Dresser on bass. CD

Features Ray Anderson on trombone, Gerry Hemingway on drums and percussion, and Mark Helias on bass! CD

One of the best-remembered Anthony Braxton albums from the 80s – and for good reason too, as there's a strength to the record that's evident from the very first note! The quartet here features longtime collaborator George Lewis on trombone, bassist John Lindberg, and percussionist Gerry Hemingway – the last of whom really rattles some creative energy into the record. Lewis and Braxton provide excellent foils for one another – balancing abstract left brain streams with phrasing that alludes to an approach that hasn't forgotten the jazz tradition. Side one is a lengthy take on "Composition No 105A" with an accompanying graphic title too, and side two features three graphic variations on "Composition No 69". LP, Vinyl record album

Tenor player Rodrigo Amado spearheads an excellent international quartet session – bridging the inspiration of 60s heavyweights Sonny Rollins and Albert Ayler to a modern, boldly improvisational sound that still connects strongly to the inspired roots! The group features pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach, bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and Gerry Hemingway on drums, with each getting strong lead moments on the 40+ minute "Beyond The Margins", the length offering plenty of space to roll from loose beauty to heavy-hitting tension. The shorter, no less brilliant group composed "Personal Mountains" might be all the more impressive for doing so much with a bit of brevity, and a take on Ayler's "(Visiting) Ghosts" closes it out. CD

With Gerry Hemingway on drums. 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. CD

A well-done live set by a group who always seem to be shifting up their sound and energy – sometimes swinging loosely, at a level that allows leader Christoph Gallio to take off on a saxophone solo – sometimes more tightly tied together, so that his reed work is making a resonant sound with the bass of Silvan Jeger and drums and percussion of Gerry Hemingway! The track style and length vary nicely throughout the set – and Gallio moves between alto, soprano, and c-melody sax – on titles that include "Tall Guy "Blues", "Mare", "Kopfnuss", "Jimmy", "Too Much Nothing", and "Marina & The Lucky Pop Song Transformation". CD