With special guests Bob Margolin, Billy Branch, Bob Corritore, Smokin' Joe Kubek, and others. CD

Music originally composed for an open-air festival in the Dolemites – performed here by Douglas on trumpet, Michael Moore on alto sax and clarinets, Peggy Lee on cello, Marcus Rojas on tuba, and Dylan van der Schyff on drums. CD

A collaboration between trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianist Elan Mehler – but a record that seems to draw equal input from the vocals of Dominique Eade, who's a key force on the session – delivering these darkly poetic lyrics that are matched beautifully by both of the leaders – then taken into a rich tapestry of sonic activity through further work from John Gunther on saxes and bass clarinet, Simon Willson on bass, and Dayeon Seok on drums. The original album was a vinyl-only release on the subscription-only Newvelle label, but this CD issue adds in other tracks not on the vinyl – a set of 13 titles that include "Even A Nameless Stream", "Wolf Orchard", "Here On The Plains", "Barn's Burnt Down", "Life", The Spring Current", "With Your Singing", and "If There Are Mountains". CD

A sharp set led by tenor sax player Donny McCaslin on the always worthwhile Greenleaf label – and really brilliant showcase for the incredibly talented leader and an exceptional group of players. The title track is a monster, a piece with enormous space for McClaslin to doing his thing muscularly, but paced well enough to leave plenty of room for more subtle interplay. The players include Adam Benjamin and Uri Caine on Fender Rhodes and piano (the Rhodes sounds are terrific throughout), Tim Lefebvre on bass, Antonio Sanchez and Mark Guiliana on drums, and David Binney on alto and electronics. Includes the excellent 12+ minute title track plus "Five Hands Down", "Firefly", "Energy Generation", "Impossible Machine", "For Someone", "LZCM", "Memphis Redux", "For Someone" and more. CD

The first album as a leader from drummer Rudy Royston – a player we've enjoyed for years in the company of others, and one who emerges here with a really fresh voice of his own! Rudy's drums are bold, but also have this way of opening up and allowing magical interplay between all the other members of the group – a warm combo that features Jon Irabagon on saxes, Nadja Noordhuis on trumpet, Nir Felder on guitar, Sam Harris on piano, and either Mimi Jones or Yasushi Nakamura on bass. The guitar and piano combo is wonderful – ringing with these compelling chromes, especially on the tracks that feature Jones' wonderfully soulful work on bass. Most tracks are originals by Rudy – furthering the personal voice of the record – and titles include "Mimi Sunrise", "Play On Words", "Miles To Go", "Gangs Of New York", "High & Dry", and "Bownze". CD

Rudy Royston's a drummer, but also one with a wonderfully sensitive ear for sound – as you'll hear in this well-crafted second album from his Flatbed Buggy group – combo with a sound that's all their own! The drums are often gently used alongside a very special instrumental lineup that includes John Ellis on bass clarinet, Joe Martin on bass, Hank Roberts on cello, and Gary Versace on accordion – all players who use their instruments with a sense of unified sonic possibility that really takes them from their familiar roles! We've always loved Royston's work on sessions as a sideman, but as a leader it's clear that he's just at the start of a great musical journey – as you'll hear on titles that include "Limeni Village", "Look To The Hills", "The Mokes", "Five Thirty Strut", "Missing You", "It's Time To Sleep", and "AM Hours". CD

Rudy Royston's a drummer, but also one with a wonderfully sensitive ear for sound – as you'll hear in this well-crafted second album from his Flatbed Buggy group – combo with a sound that's all their own! The drums are often gently used alongside a very special instrumental lineup that includes John Ellis on bass clarinet, Joe Martin on bass, Hank Roberts on cello, and Gary Versace on accordion – all players who use their instruments with a sense of unified sonic possibility that really takes them from their familiar roles! We've always loved Royston's work on sessions as a sideman, but as a leader it's clear that he's just at the start of a great musical journey – as you'll hear on titles that include "Limeni Village", "Look To The Hills", "The Mokes", "Five Thirty Strut", "Missing You", "It's Time To Sleep", and "AM Hours". CD

A beautiful big band project from trumpeter Dave Douglas – done in close collaboration with Jim McNeely, acting as artist in residence and conductor for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band! The ensemble's got a hell of an artistic approach – and they work perfectly here in re-imagining Douglas' music for a larger group – partly with help from Douglas on a few tracks penned specifically for big band, but also with key direction from McNeely, who rearranged some of the others. Dave gets in some strong solos on the date – but other standout players include Staffan Weber and Oliver Leicht on reeds, Peter Feil and Christian Jaksjo on trombones, and Tony Lakatos on tenor and flute. Titles include "A Single Sky", "Persistence Of Memory", "Blockbuster", "Bury Me Standing", "The Presidents", and "Campaign Trail". CD

Features Markus Strickland on tenor and Adam Benjamin on Fender Rhodes! CD

A record with a really beautiful sound – thanks to the inventive inclusion of two different guitarists, each of whom work together to create a colorful palette next to the sharper alto sounds of leader Greg Ward! Both Matt Gold and Dave Miller handle the guitars, both with effects – and the result is quite unique, and also still retains a sort of focus that guitar/effects jazz can sometimes lose – possibly because of the very strong work on bass from Matt Ulery and drums from Quin Kirchner. Ward's as strong of a leader as he is a soloist – and titles include "Black Woods", "Pitch Black Promenade", "Let Him Live", "The Fourth Reverie", "The Contender", and "Metropolis". CD

A set whose origin is partly hinted at by its title – as trumpeter Dave Douglas initially wanted to create a new interpolation of the classic anthem "We Shall Overcome" – then expanded on the energy of that collaboration to create a whole album in a similarly righteous style! The set features key vocal contributions from singers Camila Meza and Fay Victor – and Douglas' trumpet is balanced nicely with trombone from Ryan Keberle – as the players resonate with a the tones of a larger ensemble at moments, while still stepping forth individually too. Meza adds in guitar, and the rest of the group features Jorge Roeder on bass and Rudy Royston on drums – on titles that include "We Shall Overcome", "Good Trouble For John Lewis", "Peace", "When We Are Together Again", and "Perspective". LP, Vinyl record album

Trumpeter Dave Douglas heads up a group here that he's been with for over a decade – a really well-matched, sharp-edged lineup that also features Jon Irabagon on saxes, Matt Mitchell on piano, Linda May Han Oh on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums – players who seem to slide effortlessly into the kind of territory that Douglas sets up for the record! In a way, the set's maybe a return to the bolder, modern territory of some of Dave's important early records – less of the different styles and shades of some of his more concept-oriented projects (even though this set has a spiritual concept guiding the music) – and instead a really strong demonstration of the uniqueness of Douglas' personal vision in jazz. Titles on this first volume include "Peace Within Your Walls", "Mouths Full Of Joy", "Scepter", "Lift Up My Eyes", "Enthroned", and "Deceitful Tongues". CD