... LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the freest, most far-reaching work that Sam Rivers ever cut for Blue Note – a set recorded in 1967, but not issued until nearly a decade later by the label! The album's a great precursor of some of the work that Sam would do later in the 70s – still somewhat in a "new thing" mode, at points, but also sharper, and more angular too – with a nice sense of space in the playing. The group is a piano-less one – with Sam on reeds, joined by James Spaulding on alto, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Steve Ellington on drums, and Cecil McBee on bass – all mighty hip players who really realize Rivers' vision perfectly. Titles include "Precis", "Paean", "Effusive Melange", "Involution", "Afflatus", and "Helix". CD

An album that feels even more spiritual and soulful than anything we've heard before from tenorist James Brandon Lewis – and that's really saying a lot, given the records he's given us before! There's a lean, open energy to the record – a laidback group that features some especially nice drum work from Chad Taylor, who we always love in such a setting – alongside Aruan Ortiz on piano and Brad Jones on bass – all players who clearly recognize that Lewis needs plenty of space to stretch out, and make these magical notes on his instrument – voicing things in a way that's wonderfully fresh – never too far out, but always with an edge – a great reminder that in the right hands, the tenor continues to be one of the strongest modes of individual expression in jazz. Titles include "A Lotus Speaks", "Of First Importance", "Helix", "An Anguish Departed", "Cesaire", and "Neosho". CD

Misha Panfilov takes on the sound library style of the 70s – and as with all of his other projects, the results are completely top shelf all the way through – wonderfully funky, yet handled in a style that's a nice change from Misha's work in other modes as well! Tunes are short and groovy, and each number has a slightly different flavor in a really great way – that sound library approach of setting a mood with a tune, so that broader soundtrack impulses are compacted into a shorter track with more punch and focus – all with plenty of cool keyboards and moogy moments from Misha! Titles include "Dawn", "Cosmic Bliss", "Smoky", "Helix", "Rush Hour", "Eclipse", "Sunbeam", and "Tension". LP, Vinyl record album

Randal Fisher blows tenor with a tone that's really unique – one that we can't easily explain in words, but which has a sense of individuality that marks the record right from the start, and continues to delight as the set rolls on! There's kind of a crisp, higher-tone in his instrument – yet still a great degree of warmth, and never any attempt to sound too avant just to set himself apart. Instead, Randal has this way of blowing at a very personal level, matched in the group by these beautiful expressions on guitar from Nadav Peled, who illuminates the tunes gently but importantly – next to the bass of Michael Alvidrez and drums of Evan Greer – all younger players from the LA scene that we hope to hear plenty from in years to come. All tracks are originals by Fisher – equally fresh as his playing – and titles include "Mars In Scorpio", "Red", "Jackie's Journey", "Helix", and "Happiness & Security". CD

Saxophonist James Brandon Lewis just keeps getting deeper and deeper with each new release – very different than the artist who first emerged a number of records back, and one with a strong ability to explore the farther sides of the jazz spectrum! That's definitely the case here – as Lewis plays tenor at the head of a quartet with Aruan Ortiz on piano, Brad Jones on bass, and Chad Taylor on drums – a lineup who are more than fluid enough to move with the ideas that flow effortlessly both from the compositional pen of the leader, and his well-crafted, very personal lines on tenor sax! The tunes vary in length, which further deepens the individuality of the set – and titles include "Helix", "Per 1", "Breaking Code", "An Anguish Departed", "Loverly", "Molecular", "Cesaire", and "A Lotus Speaks". CD

Includes selections by Queen, Dio, Katrina & The Waves, George Clinton, Helix, Jon Butcher Axis, King Kobra, Eric Martin, Urgent, and Adrenalin. LP, Vinyl record album

CD to benefit the Prison Moratorium Project, dedicated to working against the 'prison-industrial complex'. We're normally suspicious of 'benefit' records but this one works – dope underground production and nice verses, 23 tracks in all, including DJ Shame "Infomercial (Meet The Press)", BKNY "Where Ya At", Sister Asia/Steele/Top Dog "Dedicated", Danny Hoch "Criminal", Vinia Mojica & Last Emperor "Evolution", Apani B-Fly Emcee & LIFE "Outa Site", Hurricane G "No More Prisons", Hedrush/Dead Prez/People's Army "Murda Box", Daddy-O "Voices", Rubberoom "M.O.V.E.", The Coup "Drug Warz", Helixx C Armageddon & Pri The Honey Dark "Lunchbreak", Prof. Cornel West "Inspiration", The Reepz "The Plan", Dead Prez "Behind Enemy Lines", Kool DJ EQ & The Last Poets "More Prisons", Akbar "Battle Cry", El Battalion "Siege", Scientifik El-D/God Wize/L The Head Toucha/K Slaughta "Hold The Key", Chubb Rock/Lil Dap/Edo G/Paw Dukes "The Rich Get Rich", Grandmaster Caz "Too Much", Lyric & Mike Ladd "Let Us Go", Yazeed "Underground Railroad" and Rocker T "The Petition" (bonus track). CD