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

An overlooked group from the Chicago scene of the early century – a group made up of very familiar names from the world of free improvisation in the city, but coming together here with a slightly different vibe! The real difference is the use of electric elements at times – both electronics from Fred Lonberg-Holm and Nate McBride, plus acoustic bass from McBride, who switches between that instrument and acoustic! The electronics are sometimes used in an abstract way to fill in space, and not dominate the sound – which then lets the tenor and clarinet work of Ken Vandermark snake out in some really cool ways, while Tim Daisy is also sometimes a bit more rhythmic than usual on drums. Titles include "Multi Chrome", "MES", "Straw", "Theater Piece", and "Lens". CD

Another wonderful CD from Chicago's premier purveyors of creative improvised music. Ken Vandermark and crew cover a lot of ground here, from his angular compositions, to more pastoral pieces and full frontal aural assault. Kent Kessler's muscular bass playing and Tim Daisy's elastic rhythms provide the perfect platform for Vandermark, Jeb Bishop and Dave Rempis to trade lines over. 9 pieces in all: "Cruz Campo", "Staircase", "Plus 5", "Money Down", "Both Sides", "Initials", "Other Cuts", "Long Term Fool" and "Confluence". CD

Ken Vandermark's a hell of a genius on his own – but he's also pretty darn generous as well! Vandermark is easily one of the greatest living saxophonists working today, yet he's never one to toot his own horn (no pun intended) – and instead goes out of his way to credit the artists who've helped him shape his style over the years – in this case Sonny Rollins and Roland Kirk, both of whom are the focus of this set! CD 1 features Six For Rollins – a set of tracks that mixes Sonny Rollins compositions with Vandermark's own, in the tradition of Impulse classics Four For Trane or Three For Shepp – all in the spirit of Rollins, but pushing farther too! CD 2 features Free Kings – The Music Of Roland Kirk – a beautiful exploration of Kirk's compositions from the 60s and early 70s, played with great intensity by the Vandermark 5 lineup of Ken Vandermark on reeds, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Kent Kessler on bass, Dave Rempis on alto and tenor, and Tim Daisy on drums. Titles include "The Bridge", "Strode Rode", "John S", "East Broadway Rundown", "Alfie Suite", "Free Kings Suite", "Black & Crazy Blues", "Inflated Tear", "Handful Of Fives", "Rip Rig & Panic", and "No Tonic Press". CD

A great large group performance – with Ken Vandermark and Dave Rempis on reeds, Steve Swell on trombone, Magnus Broo on trumpet, and Michael Zerang and Tim Daisy on drums! CD