... CD

A classic set – featuring work by Charles Ives, Ornette Coleman, Bela Bartok, and Kevin Volans. CD

One of the most ambitious albums ever from Rob Mazurek – and a set that really continues the legacy of community building and world healing that's become such an important part of his music! Rob's a player who was great at the start – a hell of a trumpeter, and a great experimentalist with electronics – but in recent years, he's matured to become a real messenger for the farther, future reaches of jazz – with an energy that makes a collaborative project like this come off in a way that might never have occurred in the hands of any other musician! Mazurek is at the head – director, composer, arranger, and instrumentalist too – and the large lineup is filled with heavyweights from the Chicago scene that Rob helped shape over the past few decades – plus others as well – players who include Damon Locks on voice and electronics, Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Tomeka Reid on cello, Joel Ross on vibes, Jaimi Branch on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ingebrigit Haker Flate on bass, and Chad Taylor, John Herndon, and Mikel Patrick Avery on a variety of drums and percussion. There's a richness here that tops other Exploding Star Orchestra performances – and more of a focus, too – so that the whole thing comes together as even more than the sum of its mighty parts, as one of the best International Anthem releases to date. Titles include "Galaxy 1000", "Parable Of Inclusion", "Autumn Pleiades", "Minerals Bionic Stereo", "Dimensional Stardust", "Abstract Dark Energy", and "The Careening Prism Within". CD

One of the most ambitious albums ever from Rob Mazurek – and a set that really continues the legacy of community building and world healing that's become such an important part of his music! Rob's a player who was great at the start – a hell of a trumpeter, and a great experimentalist with electronics – but in recent years, he's matured to become a real messenger for the farther, future reaches of jazz – with an energy that makes a collaborative project like this come off in a way that might never have occurred in the hands of any other musician! Mazurek is at the head – director, composer, arranger, and instrumentalist too – and the large lineup is filled with heavyweights from the Chicago scene that Rob helped shape over the past few decades – plus others as well – players who include Damon Locks on voice and electronics, Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Tomeka Reid on cello, Joel Ross on vibes, Jaimi Branch on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ingebrigit Haker Flate on bass, and Chad Taylor, John Herndon, and Mikel Patrick Avery on a variety of drums and percussion. There's a richness here that tops other Exploding Star Orchestra performances – and more of a focus, too – so that the whole thing comes together as even more than the sum of its mighty parts, as one of the best International Anthem releases to date. Titles include "Galaxy 1000", "Parable Of Inclusion", "Autumn Pleiades", "Minerals Bionic Stereo", "Dimensional Stardust", "Abstract Dark Energy", and "The Careening Prism Within". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the most majestic album that Makaya McCraven has recorded to date – and that's really saying a lot, given the power of his music on previous records! This time around, the group is large, and the performance is more organic than some of the more mixed/produced sessions that Makaya has given us – and great as those records have been, there's a sense of power here that really places McCraven strongly in the Chicago legacy of the 20th Century – a jazz spectrum that includes Eddie Harris, Ramsey Lewis, Charles Stepney, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, and so many other musical giants! The mix of instrumentation is almost like some Chess/Cadet session from the end of the 60s – but Makaya still adds in some samples and electronics next to his acoustic work on percussion, drums, and a variety of other instruments – next to Jeff Parker on guitar, Brandee Younger on harp, Joel Ross on vibes, Marquis Hill on trumpet, and Junius Paul on bass – all tremendous players and strong leaders in their own right – working here to make a special sort of magic with McCraven. There's other voices on the set too – more violins, cello, alto, tenor, piano, and other sounds – on titles that include "So Ubuji", "Seventh String", "This Place That Place", "The Fours", "Dream Another", "High Fives", "The Knew Untitled", and "In These Times". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

Brad Mehldau on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drums. CD

Features Pat Metheny on guitars, Chris Potter on reeds, Ben Williams on acoustic bass, and Antonio Sanchez on drums. CD

Pat Metheny on guitar with Steve Rodby on bass, Antonio Sanchez on drums, Richard Bona on guitar and percussion, Gregoire Maret on harmonica, David Samuels on percussion, Lyle Mays on piano and xylophone, and Cuong Vu on whistle and trumpet. CD

At the height of his success, Pat tries to prove to the world that he's still got cred – and hooks up with Ornette, Charlie Haden, and Denardo Coleman for a little bit of harmelodic jamming. Thing is, we actually liked the slick stuff better! Titles include "Mob Job", "Video Games", "Song X Duo", and "Long Time No See". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

... CD

A record that features a slightly expanded concept on the ideas that Astor Piazzolla had unleashed with his Zero Hour album – all those incredible twists and turns he'd been using to transform Argentine modern music – roots in the tango, but expressions that are up there with some of the most creative 20th Century performances from other parts of the globe! As before, Piazzolla's bandoneon is at the center – but the inflections on piano and violin are also key too – on titles that include "Fugata", "Soledad", "Sur Los Suenos", and the longer "La Camorra" suite. CD

... CD

Joshua Redman on tenor and soprano saxophone, Larry Grenadier and Reuben Rogers on bass, and Brian Blad and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. CD

Joshua Redman continues the wonderful groove he first began on his Elastic album – a well-named sound that's filled with lots of modal rhythms and a very soulful spirit! The style's a bit like that growing, more open-ended style of organ jazz at the end of the 60s – especially the sort that was showing up on some of John Patton's later albums, or the looser recordings of Groove Holmes and Lonnie Smith. Redman's working here on a variety of saxes, alongside great organ and keyboards from Sam Yahel, and exceptional work on drums from Brian Blade and Jeff Ballard. The album features guest work by Stefon Harris, Jeff Parker, Nicholas Payton, ?uestlove, and Meshell Ndegocello – and titles include "Soundcheck", "Sweet Nasty", "Just A Moment", "Shut Your Mouth", "The Crunge", "Riverwide", "Greasy G", "Lonely Woman", "Swunk", and "Put It In Your Pocket". CD

One of those rare cases where an all-star group is really worth the weight of its talent – as this quartet really sounds wonderful together, and make you know that you're in for a treat right from the very first note in the set! The best energy of the record might come from the rhythmic conception of drummer Brian Blade, and maybe a bit of the spirit of bassist Christian McBride – because pianist Brad Mehldau and tenorist Joshua Redman come off with all these really inventive, creative elements – very much structured around a sense of rhythm, although one that's nicely complex at most moments – a less-familiar sort of swing, and we mean that in the best way possible. Titles include "Father", "Floppy Diss", "Your Part To Play", ":Moe HOnk", "Right Back Round Again", and "Undertow". CD

... CD

... CD

Includes "Triple Quartet", "Electric Guitar Phase","Music For Large Ensemble" and "Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint". CD

Also includes the pieces "Mallet Quartet" and "Dance Patterns". CD

A pivotal album from minimalist genius Steve Reich – a record that got him into living rooms across America – thanks to the album's higher concept, and key participation of the Kronos Quartet and guitarist Pat Metheny! Kronos perform on the long title track "Different Trains" – a piece that is both a meditation on train travel and its role in the Holocaust – performed by the quartet with additional sounds from Reich on tape! Metheny's guitar sounds fantastic on "Electric Counterpoint" – a work that's completely faithful to the amazing range of tones and colors he'd been bringing to his own albums for years, but which also reworks things with Reich's minimal modes. CD

Features Renee Rosnes on piano, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Matt Penman on bass, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Joshua Redman tenor and soprano sax, Miguel Zenon on alto and flute, and Eric Harland on drums. CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

A far-reaching album by Caetano – with a wide scope of sounds and influences, from tribal/ethnic percussion, to subtle jazzy backdrops, to guitar-driven numbers that hint at a brief return to rock music. The rich tapestry of themes and images are perfectly linked by Veloso's always-wonderful voice – impeccably rich-toned, with a sound that only seems to get better with age. To us, the record's his first really striking album since 1997's Livro – although it's got a lot more subtlety, in the manner of some of his mid 70s work, like Bicho or Joia. Titles include "Michelangelo Antonioni", "Zera A Reza", "13 De Maio", "Zumbi", "Meu Rio", and "Sou Seu Sabia". CD

... CD

Wilco's post-millennium masterpiece! After years of adventurous sounds and increasingly poetic lyrics being subtly layered over their country rock roots, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was such a radical departure from their first couple albums that it was legendary upon arrival. What's so amazing about it is that it's essentially an art rock album with rootsy heart, somehow carrying the emotional resonance of earlier heart-on-sleeve songcraft with hardly a twangy riff to be found. Titles include "Kamera", "Radio Cure", "Jesus Etc", "Heavy Metal Drummer", "Reservations", "Poor Places", "Pot Kettle Black", "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart", and "Ashes Of American Flags". CD

One of the best albums ever recorded by the WSQ – a sensitive mix of rhythmic tunes and mellow ballads, played by the group with less agression than on previous releases, but in a way that shows that they're really fitting into the style of the ensemble well. Titles include "Cool Red", "Full Deep & Mellow", "Dance Until Dawn", "Fast Life", "Hattie Wall", and "Sweet D". CD

A groundbreaking album, put together by Zorn and a group of downtown New York hipsters, as a fitting hommage to the genius of Ennio Morricone! The track list sticks to mostly the bigger known numbers, and the album's got a darkness that we'd actually say was a bit out of place, considering the choice of tracks – but the groups formed by Zorn do a pretty good job of breathing new life into some of the tracks, and the album was a key moment in the recognition of Morricone as one of the century's greatest composers. Players include Robert Quine, Tim Berne, Arto Lindsay, Jim Staley, Bill Frisell, Christian Marclay, Anton Fier, and even Big John Patton. Titles include "Erotico", "Once Upon A Time In The West", "Giu La Testa", "Battle Of Algiers", and "The Big Gundown". CD

Music from Tweedy, Coldplay, The Hives, Cat Power, The Flaming Lips, Gnarls Barkley, Vampire Weekend, Wilco, Leighton Meester, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Black Keys, and more. CD

One of the most important albums to present the sounds of Bali to the world at large – not just because the set perfectly captures the sharper, more bracing sound of Balinese gamelan, but also because it includes an extended recording of the famous "monkey chant"! The first half of the record features two long gamelan passages – "Golden Rain" and "Bumblebee" – both somewhat frenetic, and quite different than some of the slower, more spacious gamelan sounds you might be more familiar with – as the Balinese approach can be quite driving and dynamic, with many changes in tempo and tone! The second half is even more amazing – the 20 minute "Ramayana Monkey Chant" – which features a group trading staccato vocals back and forth in an even more frenzied way – building and building as the track goes on, with an intensity that's gone onto make this album the stuff of legends! LP, Vinyl record album

A compilation of the Nonesuch Explorer series. It's split up into The Far East, which features "Ketjak", "Baris", "Frong Song", "Ketawang", "Echigojishi", and "Shrine Music"; India, which contains "Ni Ri Ni Ri Ga Ma", "Jogia", "Yaman", "Banturiti", and "Telisi Rama Chintanato"; Africa & The Americas, which contains "Me Voy A Belen", "Candomble", "Gumbukumbu", and "El Perro"; and Continental Europe, which includes "Krivo Horo", "Sto Limani Tou Piraea", "Ladarke", "Gaida Avasi", and "Sinoc M I Je Lane Mojo Dolazio Mile". LP, Vinyl record album

A gently beautiful record from trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire – one driven by a desire to create open space, which Ambrose does wonderfully in the company of Bill Frisell on guitar and Herlin Riley on drums! All players have a great sense of timing and work with a "less is more" sort of approach – a quality you'll certainly know from some of Frisell's music, but which is delivered here with a warm balance that's also nicely different than those recordings too! In the wrong hands, the set could have the coldness of an ECM recording, but instead there's a much more sensitive approach going on here – but also one that's never sleepy or too laidback. Titles include "Mr Frisell", "Owl Song 2", "Weighted Corners", "Grace", "Mr Riley", "Henya", and "Flux Fuelings". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual later album from the singer who recorded both for Chess Records in the 60s, and worked with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago in the 70s! This is a spiritual set, taking Fontella Bass back to her roots – with production from Wayne Horvitz. CD

4 track EP. CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Bill Frisell on guitar, loops and music boxes, Ry Cooder on electric guitar, Greg Leisz on pedal steel guitar, dobro, lap steel guitar, Weissenborn guitar, National guitar, and mandolin, Wayne Horvitz on piano and sampler, Viktor Krauss on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums and percussion. CD

Features the 858 strings – Jenny Scheinman on violin, Eyvind Kang on viola, and Hank Roberts on cello. CD

Ben LaMar Gay might well be one of the most creatively intense artists on the International Anthem label – and that's saying a lot, given all of the groundbreaking talents who've come to record for the company in recent years! And while Ben's previous record was completely mindblowing, this set really pushes things over the top – and has the artist at the helm of a large assemblage of musicians who provide all these different sonic elements to augment the intensity of his vision – as the leader handles cornet, organ, and a host of other instruments – while singing on most cuts, but in a way that's majestic and very much his own – neither soul, nor jazz – at least in familiar ways. The lineup features voices of many others – and instrumentation that includes Tomeka Reid on cello, Matthew Davis on trombone, Johanna Brock on viola, and Rob Frye on flute – mixed with spoken and sung passages from a number of others, including Angel Bat Dawid. Incredibly beautiful throughout – with titles that include "Hood Rich Happy", "I Once Carried A Blossom", "Slightly Before The Dawn", "Be Loving Me Some Of You", "We Gon Win", "S'Phisticated Lady", "In Tongues & Droves", and "Touch Don't Scroll". CD

... CD

... CD

Features Brad Mehldau on piano, Larry Grenadier bass, Jeff Ballard on drums. CD

A sweeping double album that shift between large orchestral passages and small ensemble pieces. Featured Mehldau on piano and pump organ, Joshua Redman on tenor, Larry Grenadier on bass, and both Jeff Ballard and Matt Chamberlain on drums. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from one of the most creative periods of Astor Piazzolla! CD

Joshua Redman on soprano and tenor saxophone, Larry Grenadier and Timothy Cobb on bass, Ellen Westermann, Eugene Moye and Stephanie Cummins on cello, Brian Blade on drums, Pamela Sklar on flute, Robert Carlisle on French horn, Brad Mehldau on piano, vibraphone, and tubular bells, Daniel Panner, Dov Scheindlin, and Vincent Lionti on viola, and Ann Leathers, Avril Brown, Christina Courtin, Courtney Orlando, Karen Karlsrud, Katherine Livolsi-Landau, Yuri Vodovoz, and Joanna Maurer on violin. CD

One of the freshest statements we've heard from the San Francisco scene in years – recorded by a group of players that spans the city's range of contributions to jazz! The ensemble is headed by Joshua Redman on reeds – but it also features some incredible work from Bobby Hutcherson, working here in a style that recalls some of his most adventurous recordings of the 70s – alongside piano from Renee Rosnes, drums by Brian Blade, trumpet from Nicholas Payton, bass from Robert Hurst, and sax and flute from Miguel Zenon. The set was recorded live, and has a depth of soul that really surprised us – with titles that include "Una Muy Bonita", "Rise & Fall", "March Madness", "Lingala", "Peace", and "Of This Day's Journey". CD

A modern country rock masterpiece. Wilco's second album, an unlikely (for its time) major label double album does an incredible job of showing stylistic breadth and sprawl behind lyrical and emotional consistency, arrangements-wise recalling the best of the band's more adventurously rootsy forbears enough to not unfairly call it "alt-country" at the time, but it's ultimately timeless. Here we are decades later and it doesn't sound like it's aged a day. Includes "Misunderstood", "Far, Far Away", "Red-Eyed And Blue", "Forget the Flowers", "Outta Mind (Outta Sight)", "Kingpin", "Whole Would You Wanna Live", "Dreamer In My Dreams" and more. CD

For years, these volumes, issued by Nonesuch in the 70s, have served as the benchmark for field recordings of traditional folk musics from all over the African continent. This volume documents ceremonial dance musics from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania and covers many styles, from small ensembles and solo pieces to larger groups with chanted vocals and huge drum and percussion sections. Thirteen pieces in all, including "Acholi Bwala Dance", "Aluar Horns", "Giraffe Song", "El Molo Hippo SOngs", "Masai Women", "Wagogo Soothing Song" and "Wagogo Marimba". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic series of field recordings – done for Nonesuch by Stephen Jay, and recorded in Niger, Mali, and Upper Volta regions. Titles include "Kountougi Solo", "Djerma Dundun Drummers", "Tuareg Medicinal Chant", "Kouco Solo", "Songhay Kombi & Ettebel", and "Hausa Street Music". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

Reid Anderson on bass, David King on drums, Ben Monder on guitar, and Chris Speed on tenor saxophone and clarinet. CD

Joshua Redman on tenor sax – with Ethan Iverson on piano, Reid Anderson on bass, and David King on drums. CD

... CD

A contemporary legend in Latin music – one that was done in collaboration with the film of the same name – organized by Ry Cooder, directed by Wim Wenders, and put forth as a reminder to America that Cuban culture was still going strong, even decades after we turned our backs on the nation! The "social club" in the title is well-put – as there's a relaxed, easygoing approach to the music here – warmly collaborative efforts from some of the greats of the scene in Havana – many of whom were able to enjoy renewed global attention, thanks to the efforts of the record and film. The lineup features Ruben Gonzalez on piano, Eliades Ochoa on guitar, Cachaito on bass, and Guajiro on trumpet – plus famous vocal contributions from Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo. Titles include "Chan Chan", "Dos Gardenias", "El Carretero", "Candela", "Viente Anos", "El Cuarto De Tula", "De Camino A La Vereda", "Murmullo", and "Orgullecida". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Packaged in a nice 104 page hardback book. CD

Tracks include "Outlaws", "Blues Dream", "Moon River", "Convict 13", and "Strange Meeting". CD

Bill Frisell plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, loops, and bass. CD

Guitarist Bill Frisell's score the silent film Go West – accompanied by Kermit Driscoll on bass and Joey Baron on drums! CD

Guitarist Bill Frisell's scores for High Sign and One Week – accompanied by Kermit Driscoll on bass and Joey Baron on drums. CD

Bill Frisell goes to Nashville – and finds a whole new outlet for his tremendous talents on guitar! The record's definitely got some of the elements you'd expect – some dobro from Jerry Douglas on another of tracks – plus bits of banjo, mandolin, and even some harmonica – but the whole thing is often in a very Frisell-familiar mode, with a sense of color, space and sound – just given a bit of a Nashville pitch! Robin Holcomb sings on three of the album's 14 tracks – and titles include "Family", "Pipe Down", "Go Jake", "One Of These Days", "Brother", "Mr Memory", "Gimme A Holler", "Shucks", and "The End Of The World". CD

Bill Frisell goes to Nashville – and finds a whole new outlet for his tremendous talents on guitar! The record's definitely got some of the elements you'd expect – some dobro from Jerry Douglas on another of tracks – plus bits of banjo, mandolin, and even some harmonica – but the whole thing is often in a very Frisell-familiar mode, with a sense of color, space and sound – just given a bit of a Nashville pitch! Robin Holcomb sings on three of the album's 14 tracks – and titles include "Family", "Pipe Down", "Go Jake", "One Of These Days", "Brother", "Mr Memory", "Gimme A Holler", "Shucks", and "The End Of The World". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A classic recording of Buddhist chants – from the legendary Gyuto monks! CD

... CD

... CD