Gil Shaham is superb on his reading of Arvo Part's "Fratres" – a piece dedicated to Gideon Kremer, and played here with as much deftness and edge as we find in Kremer's own best work of the time. The larger orchestra fills in amidst the strings with growing force as the piece moves on – and Roger Carlsson provides some percussion as well. Part's "Tabula Rasa" is given an especially beautiful reading, too – with twin violins from Shaham and Adele Anthony, really unlocking the tunefulness of the work – which also includes prepared piano by Erik Risberg. The second half of the album features "Symphony No 3" – a fully orchestral work, conducted by Neeme Jarvi with the Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra. CD

A really magical combination of sounds – the tenor of Tony Kofi and the harp of Alina Bzhezhinska – coming together here with a really strong sense of spiritual majesty! There's a sense of grace and pacing to the record that's wonderful – and Alina's approach to her instrument is nicely different from soulful predecessors, like Dorothy Ashby or Alice Coltrane – yet equally captivating as well, especially when grounded by the deep, rich tones that Kofi brings from his horn – blown in modes that take us back to some of the spiritual saxophone giants on Impulse records! And yet the pair aren't out here to just ape older modes – as there's a very thoughtful, very personal approach to the music – meditative, but never too much so to lose its groove – on titles that include "Tu Vides", "Tange", "Alteria Vita", "Anima", and "Tabula Rasa". CD

A really magical combination of sounds – the tenor of Tony Kofi and the harp of Alina Bzhezhinska – coming together here with a really strong sense of spiritual majesty! There's a sense of grace and pacing to the record that's wonderful – and Alina's approach to her instrument is nicely different from soulful predecessors, like Dorothy Ashby or Alice Coltrane – yet equally captivating as well, especially when grounded by the deep, rich tones that Kofi brings from his horn – blown in modes that take us back to some of the spiritual saxophone giants on Impulse records! And yet the pair aren't out here to just ape older modes – as there's a very thoughtful, very personal approach to the music – meditative, but never too much so to lose its groove – on titles that include "Tu Vides", "Tange", "Alteria Vita", "Anima", and "Tabula Rasa". LP, Vinyl record album

A wickedly sharp album from Earl Sweatshirt – a set that comes on strong from the very first notes, then keeps on with a tightness that really makes a nice difference from some of Earl's other albums – an approach that's maybe more compact in terms of the way the songs are laid out, especially compared to sprawling efforts from bigger names – at a level that shows that there's plenty to learn from the left side of the spectrum in hip hop! Production is by Black Noise and The Alchemist, Armand Hammer make a guest appearance on "Tabula Rasa", and other cuts include "Old Friend", "2010", "Sick", "Fire In The Hole", "Titanic", "Vision", "God Laughs", and "Lye". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from The Brecker Brothers – working here at a new level for 70s jazz fusion! Sure, it's as slick as it can be – with touches of club and disco grooves to give an even smoother edge to the jazz funk of the Brecker Brothers – but thanks to some solid soloing that's not afraid to go for the easy spots, the album's a lot more solid than an number of sound-a-like copycat LPs to come out at the time! There's more than enough interesting jazz funk numbers on here to keep you happy if you dig a soulful fusion groove, and with Steve Gadd and Lenny White on drums, the beats are heavy enough in the right places. Titles include "Tabula Rasa", "Finger Lickin Good", "Funky Sea, Funky Dew", "Squids", "Petals", and "As Long As I've Got Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Sneakin' Up Behind You", "Some Skunk Funk", "Tabula Rasa", "Baffled", "Jacknife", and "Funky Sea, Funky Dew". CD

The third album by Nils Petter Molvaer – another groundbreaking set from the current Norweigian scene! Nils plays trumpet in a moody and atmospheric way that recalls some of the 70s work of Harold Budd, but he's also working in a mode that's much more modern and experimental, slightly groove-oriented at times, and darkly quiet at others. The album features guest artists that include Eivind Aarset, Rune Arnsen, Sidsel Endressen, TeeBee, and Audun Erlien – and tracks include "Tabula Rasa", "Nebulizer", "Simply So", "Marrow", "Hurry Slowly", and "Frozen". CD

A wickedly sharp album from Earl Sweatshirt – a set that comes on strong from the very first notes, then keeps on with a tightness that really makes a nice difference from some of Earl's other albums – an approach that's maybe more compact in terms of the way the songs are laid out, especially compared to sprawling efforts from bigger names – at a level that shows that there's plenty to learn from the left side of the spectrum in hip hop! Production is by Black Noise and The Alchemist, Armand Hammer make a guest appearance on "Tabula Rasa", and other cuts include "Old Friend", "2010", "Sick", "Fire In The Hole", "Titanic", "Vision", "God Laughs", and "Lye". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A sublime little set all the way through – an early 60s date from the west coast scene – and one that was almost as important to that side of the country as the Verve bossa records were to New York! Bud Shank's in the lead on alto sax – no flute at all this time around – blowing sharp and soulfully, in a way that's even more deft than most of his other albums! But the equal star here is the young Clare Fischer – who plays piano in the group, and also contributed a host of original tunes to the set – fresh numbers that are way different than the usual "bossa-ized" standards, or American remakes of Brazilian classics. Ralph Pena is a key member of the group on bass – and Larry Bunker plays some vibes as well. Titles include "Joao", "Pensativa", "Samba Guapo", "Samba Da Borboleta", and "Que Mais?". CD

An amazing setting for the groundbreaking guitar work of Brij Bhushan Kabra – set up here in a trio with Hariprasad Chaurasia on flute and Shivkumar Sharma on santoor! We already love Kabra's guitar on its own – played in a sitar-like way with all these amazing inflections and soundshaping moments – and it sounds even more wonderful here next to the cascading chimes of the santoor – dulcimer-like instrument that really brings an otherwordly quality to the record. The flute has a way of soaring out on its own, often with weird and unusual tones – and the group also features work on tablas on both sides too – on long tracks that include "Ahir Bhairav", "Nat Bhairav", "Piloo", "Bhoop", and "Pahadi". LP, Vinyl record album

South Indian music played on Venu (or flute), tamboura, kanjeera, and mridangam. Stretched out over 4 long tracks – "Sarasa Saama Dhaana", "Koluvai Unnadae", "Kadhanavarike", and "Varanaaradha Naaraayana". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few solo albums by Eric Kaz – a singer-songwriter who'd worked with Blues Magoos and American Flyer, always staying on the fringes of the mainstream, which is certainly where this album ended up. The set's got an honest, earthy sort of feel – produced by later Blue Note emprasario Michael Cuscuna, with a kind of an "hipster goes easy" sort of feel. Titles include "Tonight The Sky's About To Cry", "When I'm Gone", "Someday My Love May Grow", "Cry Like A Rainstorm", and "Cruel Wind". CD

A really joyous set of grooves – one that seems to begin in ambient territory, but which bubbles forth with a warm sort of Mediterranean clubby vibe once it gets going! There's qualities here that take us back to older Italian grooves from a few decades back – but the execution is leaner, and far less commercial – with a great focus on beats, basslines, and keyboard parts throughout! Titles include "Nun Fa Niente", "Damecuta (LP mix)", "Amaremai", "Napoliterranea", and "Intrasatta". LP, Vinyl record album

Vijay Iyer on piano, Prasanna on guitar and vocals, and Nitin Mitta on tabla. CD

Includes 2 bonus tracks "So Many People" & "Na Brasa". CD

With Hariprasad Chaurasia, John McLaughlin, and Jan Garbarek. LP, Vinyl record album

The full length classic from the duo of Althea Forrest and Donna Reid – a pair who recorded the title hit as a bit of a lark, then found themselves quickly coming up with enough material to follow up with a full length album! Despite their almost accidental fame, the duo are pretty darn great – very much in the best roots mode of the mid 70s, with an easygoing vocal style that slides right into the well-crafted grooves of the set! Instrumentation is top-shelf throughout – key Kingston backing from Tommy McCook on tenor, Vin Gordon on trombone, Chinna Smith on guitar, and Sly and Robbie on rhythm – all giving the record a great midtempo groove that lets the vocals flow in a nicely seductive way throughout. Titles include "No More Fighting", "Jah Rasafari", "Make A Truce", "The West", "Jah Music", "Sorry", "They Wanna Just", "Uptown Top Ranking", and "If You Don't Love Jah". LP, Vinyl record album

Zakir Hussain on tabla, percussion, and vocals, Hariprasad Chaurasia on flute, John McLaughlin on acoustic guitar, and Jan Garbarek on tenor and soprano saxophone. CD

Recordings from the regions of Bujumbura, Ngozi, Kayanza, and Bukirasazi – with accompanying instruments that include the Inanga, musical bow, Sanza, flute, and Ngoma drums. CD

Violinist Arturo Delmoni performs music by Kreisler, Brahms, Sarasate, Massenet, Tartini, Gluck, Mendelssohn, and Dvorak. CD