Not the smooth fusion group of the same name, but a tight acoustic quartet with some great tenor from the mighty Clifford Jordan – in a lineup that also includes James Williams on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums! Titles include the Jordan originals "Tokyo Road" and "Japanese Dream" – plus "Hi Fly", "Misako Beautiful Shore", and "For My Nephews". CD

Robin Kenyatta on saxophones, Morten Gronvad on vibraphone, Reddie Johnson on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums. CD

Trombonist Clifton Anderson always makes us wait way too long between his albums as a leader – but each of his sets is definitely worth the anticipation, and seems to push Clifton's music forward a fair bit more than before! This album's a gem through and through – all original music, save one Bacharach tune – played with a core group that includes Stephen Scott on piano, Buster Williams on bass and either Ronnie Burrage or Al Foster on drums – but open to a shifting array of players who include Peter Bernstein on guitar, Antoine Roney on soprano and tenor, Rene McLean on tenor, and Victor See Yuen on percussion – players who open things up past Anderson's already-great phrasing on the trombone, which is especially striking on a few tunes that feature some less conventional instrumentation. Titles include "Nana D", "Mission Statement", "TUBC", "Sista Gemini", "Sonny Says", "Been Down This Road Before", and "Mysticancients". CD

Kevin Eubanks on guitar, David Eubanks on bass, Ralph Moore on tenor saxophone, Robin Eubanks on trombone, and Ronnie Burrage, Roy Haynes, and Tommy Campbell on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Geri Allen on piano and Hammond organ, Charnett Moffett on double bass, Ronnie Burrage on drums and percussion, and DJ Pogo on the turntables. CD

With Cowell on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums! CD

Straight ahead sounds from Barbara Dennerlein, but great sounds too – as the organist is really at the top of her game, and able to bring all these new modes and styles to the world of jazz organ! At the time of the record, the instrument was being a bit ignored by most in jazz – but Dennerlein came along and found a way to open up the Hammond to all sorts of new audiences with a sound here that's not only heavy on her own solo work, but also features all these great twists and turns from a quartet that features Ray Anderson on trombone, Mitch Watkins on guitar, and Ronnie Burrage on drums! This isn't just some retro rehash of a Prestige Records mode – and Anderson's horn alone ensures that things are compelling throughout, on titles that include "Open & Free", "Straight Ahead", "It Just So Happens", "What's Up", "All That Blues", "Rumpelstilzchens Bossa", and "Night In Tunisia". CD

Great small combo work from Archie Shepp – still somewhere in the territory of his return to tradition in the late 70s, but played with a tremendously adventurous tone throughout! The group here features Amina Claudine Myers on some wonderfully expressive piano – an element that gives the record an even deeper degree of soul than usual – as Archie carves these sublime lines on soprano and tenor sax, alongside Cameron Brown on bass and Ronnie Burrage on drums. Titles include a great reworking of Shepp's "Kwanza" – plus "Tomorrow Will Be Another Day", "It's All Right", "Mama Rose", "Call Him", and "The Stars Are In Your Eyes". CD

A really compelling album from trumpeter Jack Walrath – just the sort of effort that gets us to take a lot closer work at his other work as a leader! The album's got a very ambitious sort of feel – a core combo backed by larger strings – all in a range of unusual rhythms and exotic styles, way more than we might usually expect for a Muse Records session of this vintage! The core group features Walrath on trumpet, Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, Michael Cochrane on piano, Anthony Cox on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums – augmented by a fuller batch of strings conducted by Don Sickler, with a very dark feel that's almost a more sinister approach to Claus Ogerman's territory with other jazz players. Tracks are all long and complicated – and titles include "Faith", "Jump Monk", "The Serpents Kiss", "Gagaku", "Adagio For Strings & Organ", and "Blues In The Guts". CD

Jack Walrath is a surprisingly compelling trumpeter who always grabs us in different ways – soulful one minute, experimental the next – always with an approach that's quite unique! On this special little set, he begins by just blowing a mouthpiece – using a tone that's really striking – then moving into some warmer lines on trumpet and flugelhorn with sensitive phrasing at points, and bolder notes at others! The group's a quintet, and features Larry Coryell on guitar, Benny Green on piano, Anthony Cox on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums – and titles include "Clear Out Of This World", "So Long Eric", "Stardust", "Wake Up & Wash It Off", "Come Sunday", and "Brother Can You Spare A Dime". CD

Sonny Fortune on soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone – with John Hicks on piano, Santi Debriano on bass, and Ronnie Burrage on drums. Tracks include "In The Spirit", "For John", "Africa", "Trane and Things", "Ole", and "Hangin' Out With JC". CD

A great pair of musicians, reunited here in a live setting after working together on a classic album under Joe Farrell's name! The music here represents Farrell at a real height for the 80s – stretching out and blowing long, powerful solos on soprano, tenor, and flute – maybe dipping back to some of the energy he unlocked with Elvin Jones, but with a slightly warmer, more soulful quality that seems to be brought out from the presence of the great Woody Shaw on trumpet! The group features bold piano work from Gene Adler, great bass from Neil Swainson, and drums from Ronnie Burrage – and all tracks are quite long, with titles that include "Vim N Vigor", "Organ Grinder", "Molten Glass", and "Joshua C". CD