A masterful moment as a leader from bassist Sirone – one of his only albums in the lead, and a very different set than some of his work with the Revolutionary Ensemble! There's an intimate vibe going on here, but one that's still very powerful, and definitely in the best spirit of the loft jazz generation – as Sirone mixes his bass with flute from James Newton, cello from Muneer Bernard Fennell, and percussion from Don Moye – used on long tracks that are plenty free and improvised, yet still retain a lyrical sense of beauty. Titles include "Breath Of Life", "Libido", "Circumstances", and "Illusions Of Reality". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the sharpest James Blood Ulmer albums of the 80s – a great session recorded with some wonderful reed work by George Adams! Adams plays both tenor and flute here, and his tone is a perfect accompaniment to Ulmer's forward-thinking guitar work – laid out in true harmelodic formation with bass from Sirone and drums from Rashied Ali, the latter of whom is a surprisingly good choice for the Ornette-inspired groove of the set. All elements of the music work on equally rhythmic levels – but in ways that seem to have even more focus than some of Ulmer's earlier records. Titles are all originals – and include "Song Number One", "Free Spirit", "House On 13th Street", "Playground", and "A Smile". CD

Vintage work from this overlooked group from the New York scene of the 80s – an all-star lineup that features Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Marion Brown on alto sax, Billy Bang on violin, Sirone and Fred Hopkins on bass, and Andrew Cyrille on drums! The tracks are long, and there's a loose, open feel that recalls the loft jazz generation – but an overall sound that shows the new strength and focus that some of these players were really hitting at the time – that sharper vision that you'd get during the early years of Black Saint/Soul Note – yet presented here in a style that's much more spontaneous overall! Brown and Bang are especially nice – some of the sharpest corners of this sextet – and titles include a great reading of "Goodbye Porkpie Hate", plus "La Placita", "Shift Below", "Joann's Green Satin Dress", and "Amanpondo". Great booklet too – with loads of notes and historical information! CD

The musical partnership of Walt Dickerson and Andrew Cyrille is one that stretches back to the 60s – and with the presence of bassist Sirone on this set, they really hit some new musical heights! Dickerson's vibes here have that flowing, open quality from his best later years – an approach to the instrument that's completely set free from previous conventions, and which balances beautifully between rhythmic and melodic impulses – as do Cyrille's drums, which we almost like best during these Soul Note years than at any other point in his career. Tracks are all quite long and open – and titles include "Life Rays", "Good Relationship", "No Ordinary Man", and "It Ain't Necessarily So". CD

George Adams on saxophone and flute, James Blood Ulmer on guitar and flute, Sirone on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums! CD

The Cecil Taylor Unit here is composed of Taylor, Jimmy Lyons on alto, Raphe Malik on trumpet, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Sirone on bass, and Ronald Shannon Jackson on drums. The three songs performed are "Idut", "Serdab", and the nearly 30 minute-long "Holiday En Masque" CD

A pretty great and very strange album by avant pianist Dave Burrell – and maybe one of the best-known calling cards for his unique genius on the keys! Side one features an extended tune called "West Side Story", which is basically a medley of tunes from the musical, played with a nice dark edge by Burrell and a trio – with Sirone on bass and Bobby Kapp on drums, plus additional tambourine work by Pharoah Sanders! Side three features "East Side Colors", a great track in the ESP avant mode – and one that features killer drum work by Sonny Murray, and some fierce piano by Burrell – and side four features the long "Theme Stream Medley", another extended track, based on themes by Burrell. Other titles include "Margy Pargy", "Bobby & Si", "Bittersweet Reminiscence", and "Dave Blue". CD

A late 80s album from tenor saxophone player Charles Gayle. He is joined by Sirone on bass and drummer Dave Pleasant. The record includes a total of 4 songs, three of which are Gayle originals. The titles are "Then Creations", "Prayers & Fears", "Homeless", and the traditional "Lift Every Voice" which Gayle arranged. CD

A brilliant album-length improvisation headed up by drummer Tony Oxley – done at a time when he was serving up some of his best recordings on the European scene – a legacy to which this never-issued performance can be added! The set is completely on fire throughout – Oxley at his most powerful and progressive, working with a lineup that features brilliant trumpet from Manfred Schoof, searching soprano and tenor from Larry Stabbins, bold piano from Pat Thomas, and bass from the great Sirone – making a really surprising appearance here in a festival date recorded in German! Both Oxley and Thomas also bring in a bit of electronics, used in great ways – by Oxley at a level that often echoes his percussive impulses – and the album features one long performance of the title composition, which runs for over an hour in length. CD

A pair of rare albums from reedman Noah Howard – back to back in a single set! First up is the Noah Howard Quartet album from 1966 – one of the most obscure albums on the ESP label in the 60s – and a brilliant early chapter in the career of reedman Noah Howard! Howard is maybe best known for his contributions to the European scene from the end of the 60s into the 70s – but here, he's already a stunning giant on the New York scene – blowing alto with a sound that's very much all his own, and which makes his performance here as both a soloist and leader a key part of the early ESP label legacy. The group is piano-less – a unique ensemble with Ric Colbeck on trumpet, Scotty Holt on bass, and Dave Grant on percussion – all unknown players, but great partners for Howard on the record – on titles that include "Henry's Street", "Apotheosis", "Apotheosis Extension I", and "And About Love". At Judson Hall features a brilliant live performance from the young Noah Howard – working here at a level that's very much on the most spiritual side of the ESP label spectrum, and which also shows the new level of inventive group structures that were coming into play on the New York scene at the time! The record's got a sense of soulful structure and individual freedom that's a bit like the classics of Archie Shepp at the time – as Howard blows alto alongside trumpeter Ric Colbeck, an unusual player who was also on his quartet studio session for the label. A young Dave Burrell makes a great appearance on piano, alongside the bass of Sirone, cello of Catherine Norris, and percussion of Bobby Kapp – as the group make their way through two side-long tracks, "This Place Called Earth" and "Homage To Coltrane". CD

Three phasis, and one long composition – the freewheeling title track, spun over both sides of the record – and played by a mighty righteous group that includes Jimmy Lyons on alto, Raphe Malik on trumpet, Ramsey Ameen on violin, Sirone on bass, and Ronald Shannon Jackson on drums! The younger players really set fire to Cecil Taylor's ideas here – and although his own piano is every bit as powerful as before, it's also set up in company that really has all group members soaring out in a united vision. This group sensibility is a real chance from some of Taylor's other work of the 70s – which certainly makes the album a memorable one! LP, Vinyl record album