... LP, Vinyl record album

Early brilliance from tenor genius David S Ware – one of the first records issued under his own name as a leader, and maybe still one of the greatest too! The album has Ware working with the Apogee trio of Cooper Moore on piano and Marc Edwards on drums – in these long-blown lines that are an immediate inheritance of the late legacy of John Coltrane – played in that searing, searching style of Coltrane's final years – but maybe given even more depth and directly here by David! Ware's approach is wonderful throughout – always soulful and meaningful, even in the most abstract moments – very fully-formed, and still completely tremendous after all these years. Titles include "Prayer", "Thematic Womb", and "Primary Piece #1". First-ever reissue – with lots of bonus tracks that include "Solo", "Prayer", "Cry", "Stop Time", and "Ashimba". CD

A 90s classic from Meshell Ndegeocello – and one of the key records in showcasing how much new soul energy was beginning to brew up in the decade! The set forges an instant bridge between contemporary modes and the 70s – but all in a way that's freshly forward, not retro sleepy – as Meshell bursts forth with this voice that sets a whole new standard for female soul, and one that doesn't need to reference Aretha or Chaka, nor pretend it was raised on hip hop either! There's a power to the record that just gets stronger with each fresh listen – as you'll hear on titles that include "God Shiva", "Stay", "Bittersweet", "The Womb", "The Way", "Leviticus Faggot", "Deuteronomy Niggerman", "Ecclesiastes Free My Heart", "God Shiva", and her great cover of "Who Is He & What Is He To You". CD

The record features Cecil's Segments II Orchestra Of Two Continents – with trumpets by Enrico Rava and Tomasz Stanko, bass by William Parker, drums by Rashied Bakr and Andre Martinez, and saxes by John Tchicai, Frank Wright, and Jimmy Lyons. Titles include "Winged Serpent", "Womb Waters Scent Of The Burning Armadillo Shell", and "Cun Un Un Un An". CD

Early brilliance from tenor genius David S Ware – one of the first records issued under his own name as a leader, and maybe still one of the greatest too! The album has Ware working with the Apogee trio of Cooper Moore on piano and Marc Edwards on drums – in these long-blown lines that are an immediate inheritance of the late legacy of John Coltrane – played in that searing, searching style of Coltrane's final years – but maybe given even more depth and directly here by David! Ware's approach is wonderful throughout – always soulful and meaningful, even in the most abstract moments – very fully-formed, and still completely tremendous after all these years. Titles include "Prayer", "Thematic Womb", and "Primary Piece #1". First-ever reissue – with lots of bonus tracks that include "Solo", "Prayer", "Cry", "Stop Time", and "Ashimba". CD

A much more stripped-down album than some of the other recent efforts from tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis – but in a way that maybe shows his power and potential even more than before! Lewis is tremendous right from the start – blowing with a sense of soul and spirit that's completely captivating – not a voice on the tenor that's aping or channeling others, but very much his own style – personal, but in ways that can bridge worlds too – as he works with just the right balance of accompaniment in the drums of Max Jaffe and cello of Chris Hoffman, who often plucks the instrument in ways that are more like a bass. Jaffe adds in extra percussion at points – and titles include "Womb Water", "Fear Not", "Send Seraphic Beings", "Foreground", "The Blues Still Blossoms", and "Within You Are Answers" – plus a nice take on the Donny Hathaway classic "Someday We'll All Be Free". CD

An incredible solo record from Rob Mazurek – a wonderful change from some of his larger group and collaborative projects – even though we love those a heck of a lot too! This set's a great reminder of the core improvisational genius that Rob's always had, but which sometimes is overshadowed by the group activity on his other records. Here, Mazurek blows cornet alone, and also plays both standard and prepared piano – and colors things with just a dash of his great electronics – often used in more sparing and subtle ways than some of his group efforts. A really beautiful set from a musician who continues to reward us over the years – with titles that include "Twombly At New Church", "Gazing Through Walls", "King Of Rome", and "Sweet Life In Disrepair". CD

Amazing East African recordings from decades long past – one of the most beautifully put together compilations of any kind on Honest Jons in quite a while – which is really something, given their always top tier efforts! It features recordings made in Uganda and Kenya from the 30s to the 50s – some wildly energetic, fast and feverishly performed, others with more lilting melodies and less fraught atmosphere. Essentially it's regional minstrel music with impassioned vocals, the more stripped down songs played on the ndingidi and other spare instrumentation, others have larger ensemble vocals and instrumentation including oud, accordion, violins, Indian harmonium and more. 35 tracks on 2CD, and packaged in what's essentially a small book, filled with great notes and photos. Includes "Wireless" by Ssekinomu, "Enyi Wa Hiari" by Ali & Party, "Ahenda" by Owombo Wa Agola, "Meselou" by Machakos Party, "James Onunga" by Mbuyi, "Aolo" by Were Omito, "Okwara" by J Omwami, "Ogwel" by Oluoch, "Kitagararan" by WKA Laboso & Esta and many more. CD

The third album from one of the few rock bands to ever record for ESP Records – with titles that include "ABC", "Ruby Red", "First Multitude", "Neet Street", and "Womban". LP, Vinyl record album