Mat Walerian’s latest Okuden project is his most ambitious yet and when you understand the sweeping, cutting-edge careers of his sidemen, you see an artist whose ambitions matches theirs.

With the singularly outsized saxophone and clarinet personality of Mat Walerian in the mix for ‘Sonic Fiction,’ Matthew Shipp has found a plenty good justification for going back to a quartet.

Here’s the part of the annual Best of 2017 lists that’s the most fun to pull together.

”This Is Beautiful Because We Are Beautiful People’ is a set of performances that succeed because the Toxic musicians place all trust on instinct and the instincts of others.

Mat Walerian places much trust in his good instincts on ‘Jungle,’ even as he does show he knows much about the tenants music and even in the presence of more established masters.

As a vehicle for this promising woodwinds talent from Poland Mat Walerian, his encounter with Matthew Shipp on ‘Live at Okuden’ makes good on that promise.