Dave Gisler’s highly improvisational trio is a natural in a live setting. Add the like-minded trumpeter Jaimie Branch to the mix, and those qualities are taken up a couple of notches.

If you’re going to go extreme, do it with conviction. Jon Irabagon, Mike Pride, Mick Barr and Ava Mendoza are committed as ever for ‘I Don’t Hear Nothin’ But The Blues Volume 3: Anatomical Snuffbox.’

The first encounter of tenor sax boss Rich Halley and the Matthew Shipp Trio worked out so well, they quickly decided to do it again.

The genius of Steve Lacy isn’t that easy to articulate but Phil Sudderberg, Charlie Kirchen and Jason Stein take great care of the soprano saxophone legacy when they play his ‘Clinkers’ solo masterpiece with all the invention and attitude of the original.

OM have been at the forefront of improvised music for almost 50 years, and ‘It’s About Time’ shows they’re still doing it as well as ever.

Singing and playing like a boss is an under-appreciated talent, and Wendy Eisenberg shows she can handle this demanding dual chore with “Centreville.”

Merzbow, Mats Gustafsson and Balazs Pandi know how to manipulate calmness to make it as impactful as the ceaseless noise that they also create.

Hervé Perez’s ‘PLGD’ is made for ears thirsty for completely new sounds, even for those ears who think they’ve heard it all.

The revelation of ‘(Congratulations to You)’ is how Sun of Goldfinger mixes rare unmatched sonorities with impromptu creativity and advanced improvisation.

For this festival set performed in Italy ‘Live In Florence,’ Otomo Yoshihide, his guitar and his turntables match wits with Chris Pitsiokos with his alto saxophone and his electronics.