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.

Ivo Perelman liberally mixes and matches his improv trios for his ‘Art of the Improv Trio’ series and maintains his high standards for free jazz all the same.

Help jazz percussion great Warren Smith get some memorable material from a recent residency at NYC’s The Stone club released and keep his legacy intact.

This improvised music supergroup is truly a democratic musical commune.

Jeff Cosgrove once again stands out in the company of greats.

note: music in video is from a prior Perelman release, Cama Da Terra When Ivo Perelman convenes with the Matthew Shipp Trio, good stuff happens.

A lot of jazz saxophonists strive to sound spiritual but for James Brandon Lewis, that’s part of who he’s always been.

Serendipity is, to put it succinctly, a forty-three minute improvisation among Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Gerald Cleaver.

I know what you’re thinking — How the hell can a guy have a Greatest Hits record when I’ve never heard of him??!! Well, that’s what I used to think about Gino Vannelli until…OK, I still think that about Gino Vannelli.