Even when reflecting on the 80s of their youth Deerhoof tends to favor making rock music the makeshift way most rock music was made in the 60s, and the method matters for this music.

Released by Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto in June 2010, ‘Take Your Pick’ wasn’t flashy, but its highly polished fretwork just might satiate your soul.

‘Inhuman Wilderness’ makes clear why Bobby Avey is an award-winning jazz composer and imaginative pianist.

‘Loverly,’ released in June 2008, wasn’t gutsy enough to be a top-echelon Cassandra Wilson album, though there were still plenty of enjoyable moments.

‘The City That Care Forgot’ arrived in June 2008, just as some might questioned yet another Katrina-themed album. But Dr. John’s was different.

For twenty minutes, ‘Funkcronomic’ captures that sweet core of George Clinton’s P-Funk innovations.

Three duos with exponentially more ideas; Ivo Perelman makes a lot of music because he has so much to say. Even when there is only one other musician alongside him with which to express all these new inspirations.

Few are in a better position than Jeff Parker to bring jazz into the 21st century by combining it with 21st century music forms with all the finesse of jazz intact, and he does just that with ‘The New Breed.’

It’s by far the most listenable effort led by Nick Millevoi, but lack of harshness, density and dissonance doesn’t mean the lack of art in ‘Desertion.’

‘Row For William O.’ reveals bassist Michael Bisio to be a great master because he is first and foremost such a good student.