The free-playing Barker Trio strikes wide contrasting moods, not allowing themselves to be limited by a limited number of instruments.

Gov’t Mule dug deeply for ‘By a Thread,’ released on Oct. 27, 2009, retaining all of their soul and grit even as they emerged with a new lineup.

Not content with the high bar they set for themselves, Marbin raises their game higher still for “African Shabtry” and the new album ‘Aggressive Hippies.’

‘Chrome Dreams II,’ released Oct. 23, 2007, showcased all of Neil Young’s many sides. A blockbuster 18-minute track brought everything into focus.

For the Matthew Shipp Trio’s first album with drummer Newman Taylor Baker, ‘The Conduct of Jazz’ honors the real jazz tradition of breaking outside of previously placed constraints.

Wilco keyboard player Mikael Jorgensen transformed Kuhl’s Euro-pop song “Wave (of Dreams)” into something move-inducing and a little intriguing as well.

Pridgen plays tricky odd-metered rhythms, Laswell’s formidable bass sets the parameters for the melody and Sopko goes balls-out free to push over the ledge a performance already on the edge.

Warren Zevon’s one-off collaboration with members of R.E.M. in the Hindu Love Gods was filled with comfy cover tunes. But one of them stood out.

Here is the premiere of Chicago drummer/composer Charles Rumback’s title track from his upcoming quintet release ‘In The new Year’.

‘Black Light’ shows the still-vital John McLaughlin with the help of his spirited band the 4th Dimension incrementally pushing his craft forward.