It’s clear how Gordon Grdina?’s Nomad Trio got their name: They wander without a clear map through vast musical terrain few can even attempt, and make it to the other side unscathed.

With Kait Dunton’s ‘trioKAIT Live at the Blue Whale,’ the integrity of the compositions and the sheer musical ability holds up just fine on stage, thank you very much.

As the Radical Empathy Trio, Thollem McDonas, Nels Cline and Michael Wimberly brew up two extended 20-minute performances that liberally mix acoustic with electronics.

‘Become the Discovered, Not the Discoverer’ by Keiji Haino, Merzbow and Balazs Pandi ain’t got no edits, no overdubs, nothing planned in advance. Just pure unadulterated impulsiveness.

With ‘Ineffable Joy,’ Ivo Perelman makes a significant addition to free jazz’s most fabled record company catalog.

Using high-level musicianship and a great sense of harmony and rhythm to carry out one instantaneous idea after another is the trademark of Claudio Scolari Project.

Mike Pride & id m theft able are a match made in heaven – or rather, the outlying regions of heaven where few dare to tread.

Even if the music isn’t so simple, the intricacy on Matt Mitchell’s ‘Phalanx Ambassadors’ makes it so absorbing.

Listening to his own work like ‘No Justice – Justification’ and ‘Revolt Against State Stimulated Stockholm Syndrome,’ it becomes crystal clear why so much better-known talent like to be around him.

With their fourth album ‘Brain Drain’, Gorilla Mask is often in your face. That said, their tactics with rhythm and harmony remain an integral part of their attack, too.