At casual glance, the Matthew Shipp Trio’s new album could be read as ‘Symbiotic Reality.’ An engaged listen convinces us that should be the actual name.

Samuele Strufaldi and Tommaso Rosati’s ‘1.15 K’ is fascinating not just because of the colliding of two musical worlds, but the creativity that went into it.

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.

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.

Avant garde jazz could use more joy and wit, which is Reut Regev R*Time’s secret weapon for making you want to listen.