As a celebration of the Satoko Fujii Orchestra Toyko’s fallen guitarist Kelly Churko, ‘Peace’ couldn’t be any more true to his memory and the fearlessness he brought to this band.

‘Piano Song’ leaves one last example on Thirsty Ear Records of the high standard set by its A&R guy Matthew Shipp for other artists to strive toward.

Through 12new compositions Michael Dease convincingly conveys the history in the context of social upheaval and displacement with ‘All These Hands’.

The graceful finesse that Haidu has mastered from countless gigs and mentoring from the likes of Kenny Barron and David Hazeltine bear sweet fruit on his composition “They Who??”.

Across four careers that leave nothing left to prove, Holland, Potter, Harland and Loueke look to each other for further inspiration on ‘Aziza.’

On the powerful and unrelenting ‘Process and Reality’, Yoshida’s thunderous drums provide the adrenaline as Pinhas and Merzbow supply the clinical soul.

Lush, attenuated and unpredictable soundscapes by looping and effects guitar masters make ‘Mu’ a major entry in the celebrated catalogs of both Pinhas and Cleveland.

The music from Happy Place’s ‘Northfield’ wouldn’t readily be described as cheerful, but it’s intended as a cathartic release, and that’s just what it achieves.

Not always tuneful but unfailingly engaging and playful, ‘Hearts and Minds’ exemplifies the best qualities of adventurous Chicago jazz.

Like the mythical phoenix bird that rises from the ashes, Azymuth has rebounded from a devastating blow. On ‘Fênix’, José Roberto Bertrami’s spirit lives on strong.