The Satoko Fujii Quartet’s ‘Burning Wick’ brings the hard punch of a rock-minded rhythm section to vanguard jazz.

In imposing his large ambitions on the smaller scale of a quartet, Ches Smith made music that’s still grand in scope with ‘Clone Row.’ All it took were the right partners and some
resourcefulness to pull off that magic act.

Jeff Arnal and Dietrich Eichmann were on their game for ‘Tides of Unrest / Berlin 2023’ as there is synergism galore, and it never wavers no matter how many chances each take.

‘live at pioneer works, 26 october 2023’ by Wolf Eyes and Anthony Braxton is a splendidly spontaneous live capture of towering figures of avant-garde jazz and underground noise music.

Here we are well into the 21st century and Sun Ra’s music from these mid-70s performances is in some ways, still ahead of the present time.

Emphasizing a loosely-structured, open approach, the Tomeka Reid Quartet builds on the success of the prior two outings with ‘3+3.’

Kate Gentile held back no ambition in making the vast, unencumbered ‘Find Letter X,’ as her band carried out thoroughly conceived, nonconformist concepts.

jaimie branch’s final missive on Earth ‘Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))’ makes clear that our world is worse off because she’s no longer in it.

With ‘Connection,’ Marc Ribot and his rabble-rouser super trio Ceramic Dog are back leading the hell raising contingent of loud, improvised music.

Seven albums in, the Kaze concept shows no sign of going stale. Every time out they freshen that concept in ingenious ways and ‘Crustal Movement’ with Ikue Mori returning is their most audacious undertaking yet.