Marco Mattei’s ‘Out of Control’ is an ever-delightful roulette spin through the countless creative personalities that found voice in the colorful ’70s.

Mostly an alternative presentation of ‘Road Games’, Allan Holdsworth’s chaff is superior to most guitarists’ wheat and after fifteen years of no studio material cut loose, it’s good to see any production from him.

The upshot of ‘4 ½’ is that Steven Wilson’s chaff still beats most of contemporaries’ wheat because his creative zeal doesn’t ever seem to take days off, even for songs he sets aside.

S. Victor Aaron picks the best of 2014’s fusion jazz, including Nels Cline Singers, Jaco Pastorius, Elizabeth Shepherd and others.

Impossibly labyrinthine but appealing harmonies combine here with a high level of acumen.

The forthcoming Fusion Syndicate finds Yes alum Billy Sherwood exploring his lesser-known passion for free-form instrumental sounds associated with Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever. You May Also Like: Billy Sherwood, Fernando Perdomo, Teymur Phell + Others: Five for the Road Must-Own Billy Sherwood projects: Gimme Five

Chad Wackerman launched a solo career as a respected jazz-fusion and rock musician after a memorable stint with Frank Zappa.