The disparate artistry of Will Bernard comes into sharper focus on ‘Pond Life’ because he pulls all those threads together into one tidy package.

Ceramic Dog’s long-term mission of ridiculously good musicians not taking themselves too seriously remains on point. ‘Hope’ is a deliriously fun listen.

Tony Malaby’s ‘Turnpike Diaries Volume 1’ features these seasoned masters stretching out under an expressway over two long jams as few can do in such a coordinated way, each able to sense what the song is headed and react with infallible instincts.

Tim Berne’s constructions become illusions in the hands of this band. Getting yourself lost in these deceptions is so much fun.

The revelation of ‘(Congratulations to You)’ is how Sun of Goldfinger mixes rare unmatched sonorities with impromptu creativity and advanced improvisation.

‘The Fantastic Mrs. 10’ boils down to Matt Mitchell’s simple words: Tim Berne’s designs provide a context for insanity. Sweet insanity.

Satoko Fujii doesn’t play an instrument in her orchestra; she conducts it. Still, there is hardly a more accurate manifestation of her genius artistry.

The supremely creative ‘Sun of Goldfinger’ is unlike anything else out there – apart from other David Torn records.

Marc Ribot and his merry little band of jazz misfits are back extending the middle finger to anything or anybody that catches their ire.

Wendy Eisenberg is elbowing her way to the vanguard of guitarists who radically rethink the guitar as Machinic Unconscious Trio proves that she can shine in the company of New York’s best.