Sprung from the prolific mind of Rob Mazurek, the Exploding Star Orchestra started out in 2007 reaching toward towering heights of artistry and attaining them. Most amazingly, they still manage to do that today with ‘Lightning Dreamers.’
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.
In greatly expanding the possibilities for vibraphone and marimba, Patricia Brennan’s ‘More Touch’ takes us to exciting new sonic territory fueled by exceptional musicianship and a lot of gumption.
With ‘Recoil,’ Brad Henkel, Dustin Carlson and Samuel Hall set out and succeeded in making a freeform record that’s not just uncommon, but uncommonly good.
British experimental band Szun Waves scours dark sonic corners for melodic human hope on ‘Earth Patterns’ – and that’s a tough thing to do.
The only thing ‘old’ about Bob James is his willingness to step outside his comfort zone, as evidenced by ‘2080’ with the young electronic whiz Sam Franz.
The ambient, computer-generated drones of ‘New Primes’ produced by Greg Davis is a deep harmonic bath that uses your ears to transport your mind.
Dave Seidel’s ‘Involution’ adds color and texture to minimalism in such an inventive way.
On ‘Telepathy,’ long-established veterans Denny Zeitlin and George Marsh act like young upstarts, showing the jazz world a fresh new approach.
