No artist is pushing harder to expand jazz’s frontiers than Makaya McCraven, and ‘In These Times’ opens up further possibilities of how the music form can progress upward.

Some current notables from Chicago’s progressive music scene got together and formed 85bears, named after the town’s the most celebrated football team.

The Jason Stein, Greg Ward-led project ‘Nature Work’ is highly recommended for those who like adventurous, impulsive jazz.

Charles Rumback’s ‘Cadillac Turns’ has all the energy and capriciousness of a free-jazz blowing session but still retains a strong sense of melody.

Paying homage to a Charles Mingus masterpiece with inspired original material is just what you’d expect from the ever-curious, ever-expansive alto saxophonist Greg Ward.

Here is a review of Sam Trapchak’s solid second album, ‘Land Grab,’ with Greg Ward, Tom Chang and Christian Coleman.

Here is a review of the Greg Ward/Caleb Willitz experimental Gaps & Space project ‘Synoptic Optiks.’ Once again, Greg Ward finds another way to defy not only expectations but discourage the very notion of setting expectations on him in the first place.

Help saxophonist Greg Ward reach his funding goal for the next Fitted Shards album.