Sammy Stein sits down with saxophonist Colin Webster to discuss those unlikely situations where you find the greatest musical connections.

Les McCann’s free-form soul-jazz experiment ‘Invitation to Openness’ is the sound of someone loosing himself from the bonds of expectation.

As a vehicle for this promising woodwinds talent from Poland Mat Walerian, his encounter with Matthew Shipp on ‘Live at Okuden’ makes good on that promise.

JD Allen’s “A Throng of Millions Can Be One,” just one of many standout moments on ‘Bloom,’ feels like the birth of a new jazz hymn.

Matthew Shipp offers interesting thoughts for Dialog Talk, a site that archives ideas and perspectives from extraordinary global arts figures.

Cyrus Chestnut doesn’t supercede the definitive take by Bill Evans’ Trio. Still, I found myself enjoying the new corners he and his trio explored.

Gavin Harrison’s ‘Cheating the Polygraph’ references Porcupine Tree and big band, but quickly moves well beyond those well-worn tropes.

If this terrific collaboration between Dutch jazz heavies is ‘The New Wave of Dutch Heavy Jazz,’ then let the waves roll over us.

Gary Burton’s country-jazz experiment ‘Tennessee Firebird’ broke every rule. He joins Tom Wilmeth to discuss a gutsy decision to record in Nashville.

The musicianship gets this improvised chamber jazz concept off the ground, but it’s the bottomless imaginations of Shipp, Maneri and Bisio that make ‘The Gospel According To Matthew and Michael’ fly.