SticklerPhonics’ secret weapon isn’t the combination of instruments, but the imagination and wherewithal to make music that’s fresh and fun.

John Blum’s ‘Deep Space’ might have some Sun Ra flavor in it thanks to Marshall Allen, but the free jazz pianist follows his own muse and it’s a good one.

‘Vivid Tales of A Blurry Self-Portrait’ tells a story with not words but with feel, and you can’t help but notice the unpretentious emotional investment Nicola Caminiti put into his debut album.

Defying smooth jazz stereotypes, David Sanborn shined when joined fellow ex-Julius Hemphill pupil Tim Berne in adventurous performances of Hemphill songs.

Often situated in a cloud of opaque neo-funk, the late David Sanborn’s talents could be understandably obscured. Yet, there’s no mistaking, or escaping, that tone.

Spin-offs usually aren’t as successful as the original thing. That axiom never applies to Ivo Perelman projects, though, and for ‘Duologues 1-Turning Point,’ a peak performing Perelman gets Tom Rainey’s best.

Like a fingerprint or snowflake, Ivo Perelman’s and Matthew Shipp’s ‘Magical Incantation’ is unique within a collection of other unique tie-ups even if the basic approaches are similar.

Emphasizing a loosely-structured, open approach, the Tomeka Reid Quartet builds on the success of the prior two outings with ‘3+3.’

Now out in complete, remastered and legal form, ‘Poppin’ in Paris: Live at L’Olympia 1972′ should serve to get Cannonball Adderley’s final era the attention it deserves.

With James Brandon Lewis and the Son Lux rhythm section, Dave Douglas keeps pushing forward fresh ideas with that same old vigor he’s had from the start.