Matt Mitchell and Kate Gentile’s “for teens,” “spinal thought” and “peripheral drome” are spare conceptions with rich detail filled in on the fly from the assembled collection of improvisation masters.

Smooth jazz is usually dismissed as soporific melodies played by an anonymous instrumentalist with programmed rhythms. None of this is that.

Approaching his 70th birthday, trumpet maestro Natsuki Tamura made the very personal ‘Koki Solo’ with a youthful frivolity that belies his age and signals that he remains in his peak period.

Guitarist extraordinaire Julian Lage’s ‘Squint’ is the record of an established veteran composing, playing and leading on a high plane.

The challenge for listeners to keep up is also central to the thrill of listening to ‘Cool With That’ by the improvised music supergroup East Axis.

Bassist Brian Bromberg joins Ross Boissoneau to discuss career-turning LPs from Miles Davis and Return to Forever, and what he’s listening to now.

Michael Bisio, Kirk Knuffke and Fred Lonberg-Holm are artistic rebels as Robert Henri was, but their music isn’t outside just for the sake of being outside.

‘Confabulations’ wasn’t made with the public in mind, and that might be why this makes such a great entry point for the avant-garde side of Duck Baker.

With ‘Love Life Choices,’ Rebecca Angel’s sense of self and individuality shine like a veteran.

As Anthony Braxton continues to push forward one of America’s greatest art forms, he also takes opportunities to demonstrate just how jazz got to be so great.