With “Waking Up,” Nick Finzer continues to deliver engaging compositions which challenge both the players and his listeners.

The Vincent Meissner Trio found a perfect moment that covers youth and European, turning a brisk cover of “Young Folks” into an appealing jazz song.

We often hear about recordings ostensibly made without regard to rules, preconceptions and guidelines in pursuit of a mode of expression that’s pure and original. Marc Ducret’s ‘Palm Sweat’ actually sounds exactly like it was made that way.

Most may not put Wayne Shorter on the level of Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane, but I do. When surveying the impact he made over 50 years, it’s hard not to.

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.

Musicians capable of anything deserve to play in a setting where anything goes. Thankfully, Tomas Fujiwara is allowing us to hear that with ‘March On.’

On ‘Triptych I, II & III,’ Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp never, ever wander aimlessly trying to figure out what to play next. It all comes out naturally and it comes in the form of actual melodies, even if those melodies are constantly shifting and mutating.

Not many knew about Simon Moullier a mere three years ago but with his third outing ‘Isla,’ there’s simply no excuse not to. He’s the vibraphonist you will want to keep on your radar.

The late Chick Corea was a musical chameleon who thrived in a multitude of musical assemblages, as heard on the new ‘Montreux Years’ anthology.

Satoko Fujii and Otomo Yoshihide made music on the spot on ‘Perpetual Motion,’ relying strictly on instincts and virtuosity. Luckily, Fujii and Otomo have loads of both.