With Ches Smith’s recently-earned reputation comes higher expectations, and his upcoming ‘Laugh Ash’ lives up to it with another ambitious project that’s not a mere repeat of what he’s done before.

Ivo Perelman and cohorts prove that sax, trumpet, vibes and stringed instruments can coalesce around spontaneous ideas, if you get the right guys together.

Ivo Perelman and Nate Wooley once again push each other to peak performances, and since their peaks are high, so is the level of improvisation.

Ivo Perelman and Nate Wooley convened for a sessions that produced ten, distinct improvisations called ‘Polarity.’ With only one person with whom to interact, each regard this tete-a-tete as a whole different ball game, and they go for it.

Whit Dickey has been an understated but sturdy and vital figure on New York City’s Downtown scene for the last 30 years.

Two original voices on piano and trumpet combine for a third, unified original voice, as Matthew Shipp and Nate Wooley find a telepathic communion.

Once again, Ivo Perelman follows a path that the listener has never gone down before – or the musicians, for that matter.

Nate Wooley finds insight for his music from a glacial landscape and, like its namesake, his own ‘Columbia Icefield’ is far out and expansive.