‘Threads’ is the kind of opening statement that usually takes several tries to nail down, but the Caterpillar Quartet blends a variety of styles to make ostensibly jazz that’s often hard to neatly categorize when you dig deep into these songs.
‘Anemone’ by the Andrew Barker + Jon Irabagon Duo is sax-and-drums improvisation at its most impulsive and connective.
When Martin Barre remakes the familiar – or even the not-so-familiar – on ’50 Years of Jethro Tull,’ everything old becomes new again.
We already knew that Chris Potter is good, but know we now know that he’s good even he has to do everything by himself.
Giancarlo Romani’s ‘Naif’ has nine original compositions, and they create nine paintings of different emotions, life experiences and ideas.
A title track recalling the Greek myth where Sisyphus must forever roll a huge boulder uphill perfectly described Chicago’s predicament at this point.
Dave Douglas never stops looking for new ways of getting his message out, and ‘Marching Music’ is music with a purpose that also widens Douglas’ already expansive palette.
‘Natural Selection’ is an advancement of bold, rock-oriented ideas drummer Dan Weiss first put forward a couple of years ago and justifies his decision to keep going down this path.
Yes, Durbin came from ‘American Idol’ – and yes, I’m banging my head and throwing horns with a big, stupid grin on my face because it’s glorious.
Mat Walerian’s latest Okuden project is his most ambitious yet and when you understand the sweeping, cutting-edge careers of his sidemen, you see an artist whose ambitions matches theirs.
