Albert Ayler’s violent alchemy of Africa and Europe imbues ‘Copenhagen Live 1964’ with historical importance because more than fifty years hence, these ideas put into practice sound as radical today as they did back then.

Full of vigor and moxie from start to finish, ‘Sing Me Some Cry’ harnesses the savvy of its participants, but that vast potential is reached only because Eric Revis has the insight to get so much out of them, and they in turn get the most out of Revis’ compositions.

Spurred by his wife Pam’s terminal illness, singer, songwriter and guitarist Guy Capecelatro III translated his emotions onto tape.

Varied, inviting, unpredictable but never jarring, the Mark Zaleski Band’s ‘Days, Months, Years’ is anything but boring.

Preston Frazier’s Best Jazz of 2017 list touches on Lara Bello, Nick Finzer and Chris Greene, as well as other favorites from Joe Jackson sideman Vinnie Zummo and Lucas Pino.

Kelly Moran’s ‘Bloodroot’ is not your common minimalist record, and even those who hadn’t embraced that style of music could be drawn to the strange peacefulness wrung from a prepared piano.

“I’m Running,” the penultimate song on Yes’ 1987 album ‘Big Generator,’ steps out of the arena haze with an interesting but not totally successful gambit.

Ron Miles deconstructs through his accomplished art the complex emotions of protracted strife both within society and within a person, and makes compelling music from it. The added sense of purpose propels ‘I Am A Man’ to the upper echelon of his discography.

One thing that’s immediately clear about ‘Sometimes Y’ by the Lina Allemano Four is that there is no less zest here for taking chances and playing in the moment.

This is the Chicago I long for. It’s nice to see it return every now and then.