‘Change In The Air’ is the same sort of capacious, thoughtful and lyrical sound from Cuong Vu’s 4-Tet as it’s always been but now it feels more of four major voices than ever before.

No adjustment was necessary for this new collaboration, because Sonar or David Torn complement each other uncommonly well on ‘Vortex.’

Whether it’s individual heroics or wonderful ensemble symmetry, ‘Rhapsody’ begins with the mind of Bobby Previte. He not only had a concept but saw it to a fully developed work that stays true to its mission and articulated it well.

Mumpbeak’s ‘Tooth,’ now out via Rare Noise Records, not only continues ideas Roy Powell first put forth on the self-titled debut, but also makes it plain that there’s plenty of room to expand on those ideas.

Philipp Gerschlauer and David Fiuczynski getting together for ‘Mikrojazz: Neue Expressionistische Musik’ took microtonal music to new places, and there’s never a dull moment.

Cuong Vu 4Tet’s sensitive shaping of Michael Gibb’s songs earn serious attention on their own.

Jü is a band with plenty of potency with the intelligence of knowing when and where to apply it. ‘Summa’ builds on that solid start with Kjetil Møster to take their game up even higher.

Led Bib is once again making their own statement about how to mash together jazz with rock with ‘Umbrella Weather.’ And as loose and randy as the music may be, it never loses its soul.

In the battle between the 1400’s and the 2000’s, art in the form of uniquely inspired music wins.

‘An Untroublesome Defencelessness’ features the collective wisdom of Merzbow, Keiji Haino and Balazs Pandi – three visionary musicians who have made careers out of embracing uncharted territory.