Joe Lovano – a titan of modern and mainstream jazz – finds a lot of common ground with a titan of free jazz, Ivo Perelman.

Steely Dan burst onto the music scene 50 years ago this month with their platinum-selling debut. Here’s a deeper dive into ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill.’

Here’s what we’ll be packing way in the back of our luggage – way, way in the back – before our fateful seafaring journey.

Recorded during a hiatus from the Pat Metheny Group, ‘Rejoicing’ offers an underrated one-off diversion alongside Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins.

Tim Berne’s and Gregg Belisle-Chi’s ‘ZONE 1’ completes a one-two punch of sax/guitar performances which are distinct from each other but at the highest level.

Released 15 years ago this week, Levon Helm’s ‘Dirt Farmer’ was so determinedly rustic that it made the Band sound like sleek electronica.

Kirk Knuffke and Michael Bisio’s instinctual interaction on ‘For You I Don’t Want To Go’ makes their duets much more than just an exchange of chops; it’s a very personal engagement of two souls painting musical art together.

Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp both thrive on finding different partners with which to exchange fresh ideas, but they always return to this special duo.

Not many people can create music that strongly evokes the sounds of a century ago but remains experimental. That comes naturally to Ross Hammond.

Released 15 years ago today, the heavily praised ‘Raising Sand’ doesn’t sound like either Robert Plant or Alison Krauss – and that’s a good thing.