The Tim Berne/Mark Helias partnership might be just a blip on their expansive careers, but it showcased their vast abilities as musicians and composers.

‘In Lieu Of’ is another captured moment when the magic of Tim Berne’s Snakeoil quartet was happening, making exceptional music that only these four people could carry out.

Gregg Belisle-Chi again undertakes the not small task of deconstructing Tim Berne songs and reconstructing them in his own image, but it’s a labor of love for him.

Just in case you forgot what a badassed band Tim Berne’s Snakeoil was, here’s a not-so-gentle reminder with the live souvenir ‘Snakeoil OK.’

There’s too much artful turmoil here to contain on one disc, and that’s why Tim Berne’s ‘Yikes Too’ is a double-disc delight.

‘Live in Someplace Nice’ is a welcome addition to the thin catalog of the short-lived endlessly inventive duo of Tim Berne and Bill Frisell.

‘Live at the 188 Club’ from Aurora Nealand, Mark Helias and Tim Berne underscore the three-way interplay between sax, accordion and bass, and proves the concept works nicely when the right musicians are executing it.

Defying smooth jazz stereotypes, David Sanborn shined when joined fellow ex-Julius Hemphill pupil Tim Berne in adventurous performances of Hemphill songs.

‘Lucid/Still’ captures a live performance of Tim Berne, Hank Roberts and Aurora Nealand’s unique brand of improvised chamber music.

By playing different songs after several more years of further developing their chemistry, Science Friction’s ‘No Tamales on Wednesday’ qualifies as a welcome official ‘new’ album by this long-defunct Tim Berne group.