Drummer Jack DeJohnette conceived the Trio Beyond project in order to pay homage to the fusion pioneering Tony Williams' Lifetime. With organist Larry Goldings and guitarist John Scofield as recruits, this two-disc set catalogues the group's 2004 London concert and is as far out and funky as one might expect from such a lineup.
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New Monastery Nels Cline 2006 [Cryptogramophone]
Take the lead guitarist from rock band Wilco, add an Ornette Coleman disciple, toss in a few unique individuals and you get a kind of Andrew Hill salad. Cline says that this is not a conventional tribute record, but rather, "It is a view - one view - into the music of Andrew Hill, an artist whose music has continued to change and expand its parameters."
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Dear Miles Ron Carter 2007 [Blue Note]
Double-bassist Ron Carter came to fame during the 1960s as a member of Miles Davis' second great quintet. While typically hesitant to revisit those years, here he mixes in a couple of originals and a non-Miles standard with a handful of tracks often associated with Davis. The result is an energetic set with plenty of topnotch bass solos.
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Sky Blue Maria Schneider Orchestra 2007 [ArtistShare]
Schneider has gone from strength to strength in recent years… never compromising, fiercely independent and eminently listenable. This album scored Grammy nominations for both the orchestra and the breathtaking 'Cerulean Skies'. Artistic integrity is maintained with four of the five compositions receiving prestigious commissions.
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New Time, New 'Tet Benny Golson 2009 [Concord]
Every now and then an elderly veteran steps up to the plate just to prove that creative jazz can still be melodic. Tenor Benny Golson's impressive resumé includes his vital contributions to Art Blakey's classic Moanin' album. Known for dubbing a sextet as a 'jazztet', this record proves that Golson can still blow with the best of them.
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Rise Up! Dr Lonnie Smith 2009 [Palmetto]
Not to be confused with Lonnie Liston Smith, this veteran B-3 organist of grunge made his name with George Benson's superb mid-60s quartet. A bit of an eccentric, he became a 'doctor' and wears a turban for "no particular reason". Nowhere near as 'out-there' as Sun Ra, but absolutely no shortage of funkified fun and groovy grooves.
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Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records The Blue Note 7 2009 [Blue Note]
The idea here was to put together a cohesive outfit of topnotch Blue Note musicians to joyously celebrate the label's 70th anniversary with a torrid tour. The resulting recording is, as one might expect, popularly pleasing. The 'special edition' includes a disc of remastered classics, well worth the couple of extra dollars for genuine label aficionados.
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Infernal Machines Darcy James Argue's Secret Society 2009 [New Amsterdam]
Anyone curious as to what a "steampunk big band" might sound like will want to grab a copy of this dynamite debut from Darcy James Argue's 18-piece Secret Society. This is indie experimental jazz tinged with rock and retro-classicism. The whole wonderful experience is being streamed on the New Amsterdam website… don't miss it!
