For nearly two decades, Brazilian-born and Brooklyn-based saxist Ivo Perelman has been evolving his own path of improvised jazz, playing solo, in duos, trios & quartets with a number of downtown's best musicians. One of Ivo's most constant companions is contrabassist Dom Duval who has recorded on perhaps a dozen of Ivo's previous duo & trio CD's. Violinist Rosie Hertlein has also recorded and performed with Ivo on occasion and is yet another local talent who has knocked me out whenever I've heard her play although she remains beneath the radar screen of recognition…

Alchemia signals a certain comeback to more traditional forms for master clarinetist Theo Jörgensmann. Recorded live in Krakow, Poland, in May 2006, this collaboration with the Oles Brothers rhythm section perfumes the aural air with scents of Ornette Coleman, David Murray, and Jimmy Giuffre. Agile and delicate as ever, Jörgensmann's playing covers a wide range of expression, from heartfelt tenderness in the clarinetist's "Giuffree" to a much cruder and harsh sound in his "Direction." Despite standing at opposite ends of the album's spectrum, these two pieces share a clarity of thought fans of Jörgensmann's music have known for quite some time now…

This is the one to purchase if you decide to own one Urbani in your collection. Why? The quartet (Luigi Bonafede on piano; Furio Di Castri on bass; and Paolo Pellegatti on drums, with Urbani, of course, on alto sax) performs with uncommon synchronicity on a varied set. While the album is dedicated to Ayler and Coltrane, the music is anything but free-style, as might be implied. Instead, the wonderfully diverse pick of tunes (Coltrane's "Naima," Bird's "Scrapple form the Apple," Waldron's "Soul Eyes," Weill's "Speak Low," among three originals) is played with exquisite passion and precision. "Scrapple," where Urbani is backed only by acoustic bass, is a masterpiece, while "Soul Eyes" is blown with heart-rendering grace. Urbani's own "Dedications" burns, leaving behind little, if any, tread. Think of Urbani as a sort of super-Phil Woods and you might get the idea. Very cool.

Featuring Herb Robertson on trumpets, mutes & compositions, Frank Gratkowski on alto sax & clarinets, Julien Petit on tenor & bari saxes, Marcin Oles on double bass and Bartlomiej Brat Oles on drums. It is always great to hear the ever-inspired Oles brothers playing with the cream of improvisers like David Murray, Ken Vandermark, Chris Speed and Erik Friedlander…

The second, eponymous album from saxophonist-composer Tim Berne’s acoustic quartet Snakeoil. Over four years together, Berne and his band of New York standouts – pianist Matt Mitchell, clarinetist Oscar Noriega and drummer/percussionist Ches Smith – have developed a rapport that sounds like communal telepathy. The studio outcome is a marvel of kinetic action, the six pieces of Shadow Man making for music as visceral as it is cerebral; there is roller coaster dynamism and aching lyricism, roiling counterpoint and intriguing harmony, glinting detail and ensemble impact. The album is a dizzying experience for the senses, breathtaking in its sheer imaginative verve.

"Mermaid" is the second album of Aleksandra Kutrzepa Quartet. The music of the quartet combines elements of modern jazz with illustrative music. The synthesis of both these trends with elements of free jazz full of unlimited space will take listeners on a journey to the world of the authors' imagination. The album contains 7 compositions. As with the first album, each song is a separate musical image. The idea is to "paint the music" with sound and imagination. Instruments become a tool for obtaining colors illustrating onomatopoeic sounds. Space, infinity, non-obviousness and color impressions are the terms that best describe the album and its creators. As with the debut album, Anna Gadt took part in the recordings. In one of the songs we will also hear the pianist - Miłosz Bazarnik.

November 1981 is double album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon consisting of one disc recorded live in Zurich and another in a studio in Milan in November 1981 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.

Brazilian tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman is a remarkably productive recording artist known for combining simple Brazilian folk themes with the techniques of free jazz and an improvisational aesthetic that have grown increasingly varied as well as prolific over time…