Some very special new releases for you this week including bassist Michael Formanek’s Elusion Quartet returns four years after their debut release, and Formanek, Kris Davis, Tony Malaby & Ches Smith are at the top of their game. Great album!! So is “Unfolding” from another quartet, Illegal Crowns. It’s their second release, featuring Mary Halvorson, Benoit Delbecq, Tomas Fujiwara and Taylor Ho Bynum. There’s much buzz over “Love In Exile”; is it jazz, is it new age, is it world music? It’s all three and more. Pianist Vijay Iyer, vocalist Arooj Aftab & bassist Shahzad Ismaily have created a one-of-a-kind work that demands listening. There’s a preview of bassist James Ilgenfritz’ new one; it’s a testament to the healing powers of humans as he recovers from brains surgery. Much more too.
00:00 Michael Blake & Chroma Nova * Dance Of The Mystic Bliss – P&M * Little Demons * Canada
06:33 Host speaks
09:21 Michael Formanek’s Elusion Quartet * As Things Do – Intakt * Cracked Bells * USA
19:32 Burning Ghosts * American Circus – Orenda * Fanfare For The End Of Truth * USA
27:27 Francois Houle Genera Sextet * In Memoriam – Clean Feed * Gish Gallop * Canada
34:58 Host speaks
36:38 London Brew * London Brew – Concord Jazz * It’s One Of Them * England
43:28 Matt Mitchell * Oblong Aplomb – Out Of Your Head * Ruly * USA
47:39 Roots Magic * Long Old Road – Clean Feed * Things Have Got To Change * Italy
54:59 Host speaks
57:04 James Ilgenfritz * Entrainments – Infrequent Seams * Frontalmatter * USA
1:03:32 Luca Lo Bianco * Human Plots – Gleam * Sarajevo Taxi Driver * Italy
1:10:13 Host speaks
1:11:04 Peplexities On Mars * Perseverance – Jazzhausmusik * Shmoo * Germany
1:21:31 Michael Formanek’s Elusion Quartet * As Things Do – Intakt * Rockaway Beach * USA
1:28:46 Host speaks
1:29:57 Florian Arbenz * Conversation # 9 Targeted – Hammer * Freedom Jazz Dance * Switzerland
1:37:38 Max Johnson Trio * In The West – Clean Feed * Greenwood * USA
1:44:53 Barbara Barth * All Or Nothing At All – Jazzhausmusik * They Say * Germany
1:50:02 Host speaks
1:51:41 Brent Cordero & Peter Kerlin * A Sublime Madness – Astral Spirits * Between The Carrot And The Stick * USA
2:03:30 Illegal Crowns * Unfolding – Out Of Your Head * Fading Wave * USA
2:12:18 Host speaks
2:13:45 Illegal Crowns * Unfolding – Out Of Your Head * Cracked Frame * USA
2:21:14 Kidd Jordan * Last Trane To New Orleans – RJ Records * Re-Rebirth Of The Cool * USA
2:29:05 Host speaks
2:31:21 Karl Berger, Max Johnson & Mike Pride * Sketches – Fresh Sound * Ginger Blues * USA
2:39:11 Karl Berger & Kirk Knuffke * Heart Is A Melody – Stunt * Ornette * USA
2:45:35 Harrison Bankhead * Morning Sun Harvest Moon – Engine * Chicago Senorita * USA
2:51:43 Host speaks
2:53:09 Vijay Iyer, Arooj Aftab & Shahzad Ismaily * Love In Exile – Verve * Shadow Forces * USA