In case you missed the last one…
Bennie Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus (ECM): You could get a contact high from this thing. Pure Mwandishi-era magic, easily one of the top reissues of 2007.
Sam Newsome, Monk Abstractions (self-released): Solo soprano sax musings, in the tradition of the late Steve Lacy. Sam has an illuminating essay about the project here.
Tim Collins, Valcour (Arabesque): Nice debut from a talented vibraphonist, featuring monsters Ingrid Jensen (trumpet) and Aaron Parks (piano).
Ayman Fanous & Tomas Ulrich, Labyrinths (Konnex): Absorbing and abstract duets for classical guitar and cello.
Hal Galper, Reach Out! (SteepleChase): Steamy stuff from 1976, featuring the Brecker brothers (Michael plays flute on two tracks). Galper was my theory teacher at the New School; he could make you see the universe in a series of stacked tetrachords. Some of Hal’s other early recordings, including The Guerrilla Band and Wild Bird, are now available as reissues.
Eivind Aarset, Sonic Codex (Universal Classics): The Norwegian guitarist’s work is said to epitomize “nu jazz,” but it’s closer to Sigur Rós and U2 than to Horace Silver and Hank Mobley. We need nu terminology. Labels aside, the music had me floating on a long walk to the bank earlier this week.
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