Big band led by Budman(reeds) & Levy(trb). Some rich instrumentation from some heavy West Coast hitters. All music composed & arranged by Levy. Nothing jumps out at you, but the recording is saved by a lot of nice playing.

Petterson(vox&ss), Plough(gt) & Bradenhorst(cl & bass cl)combine elements of jazz w/new classical chamber music, electronic sounds & electronic manipulations of voice/instruments. Spacious textures on some tracks, Braziian-like wordless vocals, overdubbed voice recalling medieval chants, Reichian minimalist layered pulsing. Lots of different references plus fine instrumental work. For listeners looking for a contemplative/quieter ambience.

Intimate duos for piano & clarinet, employing extended techniques on their instruments. Delbecq - prepared piano, muted string percussives, etc. Houle's clarinet delving into quarter tone, sound effects & circular breathing. Much of this recording is serene, almost like hushed whispering secrets, sometimes haunting. VERY GOOD

Spanish pianist, Dominguez in a live setting(Jazz Standard-NYC)adds true flamenco sabor to reworking music of Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" and he manages to revivify that well worn material. The sounds of palmas (hand claps), cajon(woodbox drum) and authentic Spanish gitano singing is more music to the ears. Those jazz fans also enamored of the powerful flamenco tradition will welcome this offering from an artist w/a surefooted stance straddling the two musical worlds. EXCELLENT

Avant/abstract works that sometimes elude easy analysis of what's composed & improvised. Very interesting mood/textured explorations employing borderline atonality, blocks of rhythm/sound & juxtapositions of electronic noises w/the instruments, sometimes echoing AACM including eerie sci-fi soundtrack & even prog-rock. Interesting and engaging for adventurous ears. VERY GOOD

WARM, AMBIENT ELECTRONIC MUSIC FROM THIS MEMBER OF BON IVER. INFUSED WITH MODERN CLASSICAL REPETITION. SYNTH BEATS THAT STUTTER & PULSE

PLAY: 1, 2, 3, 4

RIYL: BON IVER, TORO Y MOI

Two Angles by S. Carey

LESS PSYCH-ROCK & MORE CONCISE THAN PREVIOUS RELEASES. FUZZY, UPBEAT GUITAR-FILLED ROCK WITH LAID-BACK TWANGS.

PLAY: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

RIYL: BLACK MOUNTAIN, DEAD MEADOW, WHITE HILLS

01-Stivey-Pond.mp3