Myra Melford Splash, Thomas Heberer's Remedy & Ra Bishop

It's early in the year to be thinking "best-of" albums, but I'm definitely noting these for December: pianist Myra Melford's Splash Trio with bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Ches Smith and Remedy, the trio of Thomas Heberer trumpet, Joe Fonda bass & Joe Hertenstein drums. These are two recordings that present the kind of free expression and musicianship that exceed any definition of free jazz that you can find. Chicago's Ra Bishop keeps the Chicago tradition of original and exploratory music moving forward. Drummer Avreeayl Ra, trombonist Jeb Bishop, saxophonist Edward Wilkerson Jr. and pianist Erez Dessel created a winner with the partly live/partly studio recording Of The Essence for Amalgam Records. San Francisco bassist Lisa Mezzacappa kicks off a year of new recordings featuring the deep pool of Bay Area improvising talent with duo B's Luminous Axis, built from Wadada Leo Smith's composition of the same name. From other lands, you'll hear new music from Uruguayan drummer Juan Ibarra, the FDF Trio, Belgian trio Haromlabu, & Swiss saxophonist Christoph Irniger & Pilgrim. There are also some tunes recognizing Black History Month sprinkled throughout.

Playlist

• Max Roach "Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace" from We Insist! Max Roach Freedom Suite (Candid) 00:00
• Host speaks 07:58
• Myra Melford Splash "The Wayward Line" from Myra Melford Splash (Intakt) 10:17
• Daniel Carter & Ayumi Ishito "Dreamy Contagion" from Endless Season (577 Records) 17:21
• Juan Ibarra "Olvida Todo Lo Que Crees Saber" from La Casa (Self-released) 21:44
• Host speaks 29:28
• Ra Bishop "The Ladder" from Of The Essence (Amalgam) 31:45
• Joachim Kühn "Hunting" from Echappée (Intakt) 45:14
• James Brandon Lewis "Apple Cores 1" from Apple Cores (Anti-) 49:42
• James Brandon Lewis "Apple Cores 2" from Apple Cores (Anti-) 52:31
• James Brandon Lewis "Apple Cores 3" from Apple Cores (Anti-) 56:05
• Host speaks 59:18
• Duo B "Three Vertical Structures" from Luminous Axis (Queen Bee) 1:02:26
• Andrea Grossi Blend 3 "Pedinte/Bad Axes" from Axes (Self-released) 1:08:36
• Jessica Jones Quartet "Soft Target" from Edible Flowers (Reva) 1:17:24
• Host speaks 1:24:11
• FDF Trio "Don't Try" from Possibility & Prejudices From Within A Cup (Konnect) 1:25:22
• Joe Fonda "Inspiration Opus #1" from Eyes On The Horizon (FSR Records) 1:33:15
• Gato/Carrieiro/Oswald/Valinho "Hangman" from Talagbusao (Robalo Music) 1:39:19
• Host speaks 1:47:43
• Thomas Heberer's Remedy "Detroit Meets Leipzig" from Hipp Hipp Hooray (FSR Records) 1:50:11
• Haromlabu "Bop" from Helix (Off Record Label) 1:57:18
• Charles Mingus "Freedom" from Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse) 2:01:35/li>
• Host speaks 2:06:43
• Dave Sewelson, Steve Hirsh & Anthony Cox "Murmuration" from Murmuration (Mahakala Music) 2:08:31
• Denis Colin Trio "African Drum Suite" from Something In Common (Sunnyside) 2:16:38
• Don Paul "Something You Go" from Louisiana Stories (Irresistible Revolutionary) 2:24:47
• Host speaks 2:29:15
• Christoph Irniger Pilgrim "Hendrix" from Human Intelligence (Live (Intakt) 2:31:47