Recorded live in Burghausen, Germany in 2007, Far Side features journeyman avant-garde saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and his ensemble the Note Factory performing in a concert. Joining Mitchell here are trumpeter Corey Wilkes, pianists Craig Taborn and Vijay Iyer, bassists Jaribu Shahid and Harrison Bankhead, and drummers Tani Tabbal and Vincent Davis. Beginning with the epic three-part 30-minute suite "Far Side/Cards/Far Side," the concert is an atmospheric and cinematic mix of Mitchell's longstanding musical touchstones including free jazz, European classical music, and modern creative group improvisation. Tracks such as the fragmented and atonal "Quintet 2007 A for Eight" and the similarly inclined "Trio Four for Eight" have the feel of composed classical music while evincing a more freely improvised aesthetic. This is often achieved by juxtaposing bowed cello and bass parts against improvised piano and sections where each musician seems to interject a melodic idea into an overall harmonic theme. There are moments of layered percussion, expansive atonal soundscapes, and fiery and combative moments between Mitchell and Wilkes as well as windy, drawn-out passages that tilt upon silence. If you're a hardcore Mitchell aficionado and/or fan of ECM's cerebral jazz catalog, Far Side would be a stellar addition to your library.

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…

This live duet from 1991 in France is a stellar example of why Joe McPhee is among the most versatile and deft improvisers on the planet, as well as one of the tenor saxophone's key postmodern stylists. Forget David Murray and his hundreds of records made on a whim. This duo digs deep into the spirit of a particular night in France and calls out of it the entire improvisational tradition from Duke Ellington (whose "Come Sunday" is featured here) to Steve Lacy (whose "Pearl Street" is played movingly) and the host of time periods in between…

It's an event when AACM members collaborate on disc. The former Art Ensemble stalwart Jarman (alto sax, flute, ) and the incendiary tenor saxophonist McIntyre team up to form a most powerful and prolific front line as you'll ever hear in creative music. Colson's rarely recorded piano, the always joyous Favors on bass, and El'Zabar's African informed percussion wizardry provide the ideal backdrop for the countless bright moments heard on this CD…