MARTY EHRLICH — News On The Rail (2005) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Critically acclaimed as both composer and player. Equally fluent on clarinet, saxophone, and flutes, Marty Ehrlich has been hailed as "one of the most formidable multi- instrumentalists since Eric Dolphy." With News On The Rail Ehrlich puts his sextet into motion with broadened musical expressions on eight new tracks. The music is cool, hot, emotional, creative, and personal and comes across as being played by a much larger ensemble than credited. "Enough Enough," the first song on the CD, is introduced by dynamic horn charts that announce the exemplary alto sax soloing and improvisations that Ehrlich plans to unleash. The chord changes, comping rhythms are fearless as is Ehrlich's technical acuity. On "Hear You Say," at the head, a palette of horn voices are underlined by the earthier groove orientation of Howard Johnson's tuba. Ehrlich's alto sax solo, James Zollar's trumpet talk and electronic textures from James Weidman's melodia makes this song one of the funkiest tunes on the set. "News On The Rail," opens with a bass solo by Greg Cohen. Ehrlich, who is playing clarinet continues on his eclectic approach with tuba and melodia comps under his free-wheeling riffs. This song is loaded with doses of unconventional sounds and unique instrumental pairings. "Seeker's Delight" features the energy, control and extraordinary musicality of this ensemble. The soloing is adept and entertaining. Again, Marty Ehrlich scores major points for originality, creative jazz voicings, and for music that urges you to get jazzed. Overall, News On The Rail is well worth the listen and features the perfect balance of masterful players. Paula Edelstein
Tracklist :
1.    Enough Enough    5:44
2.    Hear You Say    7:02
3.    Light In The Morning (Many Thousand Gone)    9:59
4.    News On The Rail    5:21
5.    Dance No. 2    5:58
6.    Erica    4:21
7.    Seeker's Delight    8:18
8.    Keeper Of The Flame (In Memory Of Sam Furnace)    7:10
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Marty Ehrlich
Double Bass – Greg Cohen
Drums – Allison Miller
Painting [Cover] – Susan Bee 
Piano, Melodica – James Weidman
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – James Zollar
Tuba, Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Howard Johnson 

MARTY EHRLICH RITES QUARTET — Things Have Got To Change (2009) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Marty Ehrlich's genius lies within an ability to reinvent his music while retaining his unique voice on the alto saxophone. A vocal quality, the slight human cry of his tone, and the angular but not obtuse lines of his melodies have made Ehrlich a true original, and for his followers, immediately recognizable. While Ehrlich refuses to stand pat in the size or depth of his ensembles, the four-piece setting has been a constant over the years, but in specific terms of favorite players, the Rites Quartet may be the finest he has ever assembled. Longtime drummer Pheeroan AkLaff joins cellist (not bassist) Erik Friedlander and trumpeter James Zollar to play new music that is consistently scintillating. Zollar's pithy, lithe, but sinewy lines work so well with Ehrlich's sound, while rhythmically and harmonically, Friedlander cannot be eclipsed by anyone on the cello. The resultant progressive jazz within and out of the jazz tradition, should keep listeners on their toes through this grand experience of creating absorbing, truly new music. The rich harmonies and spiky accents always associated with Ehrlich's music are extant from the opener "Rites Rhythms," with groove cello from Friedlander and a solid trumpet solo by Zollar. Ornette Coleman's tandem lyricism is referenced in "Dung," not standardized, but expounded upon in a bop notion, while Friedlander's cello takes center stage during the romantic reverence of "Some Kind of Prayer" and the bouncy, jig-flavored waltz "On the One," where Ehrlich's lyrical, tangent-busting alto departs into the stratosphere. But there is much more on the second half of the date, as the quartet ups the ante further for the somber undertones and wonderfully quirky bop funk of "Slices of Light," very reminiscent of AkLaff and Ehrlich's past groundbreaking work with guitarist Michael Gregory Jackson. The juxtaposed blues bop of "Song for Tomorrow," and dark, diffuse, stark, hauntingly resonant, free "From Strength to Strength" are preludes for a mighty version of Julius Hemphill's "Dogon A.D.," a definitive hip and funky creative crossover in 11/8 time. There's little more to describe or critique about this masterful progressive jazz made by some of the best players in the business, all at the top of their game, making some of the most remarkable music of their careers from start to finish. Where certain political and social areas in the world must change, we should all be appreciative that Ehrlich stays the course. This is a must-have item, and without question, one of the very best jazz recordings of 2009. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1.    Rites Rhythms    7:55
2.    Dung    7:36
3.    Some Kind Of Prayer    11:07
4.    On The One    3:40
5.    Slices Of Light    2:48
6.    Song For Tomorrow    7:06
7.    From Strength To Strength    3:55
8.    Dogon A.D.  10:26
Composed By – Julius Hemphill
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes, Producer – Marty Ehrlich
Cello – Erik Friedlander
Drums, Percussion – Pheeroan akLaff
Trumpet – James Zollar

MARTY EHRLICH'S RITES QUARTET — Frog Leg Logic (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Frog Leg Logic    5:22
2.    Ballade    10:54
3.    You Can Beat The Slanted Cards    6:20
4.    Walk Along The Way    6:55
5.    Solace    8:24
6.    My Song    6:16
7.    The Gravedigger's Respite    6:47
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Producer, Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
Cello – Hank Roberts
Drums – Michael Sarin
Trumpet – James Zollar

MARTY EHRLICH LARGE ENSEMBLE — A Trumpet In The Morning (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Prelude: Agbekor Translations  3:29
Trombone, Soloist – Michael Dessen
2.    A Trumpet In The Morning  23:21
Lyrics By [Poem By] – Arthur Brown 
Saxophone, Soloist, Read By [Reader] – J.D. Parran
3.    Blues For Peace  11:07
Soloist – Jason Robinson, Jerome Harris, Matt Wilson, Ray Anderson, Uri Caine
Rundowns And Turnbacks    20:22
4.1    I. The Ship On The Corner
4.2    II. Rundowns
Soloist – Curtis Fowlkes, James Zollar, Jerome Harris, Ray Anderson
4.3    III. The Graceful Waltz
Soloist – Jerome Harris, John Clark 
4.4    IV. "Didn't Know The Levees Would Break" Blues
Soloist – Andy Laster, E.J. Allen, Eric McPherson, Michael Dessen
4.5    V. Quaker Work Song
Soloist – Robert DeBellis, James Weidman
4.6    VI. Sugar For Sugar
Soloist – Adam Kolker, Lisa Parrott
4.7    VII. Turnbacks
5.    M Variations (Melody For Madeleine)  14:02
Soloist – Adam Kolker, Drew Gress, Ron Horton, Uri Caine
6.    Postlude: Agbekor Translations  2:47
Soloist – E.J. Allen, Howard Johnson 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Andy Laster
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet – Robert DeBellis
Artwork [Cover Art] – Oliver L. Jackson
Baritone Saxophone – Howard Johnson (tracks: 1, 2, 6)
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Lisa Parrott (tracks: 3 to 5)
Bass – Brad Jones (tracks: 1, 2, 4.1 to 4.7, 6), Drew Gress (tracks: 3 to 5)
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Marty Ehrlich (tracks: 4.1 to 4.7)
Composed By, Conductor – Marty Ehrlich
Drums – Eric McPherson (tracks: 1, 2, 4.1 to 4.7, 6), Matt Wilson (tracks: 3 to 5)
Ensemble – Marty Ehrlich Large Ensemble
French Horn – John Clark (tracks: 3 to 5)
Guitar, Slide Guitar – Jerome Harris (tracks: 4.1 to 5)
Narrator, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – J.D. Parran (tracks: 1, 2, 6)
Piano – James Weidman (tracks: 1, 2, 4.1 to 4.7, 6), Uri Caine (tracks: 3 to 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Jason Robinson (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Adam Kolker (tracks: 3 to 5)
Trombone – Curtis Fowlkes (tracks: 3 to 5), Michael Dessen, Ray Anderson
Trumpet – E.J. Allen, James Zollar, Miki Hirose (tracks: 5), Ron Horton
Tuba – Joseph Daley (tracks: 1, 2, 6)
Vibraphone, Percussion – Warren Smith (tracks: 1, 2, 5)