DAVID BINNEY — Balance (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Alto saxophonist David Binney's follow-up to his extraordinary CD South offers a different approach overall while retaining the fresh contemporary style that underlines his status as an innovator and unique voice. Pianist Uri Caine is retained, drummer Jim Black takes over for Brian Blade, tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin teams with Binney on two tracks, Tim LeFebvre is a new addition on electric bass guitar, and Wayne Krantz is in for Adam Rogers on electric guitar. To Binney, balance is an elusive commodity, and nearly impossible to maintain. His love for the fusion and funk music of the '70s is translated into modern terms and gradations. On the high-end level of complexity, the title track displays repeat themes in varying modes and shifting accented tempos, mixed meters, and a funky underpinning completely slowing on the bridge. The chase is on during "Speedy's 9 Is 10" with Binney and McCaslin in hot pursuit, interrupted by the steel guitar of Rogers during his lone cameo appearance on the CD with bassist Fima Ephron. A wild dissected funk delivered by Black during "Fidene" is shaded by creature-feature and groping electronic sounds. There are a few soul ballads that frame Binney's tart alto better than the larger group pieces, and Caine's pretty piano is also showcased in "We Always Cried" and "Perenne." An expanded ensemble with guest Peck Almond elicits clarion calls in 10/8 time during the short "Midnight Sevilla," and there are two takes of the fun and funky "Arlmyn Trangent," again with the wonderful McCaslin. Black is a constant source of rhythmic drive and inventiveness, giving Binney a large palette to paint broad color strokes. While not as vital as South, Balance is a worthy addition to the discography of one of the top performers in modern progressive jazz. Michael G. Nastos

"A jazz that doesn't need a remix because it already is one. It doesn't get more exciting than this" - (AZ München) ACT
Tracklist :
1    Balance    6:36
2    Marvin Gaye    4:56
3    Arimyn Trangent    6:48
4    I'll Finally Answer    7:48
5    Midnight Sevilla    1:34
6    Speedy's 9 Is 10    5:40
7    We Always Cried    5:25
8    Lurker    4:15
9    Rincon    4:45
10    Fidene    4:16
11    Arimyn Trangent Reliv    3:03
12    Perenne    4:55
Credits :
David Binney - Written, Alto & Tenor Saxophone
Wayne Krantz - Guitar
Uri Caine - Piano, Synth
Tim Lefebvre – Bass
Jim Black - Drums
Artwork – Peter Krüll

Guests:
Adam Rogers - Guitar on 6, 11
Fima Ephron - Bass on 6, 11
Donny McCaslin - Tenor Saxophone on 1, 3, 6, 8, 9
Tanya Henri - Vocals
Peck Almond - Brass
Kenny Wollesen - Broom on 12
Jon Haffner - Alto Saxophone on intro, 1

PAOLO FRESU — Sonos 'E Memoria (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

Tracklist :
1    Pregadoria 5:19
Written-By – Lobina / Salis / Ledda / Palmas
2    Freentry    3:3
Written-By – Salis / Di Castri / Fresu / Sanesi
3    Ballu    4:55
Written-By – Luigi Lai
4    Sa Pastorina    1:29
 Traditional
5    Salisolo    4:02
Written-By – Antonello Salis
6    Wanderlust    4:27
Written-By – Fresu
7    Mi E La    1:14
Written-By – Elena Ledda / Palmas
8    Ite Bella    2:13
 Traditional
9    Filugnana    3:45
Written-By – Elena Ledda / Palmas
10    Bass'N'Drum    3:54
Written-By – Di Castri / Sanesi
11    Sonos 'E Memoria (Soundtrack Suite) 24:51
Written-By – Salis / Ledda / Cabiddu / Sanesi / Di Castri / Lai / Fresu / Palmas
Credits :
Paolo Fresu - Trumpet & Fluegelhorn
Furio di Castri - Bass, Multieffects
Elena Ledda - Vocals
Luigi Lai - Launeddas
Mauro Palmas - Mandola
Antonello Salis - Accordion
Federico Sanesi - Percussion
Carlo Cabiddu - Violoncello
Coro ''Su Concordu ‘e su Rosariu'' di Santulussurgiu - Voices:
Mario Corona - SA Contra
Giovanni Ardu - SU Bassu
Antonio Migheli - SA ‘Oghe
Roberto Iriu - SU Contraltu

JOEL HARRISON — Free Country (2003) WV (image+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Joel Harrison recorded a dozen songs associated with country music, some of them quite traditional, but he recast them in surprising ways, making the CD title of Free Country fit quite well. Sometimes his steel guitar pays respect to the melodies and at other times he freaks out a bit on his electric guitar. None of the vocalists are that outstanding, and an instrumental "This Land Is Your Land" receives a surprisingly downbeat rendition. Norah Jones sings "I Walk The Line" and "Tennessee Waltz" quite straight, revealing that she is as comfortable in country music as jazz. Dave Binney's alto playing is a major asset on some of the more adventurous interpretations, and violinist Rob Thomas, pianist Uri Caine, and Tony Cedras on accordion add to the changing atmospheres of this strange but consistently colorful set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    I Walk The Line 5:04
Accordion – Tony Cedras
Sampler – David Binney, Joel Harrison
Vocals – Norah Jones
Written-By – Johnny Cash
2    Lonesome Road Blues 3:29
 – Traditional
Bass – Stephan Crump
Keyboards – Rob Burger
Percussion – Todd Isler
Vocals – Jen Chapin, Joel Harrison
3    Wayfaring Stranger 6:47
 – Traditional
Accordion – Tony Cedras
4    This Is Your Land 6:01
Piano – Uri Caine
Written-By – Woody Guthrie
5    Twelve Gates To The City 4:56
 – Traditional
Bass – Stephan Crump
Drums – Dan Weiss
Keyboards – Rob Burger
Percussion – Todd Isler
Vocals – Jen Chapin, Joel Harrison
6    Tennessee Waltz 6:09
Accordion – Tony Cedras
Vocals – Norah Jones
Written-By – King, Stewart
7    Hell Broke Loose In Georgia 5:24
 – Traditional
Accordion – Tony Cedras
Piano – Uri Caine
Sampler – David Binney
8    Folsom Prison Blues 6:39
Written-By – Johnny Cash
9    Tender Years 3:12
Written-By – George Jones
10    Will The Circle Be Unbroken 6:05
Accordion – Tony Cedras
Vocals – Raz Kennedy
Written-By – A. P. Carter
11    Sing Me Back Home 3:36
Bass – Stephan Crump
Drums – Dan Weiss
Keyboards – Rob Burger
Percussion – Todd Isler
Vocals – Jen Chapin, Joel Harrison
Written-By – Merle Haggard
12    Lone Pilgrim 8:16
 – Traditional
Piano – Uri Caine
Credits :
Artwork, Design – Peter Krüll
Bass – Sean Conly (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 10, 12)
Drums – Alison Miller (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 10, 12)
Guest [Guests] – Norah Jones (tracks: 1, 6), Tony Cedras (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 10), Uri Caine (tracks: 4, 7, 12)
Guitar, Electric Guitar [Electric], Fretless Guitar [Frettless], Steel Guitar, Arranged By, Liner Notes, Producer [All Songs Produced And Arranged By] – Joel Harrison
Saxophone – David Binney (tracks: 3 to 10, 12)
Violin – Rob Thomas (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 10, 12)

MICHAEL RIESSLER & SINGER PUR with VINCENT COURTOIS — Ahi Vita (2004) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

The boundary-crossing between classical music, jazz, and avant-garde results in an intellectually demanding and acoustically very appealing dialogue with Renaissance music. ACT
Tracklist :
1    O Dolorosa Gioia 4:58
Written-By – Carlo Gesualdo
2    Ahi Lingua, Ai Baci    7:28
Written-By – Michael Riessler
3    Amor    12:52
Written-By – Michael Riessler
4    Amor - Lamento Della Ninfa 4:52
Written-By – Claudio Monteverdi
5    Nasce La Pena Mia - Introduktion    2:04
6    Nasce La Pena Mia 3:45
Written-By – Alessandro Striggio / Michael Riessler
7    Pleurez Mes Yeux    3:51
Written-By – Michael Riessler
8    Pleurez Mes Yeux 3:21
Written-By – Dominique Phinot
9    Planxit    4:16
Written-By – Michael Riessler
10    Cursum    6:19
Written-By – Michael Riessler
11    Si Chi'Io Vorrei Morire 2:59
Written-By – Claudio Monteverdi
12    Lugebat    1:23
Written-By – Michael Riessler
13    Moro Lasso 3:34
Written-By – Carlo Gesualdo
14    Far Mi Deggio    5:54
Written-By – Michael Riessler
Credits :
Artwork [Cover] – Jerry Zeniuk
Baritone Vocals – Guido Heidloff
Bass Vocals – Marcus Schmidl
Cello – Vincent Courtois
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Producer – Michael Riessler
Soprano Vocals – Claudia Reinhard
Tenor Vocals – Andreas Hirtreiter, Klaus Wenk, Markus Zapp
Vocals – Singer Pur

BEIRACH ... HUEBNER ... MRAZ — Round About Federico Mompou (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Impressiones Intimas #1 4:29
Composed By – Mompou
2    Musica Callada #6
Composed By – Mompou
3    Fantasie On Musica Callada #10 2:11
Composed By – Mraz, Huebner
4    Musica Callada #10 6:33
Composed By – Mompou
5    Bass Fantasie On Musica Callada #1 2:58
Composed By – Mraz
6    Musica Callada #1 3:52
Composed By – Mompou
7    Musica Callada #27 1:48
Composed By – Mompou
8    Around Musica Callada #27 4:36
Composed By – Huebner, Beirach
9    Fantasie On Musica Callada #19 3:11
Composed By – Huebner, Beirach
10    Around Musica Callada #19 1:00
Composed By – Huebner, Beirach
11    Musica Callada #19 3:39
Composed By – Mompou
12    Musica Callada #18 7:40
Composed By – Mompou
13    Fantasie On Musica Callada #18 1:55
Composed By – Huebner, Beirach
14    Musica Callada #15 2:28
Composed By – Mompou
15    Musica Callada #22 8:20
Composed By – Mompou
Credits :
Artwork [Cover Art By] – Antoni Tàpies
Bass – George Mraz
Piano – Richie Beirach
Violin – Gregor Huebner