V.A. — What’s Nu? Music Beyond (2003) ACT : Nu Jazz Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Gerard Presencer–    Chasing Reality (The Micatone Remix) 6:20
Bass – Jeremy Brown
Drums – Chris Dagley
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Geoff Keezer
Guitar – Adam Goldsmith, John Parricelli
Piano – Tommy Wadlow
Remix – Micatone
Trumpet – Gerard Presencer
Vibraphone – Joe Locke
Written-By – Presencer
2    Rebekka Bakken & Wolfgang Muthspiel–    It's OK (The Teddy But Remix) 6:16
Guitar – Wolfgang Muthspiel
Remix – Teddy Kumpel
Vocals – Rebekka Bakken
Written-By – Bakken
3    Christopher Dell With Elbtonal Percussion–    OgnoB GnoS 5:06
Drums, Percussion – Andrej Kauffmann, Jan-Frederick Behrend, Stephan Krause, Wolfgang Rummel
Marimba – Christopher Dell
Written-By – Behrend, Krause
4    Geffen With Frank Möbus–    Inner Noise 3:36
Acoustic Guitar – Stephan Bienwald
Guitar, Electronics – Frank Möbus
Producer – Guy Sternberg
Sampler [Sampling], Keyboards – Guy Sternberg
Vocals – Geffen Miron
Written-By – Möbus, Sternberg
5    Roberto Di Gioia, Marsmobil With Till Brönner–    Hand In Hand (The Radio Remix) 3:32
Flugelhorn – Till Brönner
Written-By – Di Gioia
6    Esbjörn Svensson Trio–    O.D.R.I.P. 8:19
Bass – Dan Berglund
Drums – Magnus Öström
Piano – Esbjörn Svensson
Written-By – Berglund, Svensson, Öström
7    Dirk Meissner's Jazz For Starships–    Light Years Frome Home 4:40
Drums – Andreas Proegel
Instruments [All Instruments Except Drums] – Dirk Meissner
Written-By – Meissner
8    Mc Jazz With Peter Weniger And Ingolf Burkhardt–    Cash 4:10
Bass, Programmed By – Anselm Kluge
Soprano Saxophone – Peter Weniger
Trumpet – Ingolf Burkhardt
Vocals – Anete Humpe
Written-By – Humpe, Kluge
9    Christoph Stiefel's Envelope Generator–    Envelope #4 5:04
Bass, Electronics – Björn Meyer
Drums, Percussion, Electronics – Marius Peyer
Piano, Electronics – Christoph Stiefel
Written-By, Electronics, Bass – Meyer
Written-By, Percussion, Drums, Electronics – Peyer
Written-By, Piano – Stiefel
10    Tim Hagans & Scott Kinsey–    Big Gig In Pajala 2:56
Electronics – Scott Kinsey
Trumpet – Tim Hagans
Written-By – Kinsey
11    Bert Wrede / Actronic–    Hamlet # Belleforest 2:57
Bass – Werner Dafeldecker
Instruments [All Instruments Except Bass] – Bert Wrede
Vocals – Louise Schumacher
Written-By – Wrede
12    Terri Lyne Carrington With Wallace Roney–    Jazz Is A Spirit 3:44
Drums, Programmed By – Terri Lyne Carrington
Guitar – Danny Robinson
Keyboards – Greg Kurstin
Percussion – Ed Barguiarena, Darryl "Munyungo”"Jackson
Trumpet – Wallace Roney
Voice [Spoken Word], Bass – Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Written-By – Carrington

KUDSI ERGUNER — Islam Blues (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Turkish-born ney flutist, composer and musicologist is one of the most important representatives of classical Ottoman music. As a master of the ney, a traditional Turkish reed flute, he has popularised the music of Sufism and Ottoman culture. In addition to releasing numerous solo albums, he has also collaborated with international artists. He has not only preserved traditional Turkish music, but has also realised innovative projects in which he combines Eastern and Western music. Kudsi Erguner is an important cultural ambassador who has contributed to the revitalisation and dissemination of traditional music in Turkey through his work. ACT
Tracklist :
1    One Word    8:19
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
2    Adjem Blues    8:19
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
3    Mediterranien    4:55
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
4    Sarki    6:50
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
5    Camel    12:40
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
6    Moonrise    12:10
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
7    Twins    8:20
Composed By – Kudsi Erguner
Credits :
Double Bass – Bruno Caillat, Renaud Garcia-Fons
Drums – Karim Ziad (tracks: 7), Mark Nauseef
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Kanun – Hakan Güngor
Kemenche – Derya Turkan
Ney – Kudsi Erguner
Percussion – Bruno Caillat
Vocals – Halil Neciboglu, Yunus Balcioglu

SORIBA KOUYATÉ — Bamana (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Soriba Kouyaté was a Senegalese kora player who repeatedly combined traditional sounds with modern influences. He performed with world-famous artists and brought the music of his homeland to the international jazz and world music scene. His virtuoso improvisation and innovative style made him one of the leading kora players of his time. He died in 2020, leaving behind a musical legacy that is still appreciated by many musicians today. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Wassolo    6:22
2    Mobéni -Bara    5:09
3    Mali - Sadio    5:22
4    Kélémagny    5:46
5    Bamana    6:14
6    Sorispain    6:06
7    Diya    5:35
8    All Blues 3:54
Composed By – Miles Davis
9    Kaira    4:52
10    Diarabi    5:21
11    Yéré - Yira    5:17
12    Summertime 4:31
Composed By – George Gershwin
Credits :
Bass – Linley Marthe
Drums, Percussion – Joël Allouche
Flute – Didier Malherbe (tracks: 7, 11)
Kora – Soriba Kouyaté
Piano – François Quillet (tracks: 4, 10)
Saxophone – Didier Malherbe (tracks: 4)
Synthesizer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Arranged By – Philippe Gaillot

KARIM ZIAD — Ifrikya (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Algerian-born drummer, percussionist, composer and gumbri player combines the North African music of his homeland with jazz and world music. After moving to France, he worked with many renowned musicians such as Joe Zawinul, Nguyên Lê and the Orchestre National de Jazz. Ziad is known for his ability to incorporate traditional rhythms from the Maghreb region, such as Gnawa and Rai, into modern jazz compositions. As musical director of the Orchestre National de Barbès, he shaped the Algerian music scene and contributed to the international recognition of North African music. Karim Ziad is an innovative artist who builds cultural bridges between traditional and modern music. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Aît Oumrar 5:15
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad, Abdelkbir Merchane
2    Ya Rijal 4:47
Written-By – Karim Ziad, Nguyên Lê
3    Awra 6:08
– Traditional
Arranged By – Hamid Mestari, Karim Ziad
4    Lebnia 5:52
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad
5    Alouhid 5:52
Written-By – Karim Ziad, Nguyên Lê, Takfarinas
6    Sandiya 4:40
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad, Abdelkbir Merchane
7    Amaliya 3:38
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad
8    Gwarir 4:51
Written-By – Karim Ziad
9    The Joker 5:32
Written-By – Bojan Zulfukarpasic
10    Nesrafet 4:41
Written-By – Karim Ziad
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Gaëlle Hervé, Marielle Hervé
Banjo, Backing Vocals – Abdenour Djemaï
Bass Guitar – Linley Marthe (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 10), Michel Alibo (tracks: 2, 3, 4)
Design – Peter Krüll
Flute – David Aubel
Flute [Pehl Flute] – Ali Wague
Guitar – Nguyên Lê (tracks: 2, 5)
Lead Vocals – Hamid Mestari (tracks: 3), Karim Ziad (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7), Abdelkbir Merchane (tracks: 1, 6, 8)
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Khliff Miziallaoua
Piano – Bojan Zulfikarpašić
Producer, Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Karim Ziad
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Alain Debiossat
Synthesizer – Jean-Philippe Rykiel (tracks: 3, 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Vincent Mascart

VIJAY IYER TRIO — Historicity (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vijay Iyer has captured the ears of critics and listeners like only a handful of the most elite jazz pianists since McCoy Tyner, Cecil Taylor, or Misha Mengelberg initially burst onto the scene. There's no other single player who sounds even remotely like him, few who can match his inventive and whimsical sense of play or seriousness, and absolutely nobody who presents the stunning, highly intelligent music he dishes out. With Historicity, he touches on many different levels of acumen, influenced by contemporary alternative rock, Motown, show tunes, pop fusion, the early creative music of the '70s, and ethnic strains. Iyer also revisits two of his older compositions, with the majority of this progressive jazz -- whether "covers" or originals -- done completely in his own scintillating style. Iyer's working/touring band of drummer Marcus Gilmore and bassist Stephan Crump is more than up to the task, with this well-rehearsed music retaining a spontaneous, liquid, chameleonic urgency that consistently staggers the imagination. Iyer's mind-blowing virtuosity on the title track/opener is loaded with mutated repeat phrases that tumble from his brilliant, busy hands. Clearly, he is not like all the others. His love for Andrew Hill is demonstrated during "Smoke Stack," a scattershot, inventive, tangential swinger, while Julius Hemphill's deeply bluesy and tribal "Dogon A.D." is perfectly interpreted in its thorny, craggy, unpredictable rhythmic base, as Crump's bowed bass and Gilmore's juggernaut funk stagger the mixed meters, very faithful to the original.

M.I.A. fans are treated to "Galang" in a hardbound big beat with summarily contrasting bright or dark piano lines, while Stevie Wonder's "Big Brother" sports a tom-tom-fed New Orleans syncopation contrasting Iyer's strident piano. The suggestive, introspective original "Helix" is different for the pianist in a diffuse setting, and he conversely incorporates a circle-the-wagons approach on the romantic Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim evergreen "Somewhere," juxtaposed against a bluesy swing, again atypical. Perhaps the most unusual choice is R&B fusioneer Ronnie Foster's "Mystic Brew," a straight funky version, not at all smooth, but way cool. The recapitulated tracks include "Trident: 2010" in a roiling, nearly boiled motion, while "Segment for Sentiment #2" is magnificently spiritual, again a twist for Iyer's more animated notions. Crump's bass playing and especially his soloing should be something to marvel at for anyone who appreciates finely crafted, artistic jazz musicianship, while Gilmore is amazing in his ability to keep up and push the more complex sounds. Vijay Iyer has mad skills, overwhelmingly and powerfully demonstrated on all of his recordings, but especially this one. He's also maturing at a rapid rate, while at the height of his powers on this incredible effort that sounds like much more than a mere piano-bass-drums mainstream jazz trio. This is an incredible CD, and a strong candidate for best jazz CD of 2009. Michael G. Nastos

... a spectacular redefinition of the classic piano trio. "Tense and consistently surprising." (ZEIT) ACT
Tracklist :
1    Historicity 7:48
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
2    Somewhere 6:57
Written-By – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
3    Galang [Trio Riot Version] 2:39
Written-By – Justine Frischmann, Maya Arulpragasam, Ross Orton, Steve Mackey
4    Helix 4:00
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
5    Smoke Stack 8:07
Written-By – Andrew Hill
6    Big Brother 4:48
Written-By – Stevie Wonder
7    Dogon A.D. 9:18
Written-By – Julius Hemphill
8    Mystic Brew [Trixation Version] 4:55
Written-By – Ronnie Foster
9    Trident: 2010 9:05
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
10    Segment For Sentiment #2 4:03
Written-By – Vijay Iyer
Credits :
Artwork [Coverart: Model for Memory, 2008] – Anish Kapoor
Bass – Stephan Crump
Drums – Marcus Gilmore
Piano, Arranged by – Vijay Iyer