JEREMY STRACHAN - The Heart Of The Matter

Although now a resident of St. John's, Nfld., Strachan has been a Toronto fixture for years. Whether as a bassist in Sea Snakes, an indie-rock sax-for-hire, or in woodwinds n' buckets duo, Feuermusik, he is an endlessly capable musician. This 36-minute solo album stretches those capabilities to their furthest yet; a four piece suite in response to the paintings of Toronto artist, Katie Bond Pretti, The Heart Of The Matter is an enthralling listen. Recorded in a T.O. art gallery and emboldened by the room's natural reverb, Strachan's sax and clarinet sing with intelligence, reserve and emotion.

CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET with ERIC DOLPHY - Cornell 1964

Blue Note producer Michael Cuscuna has done it again. Having uncovered a long-lost Monk/Coltrane Carnegie Hall duo back in 2005, his archival talents return with this monster double-disc set, recorded on March 18, 1964 at Cornell University and only recently found by Mingus' widow Sue Graham. With Eric Dolphy's untimely death mere months away, Cornell 1964 captures Mingus' core workshop, unbeknownst to itself, sending off one of its most distinct and distinguished soloists.

ORIGINAL SILENCE -The First Original Silence

This is loud, skronky, jazzy, out there, feedbacky, loud, noisy, loud, etc. Original Silence includes Jim O'Rourke (producer of many great things and member of many great bands), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Terrie Ex (the Ex), Mats Gustafsson and Paal Nilssen-Love (of free jazz group the Thing) and Massimo Pupillo (of Italy's Zu). This cd has two tracks, both of which are a heavy fusion of experimental rock, free-jazz, noise. I like the first track more as it is more fierce.

JOHN COLTRANE - Coltrane's Sound

An often overlooked Coltrane album from his Atlantic years and released while he was on Impulse. This is most notable for an exceptional ballad "Central Park West," which shows Coltrane at his most lovely and lyrical. A varied record that any fans of his Giant Steps era will appreciate.