Charismatic saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman assembles a new rhythm section of young players for his latest quartet outing, Words Fall Short, following his vocali-infused album Where Are We (2023). Superior to Redman’s previous effort, the album comprises eight carefully curated pieces, three of which are elevated by influential guest appearances.
“A Message to Unsend” has a delicate essence, shaped by pianist Paul Cornish’ arpeggiated style, consonant articulations by Redman and bassist Philip Norris, and the sensitive drumming of Nazir Ego. There’s something classical, even bolero-infused in the works, and the music flows with hymn-like, breezy tones, showcasing solos from Cornish and Redman, which unfold…
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Having garnered some of the most excited reviews of his career with last year’s trio record 
Art Schop is a performing name of Brooklyn-based British solo artist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Martin G. Walker and The Fifth Hammer is the fifth studio release under the Art Schop moniker. The name Art Schop is derived from noted German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, whose philosophy is based around pessimism; he’s very quotable, his notable quotes include “A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts” and “Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed“.
Duo Ruut (Square Duo) are Ann-Lisett Rebane and Katariina Kivi, two Estonian musicians who write, sing and play facing each other, their instrument being a single kannel (an Estonian zither). Playing with the texts and repetitive motifs of runo song, a form of traditional oral poetry specific to the Baltic Finnic languages, their music holds a glistening minimalism in its rhythms and a crossover sheen in its sound. Rebane and Kivi’s voices help – often sweet, but also sharp when required.
…A 3CD box set including Rock Workshop’s self-titled 1970 debut album and 1971 follow up ‘The Very Last Time’ remastered from the master tapes with bonus tracks and including single versions, previously unreleased track, demos and alternate versions. 
Most artists signed to the premier blues label, Alligator, have established careers; however, occasionally, youthful talent emerges, such as Louisiana-born 
Call it moon gardening, agricultural astrology, or, if you prefer your pseudoscience complemented by an Appalachian drawl, planting by the signs. No matter what you name it, the practice of sowing crops according to the lunar phases remains in scientific method limbo.
There’s an unpretentious quality to 
With their third album, 
American composer 
These tracks capture Sun Ra’s electronic peregrinations during the 1970s and ’80s. The Arkestra occasionally makes a cameo appearance but Ra commands the spotlight, not so much composing music as painting soundscapes with electronic keyboards.
GoGo Penguin created their 2023 full-length 
Here’s another salvo from the power-popping, windmill chording, Nuggets-mod-turned-mildly psychedelic 
Swiss group 
…Eric Clapton reissue an “enhanced” edition of 1992’s live album Unplugged, boasting a slightly reorganized and expanded 2CD or 2LP sequence, a brand-new mix and highlights from a never-before-heard audio interview with Clapton discussing the songs in his set shortly before playing them in that session.
After expanding their 
…collects material related to the group’s short-lived American Composers Series project, including remastered and expanded editions of the albums ‘George & James’ and ‘Stars & Hank Forever!’, with additional contemporary studio and live material, and thirteen previously unreleased tracks, including a suite of Sun Ra covers, interpretations of songs by Buddy Holly and Lou Christie, and a never-before-heard Residents original, “Burning with Desire”.