NEW RELEASES: DAVE REMPIS / DARREN JOHNSON / LARRY OCHS - SPECTRAL; DAVE REMPIS / LASSE MARHAUG - NAANCORE; EVOLUTIONARY MINDED: FURTHERING THE LEGACY OF GIL SCOTT-HERON

DAVE REMPIS / DARREN JOHNSON / LARRY OCHS - SPECTRAL 

Wonderfully complicated reed lines from the team of Dave Rempis on alto and Larry Ochs on tenor and sopranino sax – augmented here by trumpeter Darren Johnson, whose instrumental tones are a perfect fit for the record! The style of the set's a bit like some of Ochs' early material with Rova Sax Quartet – especially the way all three players are very interested in finding a sonic space in which they can resonate together, then burst out with very individual inspiration. The tracks all feel very improvised, but with a strongly conscious quality that makes each new sound a delight! Titles include "Traction", "Wrinkle Wrankle", "Iterated Integrals", "The Drop", and "Cheek & Bones".~ Dusty Groove

DAVE REMPIS / LASSE MARHAUG - NAANCORE

Dave Rempis really goes over the top here – and Lasse Marhaug provides some bold electronics to match! Rempis turns in some of the most frenetic work we've ever heard him do on alto sax – and Marhaug races to keep up and collaborate with him on a range of electronic flourishes – bits of noise, static, and other transmissions – which often blow out from the speakers at a level that feels like a meaner, nastier version of what Dave is doing with his reeds! Each side of the album features a long improvisation from the pair – and titles include "Skinning The Poke" and "Strategikon". (Limited to 300 copies. Includes download.) ~ Dusty Groove 

M1, BRIAN JACKSON & THE NEW MIDNIGHT BAND - EVOLUTIONARY MINDED: FURTHERING THE LEGACY OF GIL SCOTT-HERON

Soul satisfying grooves, vocals, rap and spoken word swirl together with socio-political visions on Evolutionary Minded, a star-studded collaboration of hip-hop, jazz and soul A-Listers including Dead Prez, Chuck D, Gregory Porter, and Azar Lawrence. Talented new producer Kentyah collaborates here with original Midnight Band keyboardist/composer Brian Jackson to brilliantly build upon and expand the legacy of Gil Scott Heron, forefather of socially-conscious rap. Tracks include: Offering; All We Got feat M1, Martin Luther; Voice of the People Juma Sultan; Liberation Psychology feat Bobby Seale, M1; Opponent feat Dead Prez, Martin Luther; Winter In America feat Martin Luther, M1;. It's a Time Warp;. Go Ahead On feat Bobby Seale;.  Recurring Cycles feat M1;. Losin' Our Minds feat Gregory Porter;  Headhunters;. Occupy Planet Earth feat Chuck D, M1, Gregory Porter; Tradition feat Abiodun Oyewole; and Song of the Wind feat Gregory Porter.