New Releases: JOHN ZORN / BILL FRISELL / KENNY WOLLESEN / JOHN MEDESKI – TRANSMIGRATION OF THE MAGUS; HARD TO EXPLAIN – MORE SHATTERED DREAMS: FUNKY BLUES 1968 TO 1984; MATS OBERG - TWO.FIVE

JOHN ZORN / BILL FRISELL / KENNY WOLLESEN / JOHN MEDESKI – TRANSMIGRATION OF THE MAGUS

Really beautiful work from one our favorite John Zorn projects of the past few years – his sublime Gnostic Trio, a group with Bill Frisell on guitar, John Medeski on organ, and Kenny Wollesen on vibes! The trio come together here in these ethereal, hypnotic compositions by Zorn – really meditative music that's way different than the squeaks and squonks of his early years – and which shows this amazing maturation, and a great understanding of the more subtle sides of the sonic spectrum. For this album, the group adds in two harpists and one additional musician on bells and vibes – which only makes the sound more incredible – and titles include "Apocryphon", "The Divine Word", "Gnostic Hymn", "Into The Light", "Perfect Mind", and "Providence".  ~ Dusty Groove

HARD TO EXPLAIN – MORE SHATTERED DREAMS: FUNKY BLUES 1968 TO 1984

Funky blues galore – not the kind of sad, weepy blues of the old days – but the kind of gritty grooves that really broke big during the 60s and 70s funky generation! Most numbers here mix older blues elements with sharp snapping drums and tight rolling basslines – a sweet fusion of roots and contemporary sounds from the 70s – served up by a mix of well-known artists and lesser-known geniuses! The track selection is superb, with loads of tracks we'd never heard before – and the set's exactly the kind of collection that has us running back to BGP/Ace year after year – and digging everything they ever do. And even if you're not usually a blues fan, if you dig funky sounds you'll find plenty to love here – with titles that include "Walk On" by Finis Tasby, "Gimme Some Of Yours" by Artie White, "I Want You" by Smokey Wilson, "It's Real" by Jimmy Robins, "Sister Rose" by Shakey Jake Harris, "Them Love Blues" by Earl Wright, "I Finally Got You" by Jimmy McCracklin, "He Made You Mine" by Big Daddy Rucker, "Lovemaker" by Lowell Fulsom, "Getting Down With You" by Obrey Wilson, "Don't Down Me People" by Memphis Soul, and "I Don't Understand It" by Ice Water Slim & The Fourth Floor. ~ Dusty Groove

MATS OBERG – TWO.FIVE

Really really great work from pianist Mats Oberg – a musician we've always loved, but who really blows us away with this solo set of improvisations! Mats has this free-flowing sense of imagination that really loves us breathless – a way of creating on the keys of the piano that almost rivals Keith Jarrett at his 70s best, but which also has a more soulful focus and sense of direction too – so that each of the creations feel like preconceived songs more than spontaneous moments of music. The package has images of Mats posed before vintage albums by Berndt Egerbladh and a life-sized image of Stevie Wonder – and we might well say that the music has a soulful core that lies somewhere between the spirit of these two great musicians of the 70s. Titles include "Song For Amy", "Charlie Boy & Verkstadsbossa", "Sarek", "You Shall Find Your Way", "Ossians Vast", and "November Min Van".  ~ Dusty Groove