NEW RELEASES: FRANCO MICALIZZI FEATURING FABRIZIO BOSSO, JIMMY HASLIP, JEFF LORBER, ERIC MARIENTHAL - ORDANUOVA; BALLISTER - WORSE FOR THE WEAR; STEPHEN RILEY - BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS

FRANCO MICALIZZI FEATURING FABRIZIO BOSSO, JIMMY HASLIP, JEFF LORBER, ERIC MARIENTHAL - ORDANUOVA

A totally great project from the legendary Franco Micalizzi – Italian soundtrack maestro of the 70s, working here in a warm fusion style with plenty of soul! The album makes use of all Micalizzi's talent for composition and arrangement – but the format is quite different than some of his crime/cop work of years back – more in the soulful fusion style of that period, which turns out to be a great showcase for the excellent lineup on the record – which includes Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet, Jeff Lorber on keyboards, and Eric Marienthal on alto and tenor sax. Micalizzi himself plays acoustic piano on the record – and although there's vocals on a few tracks, most of the focus is on the instrumental solos. Titles include "Waxing Moon", "Guarda Me", "Ondanuova", "Bubble Blues", "Magico", "Slow Emotion", "Nunca A Certeza", and "Agua Do Mar". ~ Dusty Groove

BALLISTER: DAVE REMPIS, FRED LONBERG-HOLM, PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE – WORSE FOR THE WEAR

The Ballister trio is hardly worse for the wear this time around – and instead, the group seem to have a new sort of fire, and one that has them sounding even bolder than ever! Dave Rempis is searing on alto, tenor, and baritone sax – playing at times with a style that makes us wonder if he's ever coming up for air – while Paal Nilssen-Love demonstrates once again that he's one of the true powerhouses in free jazz drumming, with an incredible command on the kit throughout! Fred Lonberg Holm plays both cello and electronics, both used in ways that shade in the music with some crucial colors that make the whole thing way more than just a bombastic expression of freedom – and the album's three long tracks are titled "Fornax", "Scutum", and "Vulpecula".  ~ Dusty Groove

STEPHEN RILEY – BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS

That's a heck of a tall horn on the cover – and the album's got some mighty tall tones from tenorist Stephen Riley too – blowing here in a set of standards handled with a wonderfully relaxed approach! Riley's got a bit of a rasp in his tone – maybe Stan Getz by way of Ben Webster – and he's very much at home with these familiar tunes, and able to make them all his own with these great little inflections, and a personal, poetic statement on his solos. The rhythm trio has just the right sort of vibe to match the leader's desire – quietly swinging at some points, very spare at others – with Peter Zak on piano, Neal Caine on bass, and Jason Marsalis on drums – on titles that include "Baubles Bangles & Beads", "Hellhound On My Trail", "Who", "I Thought About You", "I've Told Every Little Star", "Bewitched", and "Wait Till You See Her".  ~ Dusty Groove