Amazing pieces that blend composition and improvisation. The compositions themselves are incredible, providing an excellent framework for the members of the quartet to improvise off of and also just all being great compositions in their own right. Also included with the CD is a booklet that includes brief descriptions of the compositional and improvisational techniques used in each piece, which is very relevant to anyone who considers themselves a student of creative music.

Mary Halvorson is a genius composer and guitarist who has developed her own musical language, and with Code Girl she has incorporated poetry into that language. Incredible compositions and lyricism (each track is a different kind of poem). Halvorson's playing is as great as usual, and all the other members of the band sound great. Robert Wyatt's singing in particular works extremely well in the tracks he's featured. Highly, highly recommend.

Magnificent pieces for solo saxophone

Lehman's most emotional and most beautiful album to date. This album manages to be complex and extremely interesting to listen to while also feeling like a strong expression of emotion. Lehman's trio is incredible as usual, and they synergize perfectly with Craig Taborn.

Everyone is in top form on this album. Ellman's compositions are great, using the somewhat unconventional instrumentation to great effect, creating interesting textures and often beautiful counterpoint. Ellman's playing is great here as well, at once lyrical and melodic and abstract.

Unique textures and a solid underlying sense of avant-garde melodicism make this a great album to listen to. The album shifts moods at the drop of a hat while remaining pleasant all the way through. Incredible compositions from Berne and great playing all around.

There have been many attempts to fuse hip-hop and jazz, and although most turn out well almost all collaborations are content to stay static within the two genres and allow any innovation to come simply from the stylistic juxtaposition. Not Sélébéyone. On this album there is an excellent fusion of the disparate elements of jazz and hip-hop, but it also pushes ahead in both styles, making something entirely new and unique. One of my favorite albums. I hope to hear more from this group.

Excellent all out hardcore

Work Friends is a band that describes itself as "sci-fi jazz", and that name could not be more accurate. This album is reminiscent of Sun Ra and has a tendency to venture out of our atmosphere, remaining an enjoyable listen the whole way.