Mostly, I’ve been listening to hip hop.  Yes.  And Stevie Wonder.  But recently, a few LPs have caught my ear.  Two are next in line alphabetically, and the others are records I just picked up at Stereo Jack’s in Cambridge.

Dave Holland – I have tons of CDs, but only a couple LPs by Dave Holland.  Frankly, it’s shocking to me how few LPs I actually have.  That is, two.

Jumpin’ In – Man, this record is great.  I love the Steve Coleman/Holland combo.  One of my faves is Triplicate, ’cause wow.  I have a chart for “First Snow” on this record that is in Dave’s hand because a million years ago, I played a concert at NEC that was partly student musicians (I was getting my MM at the time), and partly/mostly Dave.  He played great on that concert.  But we played “First Snow,” and it’s just incredible.  “Jumpin’ In” is also an instant classic.  Anytime Kenny Wheeler is involved, you know it’s going to be great.

Razor’s Edge – The title itself is a great way to think about this record.  It’s right at the edge.  Not out or free, but very curious music.  Not exactly jazz or fusion but sort of both.  Coleman and Wheeler are back – so you know it’s going to be great.  Robin Eubanks and Marvin “Smitty” Smith are also on this date, and they play amazingly well.  Burning.

And then, there is Victor Feldman’s To Chopin with Love.  I have always loved Feldman’s playing and composing.  His work with Cannonball Adderley is amazing (Live at the Lighthouse!) and not only his playing but his writing on Miles Davis’ Seven Steps to Heaven is incredible.  “Joshua” is one of my all-time favorites.  So, this record, which takes an already incredible musician and asks him to play some Chopin with a drummer (his son, Trevor Feldman) and a bassist (a very young John Patitucci), and, well here you have it.  Actually, I love this sort of thing.  I wouldn’t always make the same arranging decisions, but that doesn’t matter.  What matters is this: well-conceived and flawlessly performed?  Yes.  Killing.  John sounds amazing on this record.  That’s worth the price of admission alone.

Denny Zeitlin is, just wow.  And he had a career outside of music while he was playing incredible music!  Just amazing.

Zeitgeist – Almost a straight ahead record with some very serious free music overtones.  Joe Halpin and Oliver Johnson are super great, but the magic is when Charlie Haden and Jerry Granelli play.  They are too marvelous for words.  My favorite Zeitlin is a duo record with Charlie Haden, Time Remembered One Time Once.  They have an amazing hook up.

Tidal Wave – …is a…fusion album.  It’s electric and modal and…just great.  Again, Haden, but this time also with John Abercrombie during my favorite period in his playing and Peter Donal, who plays his ass off.