Brunclík Kubát (éd) Semi Presidentialism

This self-produced and hard-to-find Austrian release features trombone phenom Ed Neumeister in a rare, intimate setting as leader of a first-class quartet. The American trombonist's classical music background is reflected in his carefully articulated lines and pristine sound, but as with Wynton Marsalis, Neumeister is equally at home playing jazz standards, as he does here with considerable aplomb. Boasting a comfortable three-octave range, the under-recorded Neumeister easily negotiates the changes to his complex "Spring Street," in which he leaps wide intervals with incredible speed, and on the signature Strayhorn tune "Take the 'A' Train," on which the trombonist soloed regularly during his time with the Duke Ellington Orchestra…

As is so often the case with music this adventurous, reactions are likely to be extreme: most probably will either love it or hate it. Both CDs from this set were recorded live at Rochester, NY's appropriately titled Bop Shop, a venue that has excelled at hosting the best artists on the radical fringes of jazz. Each CD features the sinewy trumpet of Paul Smoker with a different acoustic string bassist, Ed Schuller on the first and Dominic Duval on the second…

The single-disc, 29-track compilation Puzzles collects all of Ed Bruce's RCA recordings from the late '60s, including "Blue Denim Eyes," "By Route of New Orleans," "Walker's Woods," "Last Train to Clarksville," "Painted Girls and Wine," "Memphis Morning," "Why Can't I Come Home," "Ninety Seven More to Go," "Give Me More Than You Can Take," "Something Else to Mess Your Mind" and no less than three versions of the title track. While this material is not among Bruce's best-known, it is among his best. Though the duplicate versions of some tracks can be tedious – "Puzzles" is presented in three versions, there are two takes of "I'd Be Best Leaving You," there are both dubbed and undubbed versions of "Painted Girls and Wine" and "Blue Bayou" – Puzzles nevertheless is an excellent way to become acquainted with a fine, underappreciated talent.

Lil Ed Williams and Dave Weld have complementary styles. The pair of blues singer-guitarists learned slide guitar from J.B. Hutto (Williams' uncle) and they are equally skilled playing acoustic and electric blues. In fact, with the exception of the pop ballad "Too Late Baby" which is from 1944 and utilizes different personnel than the rest of the CD, this set mostly alternates acoustic and electric numbers by the Imperial Flames, a quintet. The co-leaders split the vocals and the guitar solos equally and are not only strong soloists but adept at backing each other. Due to impressive variety and high musicianship, the often-exuberant set is highly recommended to blues fans.