Primitive Knot

Cortlandt is the first solo CD by bassist/composer Sean Malone (Cynic, Gordian Knot). It features a rich tapestry of musical styles, from fusion, to world music, to the Baroque. It contains, as Sean puts it "a lot of the bits and pieces that never made it to the setlists of the groups I've played in" with a focus on fusion melody and harmony (Controversy, Splinter, Giant Steps). As much as it is a showcase for performance, Cortlandt is the freshman offering of Sean's composition and arranging skills, utilizing an array of textures and instrumentation. Fans of Cynic and Gordian Knot have sought out this little-known disc, but should be warned that it doesn't serve as a 'prequel' to Gordian Knot; it's a chance to hear Sean stretch out as a bassist and début as a composer in a fusion setting.

It has been six years since saxophonist/composer Jan Garbarek issued a new recording under his own name. For In Praise of Dreams Garbarek enlisted violist Kim Kashkashian and frequent collaborator Manu Katche on drums. Garbarek, who composed the album's 11 selections, plays saxophones as well as a host of keyboards and percussion, while Katche plays acoustic and electronic drums along with Kashkashian's viola. In many ways this is the most radical recording that Garbarek has ever issued, but not because it's outside – quite the opposite.

It has been six years since saxophonist/composer Jan Garbarek issued a new recording under his own name. For In Praise of Dreams Garbarek enlisted violist Kim Kashkashian and frequent collaborator Manu Katche on drums. Garbarek, who composed the album's 11 selections, plays saxophones as well as a host of keyboards and percussion, while Katche plays acoustic and electronic drums along with Kashkashian's viola. In many ways this is the most radical recording that Garbarek has ever issued, but not because it's outside – quite the opposite.

Robbie Basho was one of the big three American acoustic guitar innovators, John Fahey and Leo Kottke being the other two. Basho was the least commercially successful of the three, but his influence and reputation has steadily grown since his untimely death in 1986 at the age of 45. And with good reason; for Basho's deeply spiritual approach, intellectual rigor, and formal explorations (among his goals was the creation of a raga system for American music), present a deeply compelling, multi-faceted artist. Basho was actually a college friend of John Fahey, and his early recordings (like Kottke's) were for Fahey's Takoma label. Following Fahey 's move to Vanguard, Basho followed suit, and released Voice of the Eagle and Zarthus for the label in 1972 and 1974, respectively (his most commercially successful records were made for the Windham Hill label later in the decade)./quote]