The Flam

On this free jazz date the powerful tenor Frank Lowe teams up with trumpeter Leo Smith, trombonist Joseph Bowie, bassist Alex Blake and drummer Charles Bobo Shaw for five group originals including the collaboration "Third St. Stomp." The very explorative and rather emotional music holds one's interest throughout. These often heated performances are better heard than described.

This live 1986 duet date between both Steves in the Steve Lacy sextet on soprano saxophones is, for intent purposes, a swinging affair. While there are edges and some outrageous improvisation, Steve Potts (right channel) and Steve Lacy (left channel) keep this firmly in the Monk-ian jazz vein. The huge difference in each man's tone makes the pair instantly distinguishable. Lacy has the rounded, slightly flattened lyrical tone, and Potts plays his soprano like Jackie McLean plays the alto: raw, edgy, knotty lines with lots of twists and turns while Lacy creates musical circles in his improvisations…

Playlist: The Very Best of Laura Nyro gathers 14 tracks recorded during the singer/songwriter's tenure with Columbia. Included are the original versions of "And When I Die," "Stoney End," and "Flim Flam Man [aka Hands Off the Man]." While this budget-priced compilation should please most casual listeners, it does leave off "Eli's Coming," one of her essential songs.