A vibraphonist is not very common among instrumentalists, a vibraphone trio, though remarkable in jazz history, is not commonplace and finally, a Greek vibraphonist's trio is a rarity if not the first of its kind. From the trio concept of Red Norvo to the 4 mallets of Gary Burton, Rafalides pays tribute to his masters contextually. The content, on the other hand is unique and like the album's title suggests; near to us and very dear to him.

Paul Hanson (bassoon), Dan Zemelmann (p), Jeff Denson (b, voc, comp), Alan Hall (d). It’s not every day you hear such an equilibristic bassoon player in a jazz context. Rather hard-boiled music in brisk tempos. Unfortunately the sound has been quite compressed in the mastering. Nevertheless compelling music.

“Meine süsse Europäische Heimat: Dichtung und jazz aus Polen” was Krzysztof Komeda’s third and last album before his departure to America and his untmely death at age 38. Recorded in Germany in 1967, it featured a stellar lineup, including Tomasz Stanko and Zbigniew Namysłowski, and a German actor reciting poems by great Polish poets, such as the future Nobel prize winners Czesław Miłosz and Wisława Szymborska. Now, a half a century later, this music (13 original compositions, but without poetry) surfaces in fresh and inspired instrumental renditions on this brand new album by veteran saxophonist Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski (Komeda’s old colleague) and his Sextet with top Polish jazz musicians of today. Relasesed in the venerable Polish Jazz series, it is a double album. Disc1 is a studio session (2013), disc 2– a concert recording (2016) of the same material, but with thoroughly different interpretations. A gem.

The perfect antidote to all the ‘epic-ness’ of some jazz albums lately - a huge three hour meditation - Sorey’s vision is huge.

The best anti-Trump record until now. Highlight: Tom Waits is doing «Bela Ciao», a fantastic combination of Ribot songs and traditional anti-fascist songs. A «must have»-record, with singers like Waits, Steve Earle, Fay Victor, Meshell Ndgeochello a.o.