NAX

Vitous Miroslav: Journey's End [CD]

Carter Elliott: Lauds And Lamentations [2 CD]

Körvits Tönu: Mirror (Anja Lechner) [CD]

Nik Bärtsch's Ronin: Awase [CD]

Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh<br/>Erdal Erzincan, baglama<br/><br/>The album title, from the folk song of the same name by the great baglama player Muhlis Akarsu (1948-1993), translates as "How unseemly it is to follow anyone slavishly"- a motto of some pertinence to all the spheres of life, from the personal to the political to the spiritual. Interpreted artistically - as on this exciting album by two master-musicians from Iran and Anatolia - it could allude to the creative freedoms implied by traditional music. Important as it is to study them, traditions can't be extended by unreflective repetition: both due respect and an adventurous spirit are needed.<br/><br/><br/>.

Smith Leo: Divine Love [CD]

Digipack.<br/><br/>An unceasingly brilliant contributor to, we believe, more ECM studio recordings than any other musician, Jon Christensen finally has an album released under his own name. Band-leading has seldom been the great Oslo drummer's priority but in his selection of tracks for his :rarum disc, there is no mistaking the way in which Christensen has driven some mighty ensembles from his seat at the back. Titanic performances from Keith Jarrett's "Belonging" group, Terje Rypdal's "Waves" band, the Bobo Stenson Trio, Ralph Towner and more.