James Cotton It Was a Very Good Year (Just A Memory) Cotton's schmaltzy choice of material can't kill the overwhelming emotion he musters when he blows on that harp. 9 (JC)

Psychopunch Bursting Out of Chucky's Town (White Jazz) Sweden + rock = the tits, buddy. 9 (JC)

Absolute Ensemble Absolution (Enja/Fusion III) Matt Herskowitz's "Serial Blues" is among the forward-looking music contained here. 8.5 (LD)

Chucho Valdés Solo Live in New York (Blue Note/EMI) Flighty, witty and sentimental episodes from the formidable Cubano pianist. 8 (RB)

Recoilers For Decoration Only (Kelp) Ottawa trio presents debut sixer. Melodic, ironic indie rock and a pair of sensitive, atmospheric ditties. 7 (LC)

Robert Scott The Creeping Unknown (Thirsty Ear) Largely instrumental, key-heavy experiments in semi-psychedelic, ambient pop/rock. Decent but flaky. 6.5 (LC)

Various Transit (Sunrise) "Classic trance" from Sasha, Paul Van Dyk et al. Eurostyle uebercheese at its ripest and most pungent. Actually entertaining. 6 (RB)

Fiamma Fumana 1.0 (Omnium) Sicilian folk songs meet the beats. Further proof that fiddle-tronica is sick and wrong. 3 (RB)

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