Charles Lloyd, Nicole Mitchell, Steve Coleman among top jazz releases

By Bret Saunders, Special to The Denver Post

There's so much accomplished new recorded music stacking up that I thought this relative breather between concerts would be a good time to get some of it out of my system and perhaps into yours.

Mostly Other People Do The Killinghas, over the decade since their formation, gelled into one of the premier jazz ensembles. Their CD cover art has perhaps received as much attention as the music itself, with the quartet's members re-creating classic LP shots from the likes of Roy Haynes and Ornette Coleman.

On the new "Slippery Rock" (Hot Cup) they present themselves as members of a slick '80s-era pop jazz ensemble a la Spyro Gyra (who will be in Parker

Lee Konitz will play at Dazzle on Sunday. (Associated Press)

this week, see below.) The irreverent cover art aside, this is a band committed to dizzying, avant-leaning intensity, usually provided with a hurried pulse. If MOPDTK remind me of anyone at this point, it's the infrequently documented ensembles of saxophonist and composer Henry Threadgill, which makes it as adventurous (and enthralling) as "jazz" gets. Meanwhile, trumpeter Peter Evans and woodwind expert Jon Irabagon are currently vying for the mightiest front line going.

Charles Lloydcontinues his seemingly endless winning streak with"Hagar's Song" (ECM) a more reflective set of duetswith pianist Jason Moran. Lloyd utilizes his arsenal of flutes and saxes to engage in soothing dialogue with pianist Moran, who has proven himself to be an empathic presence. It's a lovely hour, with the elder statesman reflecting on history (of jazz and himself.) Particularly effective are the meditative "Hagar Suite," the blues-inflected cover of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," and the CD's delicate coda, a cover of (former Lloyd associates) The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows."

The notion of "jazz flute" has probably been relegated to Ron "Anchorman" Burgundy in recent years, and that's too bad, because, like Lloyd, there are some fine practitioners on the instrument,includingNicole Mitchell. Her quartet Ice Crystal has a spirited new CD, "Aquarius," (Delmark) that extends back into Eric Dolphy and Rahsaan Roland Kirk territory. The idea behind this project is to contrast her flute with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, hence the aural "ice crystals." The sonic combination is intriguing, and even if you're not disposed to love the flute as a lead instrument, there are plenty of exciting ideas being explored here. Of the handful of Mitchell's releases I've heard, this one is the most appealing.

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