The Zombies – Complete Studio Recordings – Varese Sarabande
FourScore
Having inspired everyone from Paul Weller (The Jam) to the cast of Glee, the legendary British classic-rock band finally brings together its most essential tracks (from two original U.S. albums, U.K. releases, and a rare single) to create this 61-track collection. And it’s quite a psychedelic-rock explosion, from the familiar bellows of 1964’s classic “She’s Not There” to tracks from the band’s landmark Odessey and Oracle album. Snag it on vinyl and relive those vintage days. ***
Chris Potter– Circuits – Edition
Saxophonist Potter brought in standout collaborators for this set, among them drummer Eric Harland, bass player Linely Marthe, and Blue Note artist James Frances. All chip in to this unique set of “new jazz,” infused with electronica and Potter’s own avant-garde approach to his instrument. There are some serious grooves here — most notably “Hold It” and “Exclamation” — and just as much welcome experimentation, as on world-music-influenced tracks “The Nerve” and “Koutome,” and the nightclubby “Queens of Brooklyn.” ***
Nate Wooley– Columbia Icefield – Northern Spy Records
Named after the massive ice field in the Rocky Mountains, this album is perhaps its own metaphor for Wooley’s ambitions, as he attempts to combine modern music (with the help of his top-notch band) and an earthy, rooted musical sensibility. The result is a set of three long-form tunes (“Lionel Trilling,” “Seven in the Woods,” and “With Condolences”) that evoke the solitary nature of the album’s namesake with trumpets and pedal steel in tow. ** ½
Julian Lage – Love Hurts – M Avenue
If you work backward from the album’s end track — a unique, forward-thinking translation of Roy Orbison’s classic “Crying” — it’s obvious that Lage’s latest is not a typical guitar-jazz set. From the edgy yet chill vibe of the opener, “In Heaven,” through Lage’s takes on tracks by Keith Jarrett (a spacey version of “The Windup”), Ornette Coleman (“Tomorrow is the Question,” given a pensive arrangement), and the Boudleaux Bryant title track, this is a self-assured and interesting set. ** ½