On this week's show we'll listen to some recent releases from February's additions at Squidco, mostly smaller groups with a couple of notable exceptions. That first exception will be the Red Dhal Sextet, who are the sextet of

Hilary Jeffery-trombone
Frank Paul Schubert-alto saxophone
Paul Dunmall-tenor saxophone
Alexander von Schlippenbach-piano
Mike Majkowski-bass
Yorgos Dimitriadis-drums, percussion

This is from their self titled album on the FMR label, where each track is named for a specific color of dhal, the Indian word for lentils. This track is titled "Purple Dahl".

Now on to the smaller groupings. Acclaimed free improvising saxophonist Jack Wright is joined by his son Ben on double bass for these exceptional duos that balance space and color through extended techniques and an impecable sense of timing.

This is from their Relative Pitch album "As If Anything Can Be The Same" and the track is titled "As if".

On to another duo, NY based pianist Angelica Sanchez in a stunning and intimate duo with legendary free improv trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith in an album of superb conversation that flows naturally from their work together in Leo Smith's projects Golden Quartet and Organic. This is from their Clean Feed album "Twine Forest" and the track is titled "Cones of Chrome".

We move from a duo to a trio, the incredible Digital Primitives group from NY consisting of saxophonist Assif Tsahar, drummer Chad Taylor and multi-instrumentalist Cooper-Moore. This is from their 3rd release of rhythmic and soulful improvisation with an inventive New York attitude. The album is titled "Lipsomuch & Soul Searchin'" on Assif Tsahar's Hopscotch Records label, and the track is titled "India".

Focusing on one, drummer and percussionist Gerry Hemingway put 15 years into his "Kernelings" release on his own Auricle imprint, a single disc with a CD + DVD, where Hemingway plays the drum set, various percussive objects, harmonica, voice, live electronics, with each track set to beautiful images, dividing the program into "mist, dust, light, and sex". This track is titled "May Bell".

Greg Cohen is known on both the East and West Coast, as is guitarist Bill Frisell. On Cohen's Relative Pitch album "Golden State" he celebrates his home state of California in 6 originals and 3 California covers, a set of playful, melodic, and upbeat duos. This track is titled "Old Gravenstein".

Exception number two is Chicago and NY tenor saxophonist's band Day in Pictures from his Clean Feed release "Nightshades" with

Matt Bauder-tenor saxophone
Nate Wooley-trumpet
Kris Davis-piano
Jason Ajemian-double bass
Tomas Fujiwara-drums

Back to a duo, and back to the West Coast, on their Relative Pitch album "Free From The Ambiquities of Natural Language", multi-reedist and wind player Vinny Golia performs on a staggering list of instruments - bass flute, soprillo saxophone, sopranino saxophone, bass saxophone, Bb clarinet, and contrabass clarinet, while Urs Leimgruber handles alto and tenor saxophone. Thsi is the title track, where both players push their instruments into unusual and captivating territories.

We end with the trio of

Dave Rempis-alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
Joshua Abrams-bass, guimbri, small harp
Avreeayl Ra-percussion

from their Aerophonic album "Aphelion". Using a unique instrumentation, this band balances beauty and power in the track titled "Ruah".