Various

Much respected Montreal-based DJ Andy Williams turns to the once mighty social soapbox of jazz and its many far-reaching musical offshoots to form the root of the compilation Variations In Time, a collection that aims to highlight the genre’s most abrasive communicative qualities. The freeform horn and bass phrasings that litter the Avram Fefer Trio opener "Loss (for Flo)” make known from the start this set’s diversion from the straight and narrow, an idea continued in poet Clifton Joseph’s biting Monk tribute "A Chant For Monk.” Things settle down a bit with the motoring, calypso-tinged, vibraphone lead of Eval Manigat’s "Ra-Monk” before ratcheting up again for Billy Bang’s agitated trumpets and hypnotic chug on "Echo Vamp 1678.” Masterful poet/professor Amiri Baraka brings the disc to climax in his characteristically pointed style over a reworking of Stevie Wonder’s "All I Do” on "Nightmare Bush’It Whirl,” marking one of many standout cuts on this better treatment of jazz’s many variations.