Music from three wonderfully bouyant albums! The Bad Plus is creating some of the most interesting new jazz anywheres and their take on the Nirvana cover, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is fantastic. Reminds me of that feeling I got after hearing Susanna Wallumrod's version of Dolly Parton's "Jolene". Great songs have many lives. Ethan Iverson, their pianist, is a master at reinterpreting old melodies. 

Olu Dara is well know as an avant-garde jazz trumpeter. His son encouraged him to record some of the personal tunes he used to sing around home. They are infectious in nature and the vocal doubling of the guitar riff always make me smile. I love driving through the countryside to his music on this album. 

The Abdullah Ibrahim, Johnny Dyani album is one of those rare gems in the collection that I sometimes pull out to serenade the ears of an audiophile friend. Is is heartfelt music and even though the album is from 1979, the music still speaks and rewards close listening.