Junk Trap cover
Released

This 1978 album, released on the Italian label Black Saint, features alto saxophonist Luther Thomas and trombonist Joseph Bowie up front, with guitarist James Emery contributing skronky, biting-on-tinfoil solos. Shaw’s drumming is assertive and free in an expressionistic but never overbearing manner, and bassist John Lindberg shifts ably between almost harmolodic grooves and abstract bowed passages. All the compositions are by Shaw (with two co-writes from violinist Raymond Lee Cheng, best known for his work on saxophonist Frank Lowe’s Black Beings) and blend squalling free jazz with bluesy funk and soul.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Life Goes On cover

Life Goes On

Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow
Heirloom cover

Heirloom

Lisa Ullén
Optometry cover

Optometry

William Parker, DJ Spooky, Joe McPhee, Matthew Shipp
The Melodic Line cover

The Melodic Line

Vincent Courtois, Reverso, Frank Woeste, Ryan Keberle
Uneasy cover

Uneasy

Tyshawn Sorey, Vijay Iyer, Linda Oh
Dark Magus cover

Dark Magus

Miles Davis