I’m floored by how much I love these albums! Of course, I know Sam Rivers was a remarkable free-jazz saxophonist from those excellent 1960s Blue Notes albums - Dimensions & Extensions, Contours, Fuchsia Swing Song – and his work on Dialogue (Bobby Hutcherson), Life Time (Tony Williams), and Conference of the Birds (Dave Holland) – all stellar. These latter-day recordings (1999-2007) are works with a big band, just full of amazing players. His compositions encompass so many styles, often at once, and I’m blown away by the sheer vibrant energy and how well it all comes together into exciting and unpredictable jazz that is adventurous, cerebral, and dense, while soulful funky and deeply groove driven. It somehow still sounds fresh and ahead of its time. Now, if only I could get my hands on that Mosaic Select set. Available on YouTube and Spotify – worth checking out if you don’t know them.