Kevin Whitehead

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says trumpeter Don Cherry is a curious figure in the scene: lyrical but sloppy, he's played with diverse musicians ranging from Ornette Coleman to Lou Reed. On his new album, Art Deco, Cherry reigns in some of his more exploratory impulses to produce a straight-ahead but modern sound -- and it pays off.

The wind and reed player has been self-releasing well-reviewed albums for years, even though they haven't earned him the attention he deserves. Kevin Whitehead says Golia's music is unconventional and sometimes raw. He recommends three recent releases featuring Golia's playing.

The west coast jazz trumpeter is known for his big band recordings in the 1950s. But he also made records with several smaller ensembles. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new box set collecting those little-heard tracks.