Shawn Maxwell's Alliance   Bridge
          Downbeat Magazine – Editor's Pick; December 2014
       “He’s an artist with unique ideas and his own sound palette...
       This is bold music.” – Frank Alkyer, Downbeat Magazine
       “... full of rich musical ideas, colorful passages,
       and unique musical constructs.” – Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz.com

    Shawn Maxwell's Alliance   
          Downbeat Magazine – Editor's Pick; February 2014
       “Bravo.” – Bobby Reed, Downbeat Magazine
       “Nobody writes like this.” – Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
       “a singular work of true musical fusion” – Hrayr Attarian, AllAboutJazz.com
       “4 Stars” – Grady Harp, Amazon.com Hall of Fame Reviewer

    lePercolateur   Pop Manouche
    
       “eleven original compositions so good I swear I’ve heard
       some of them, and sung along, before…
       those universal themes that make a tune a standard are all there…
       This disc is highly recommended.” – Doug Boynton, GirlSingers.co.uk

    Makaya McCraven   Split Decision
    
       “genuinely unique approach to the piano trio format… a marvelous example
       of his creativity and musicianship, as well as his very tasteful writing…
       Don't usually give "stars" around here, but if I did… it would be
       Five Stars all the way” – Ron Pelletier, Jazz From Gallery 41

    Aaron Koppel Quartet   Multiverse
          One of Downbeat Magazine's "Best CDs of 2012"
       4 Stars! (“Excellent”) – Downbeat Magazine
       “The band… knows how and where to take chances.
       Through time shifts, mood changes and wide–branching tunes,
       the musicians stick closely together…” – Jon Ross, Downbeat Magazine

    Shawn Maxwell   Urban Vigilante
    
       “music played by a tight–knit group that knows each other's moves,
       with studio sessions that play like a club set…” – John Ephland, Downbeat
       “People liking their jazz acoustic, straight–ahead and in the pocket”
       will have lots to love here.” – Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine

    Larry Gray Trio   Three Equals One
    
       3 ½ Stars! (3=Good, 4=Excellent) – Downbeat Magazine
       “the surprises come in subtle, consistent ways…
       a simple yet elegant trio… these guys play up
       to the album title's meaning.” – John Ephland, Downbeat Magazine

    Matt Nelson Trio   Nostalgiamaniac
          One of Downbeat Magazine's "Best CDs of 2011"
       4 Stars! (“Excellent”) – Eric Fine, Downbeat Magazine
       “the best piano–trio album to come out of Chicago in 2010” – Neil Tesser
       “impressive debut… a tasty player with a penchant
       for uncommon lyricism…” – Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times Magazine

    Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble   Blueprints
       3 ½ Stars! (3=Good, 4=Excellent) – Downbeat Magazine
       “a Latin jazz masterpiece…
       the sharpest new sound in Latin jazz” – Neil Tesser
       “a wonderfully diverse repertoire of new and highly creative music…”
       – Rebeca Mauleón, Jazz Times Magazine

    Shawn Maxwell Quartet   Maxwell's House
    
       “a hard–swinging, deep in the pocket release… Maxwell’s tone and sense of
       time are captivating… Strong compositions, a deep sense of time feel and an
       emphasis on melody all come together to produce an album that would be
       expected from musicians twice their age.” – M Warnock, AllAboutJazz.com

    Pat Mallinger   Dragon Fish
    
       #7 in JazzChicago.net's Top Chicago Recordings of 2009
       “‘Dragon Fish’ not only features the masterful playing of two virtuosos
       in a relaxed studio setting, but showcases Mallinger’s exceptional
        compositional skills as well…” – Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net

    Paul Wertico's Mid–East/Mid–West Alliance   Impressions Of A City
          One of Downbeat Magazine's "Best CDs of 2010"
       4 ½ Stars! (4=“Excellent”, 5=“Masterpiece” ) – John Ephland, Downbeat
       “This is musical narrative at its finest. A fanfare for the common
       (and mechanistically exploited) 21st century man and woman.”
       – Matt Marshall, JazzInside NY

    Howard Levy   Tonight And Tomorrow
          One of Downbeat Magazine's "Best CDs of 2010"
       4 Stars! (“Excellent”) "a stellar trio" – Michael Jackson, Downbeat Magazine
       “a marvelous piano–trio album featuring Levy's harmonica…
       The trio interplay is first–rate throughout, as are the arrangements.”
       – George Kanzler, Jazz Times Magazine

    Darwin Noguera's Evolution Quintet   The Gardener
    
       “an expressive and experimental take on the Latin jazz vernacular…
       The music here represents a new branch on the tree of jazz…
       a very strong outing for Noguera
       and his entire ensemble” – Matthew Warnock, AllAboutJazz.com

    Zvonimir Tot   Eloquent Silence
    
       “Tot keeps one–upping himself with every disc he puts out,
       and ‘Eloquent Silence’ is a fantastic example
       of just how brilliant a guitarist, writer and arranger he is.”
       – Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine

    Aaron Koppel Quartet   Falling Together Falling Apart
       #7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009
       #12 in JazzChicago.net’s Top Chicago Recordings of 2009
       3 ½ Stars! (3=Good, 4=Excellent) – Downbeat Magazine
       “a lovely, lively collection marked by intelligent writing, emotional depth,
       and sterling musicianship.” – Neil Tesser

    Tony do Rosario's New Chicago Jazz Quartet   New Beginnings
    
       “With an expansive tone that brings to mind
       the bleeding of a drop of watercolor into paper,
       do Rosario runs off quick, single–noted lines that have
       equal parts warmth and punch…” – Matthew Warnock, AllAboutJazz.com

    Paulinho Garcia   My Very Life
    
       “Singer–guitarist Garcia always caresses the ear,
       but this disc offers an impressive collection
       of original compositions steeped in Brazilian musical culture.
       Each is a revelation.” – Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

    Steven Hashimoto's Mothra   Tradewind
    
       #15 in JazzChicago.net’s Top Chicago Recordings of 2009
       “Covering a lot of stylistic territory isn’t much of a trick,
       but doing so and still projecting a unified ensemble voice is,
       and Mothra carries it off with aplomb.” – David Dupont, Cadence Magazine

    Marshall Vente Trio   Marshall Arts
    
       “Clearly one of the elite trio albums around, 'Marshall Arts' blends
       a sophisticated version of straight jazz with tender bossa rhythms
       in one nice musical package…
       a must for the discerning jazz audience.” – Edward Blanco, EJazz News

    Larry Gray   1, 2, 3…
    
       “sophisticated arrangements, gorgeous acoustic
       and electric string textures… and sensitive trap–set work…
       The tunes are sturdy and the playing inspired…
       hefty set of well–conceived music…” – Philip Booth, Downbeat Magazine