Ran is one of my favorite musicians. Phrases like "true original" and "blurring categories" get thrown around a lot but for him they apply completely. Jazz, repertory, improvisation, recomposition, third stream ... you simply can't call his music anything but his own and I admire that. His admixture of jazz, showtunes, blues, gospel, Motown, noir, and classical is also just highly attractive to me in it's component parts. But I don't see too much talk about Ran on here, though I'm certain he has his admirers. I have about a dozen of his records, but have listened to many more. I plan to own them all one day. Thankfully, or perhaps sadly, competition for them is nonexistent on eBay. He has also been quite prolific in the last couple years, releasing duos with Christine Correa, Sara Serpa, David Fabris, and Dominique Eade as well as a solo recital. I have heard a few of them and they're up to standard. His most recent album is a tribute to Abbey Lincoln that looks thrilling. He has also cut an album of George Russell music forthcoming on HatOLOGY.
So: thoughts? Favorite recordings?