Having come to prominence while playing with John Zorn in the 1990s, trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas has since established a respected oeuvre of his own as a bandleader.  His work spans swaths of the jazz spectrum and often falls outside of it, and he partakes in handfuls of projects at any given time.

Brass Ecstasy, one of Douglas' newer groups, now makes its debut with Spirit Moves, a fun, horn-filled homage to New Orleans as well as other inspirations, including Art Ensemble of Chicago cofounder Lester Bowie, who passed away in 1999.

Rock Plaza Central: …at the Moment of our Most Needing or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone (Paper Bag)

Following a critically acclaimed album with a theme about robot horses that believe they're the real deal, Rock Plaza Central returns with a debut for Paper Bag Records.

A near-death accident has made this doubly named album extra special to the group, which again employs a semi-orchestral neofolk mixture with melodious acoustic guitars and Southwestern horns.

Masada Quintet (featuring Joe Lovano): Stolas, The Book of Angels Vol. 12 (Tzadik)

Comprised of 300 tunes — written in just three months — John Zorn's second Masada book, The Book of Angels, is a sprawling collection of musical diversity.  Each installment of the series, which began in 2005, has been performed by a different group of collaborators, and this one features Zorn's new Masada Quintet plus saxophonist Joe Lovano.

Stolas is decidedly jazzy, reuniting a number of classic Zorn contributors, including the aforementioned Dave Douglas, bassist Greg Cohen, pianist Uri Caine, and drummer Joey Baron.  The result is an accessible jazz disc that varies in theme and briefly touches upon Zorn's Jewish melodies.

Here's the list in alphabetical order:

1. An Albatross: The An Albatross Family Album (Eyeball)

For a decade, An Albatross has blurred the lines between psychedelic rock, synthesized circus sounds, tech riffs, and grind. Building on the group's adventuresome past, this thirty-minute sonic carnival is the most complete expression of An Albatross ever put to tape.

Progressive, epic, trippy, and heavy tunes commingle with layers of strings, horns, flute, and organs — as well as a lengthy spoken-word narrative. The An Albatross Family Album is the band's magnum opus.

2. Dub Trio: Another Sound is Dying (Ipecac)

From the moment that each of us heard the Brooklyn trio’s third studio album last January, we were in love.

A mix of rock, metal, punk, electronica, and of course, dub, Another Sound… is the group's most audacious album to date, speaking to fans across genre lines while pummeling them with the heavy riffs from opener "Not for Nothing" and the rippling low end of closer "Funishment." Mike Patton provides guest vocals on “No Flag.”

3. Firewater: Golden Hour (Bloodshot)

The Golden Hour is the product of one man’s personal and musical odyssey over land from India to the Mediterranean Sea. Firewater’s Tod A. blends his punk roots with field recordings of musicians in five countries, resulting in a mix of past and present, familiar and exotic.

Tod A.’s pairings of music samples recorded in nations that are in conflict with one another shows that “sonic harmony” can be produced even where personal harmony seems unobtainable. The Golden Hour is an ambitious recording that remains intensely personal while encouraging the listener to think about a greater picture.

4. Fucked Up: The Chemistry of Common Life (Matador)

To us, Fucked Up was one of the most successful bands of 2008, and we were thrilled by The Chemistry of Common Life. With this album, the group has brilliantly drawn from the traditions of hardcore and created something comfortably familiar and powerfully new.

5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! (Anti-)

Influenced by the stripped-down rock of Cave and company's 2007 Grinderman project, and inspired by both the biblical story of Lazurus as well as Harry Houdini, (whom Cave dubs as the world’s first- and second- greatest escape artists, respectively), Dig… finds a modernized “Larry” sprung back to life in the seamy underworld of 1970s New York City.

Each expertly crafted, hook-driven song provides vivid imagery to add to the story. “Today’s Lesson,” “Lie Down Here (And Be My Girl),” and “Midnight Man” are particular highlights.

6. Rodriguez: Cold Fact (Light in the Attic)

On first listen, the psychedelic folk styles of Detroit’s Rodriguez sound so familiar, it’s as though you’ve known his songs your whole life.

Originally released on the Sussex label in 1970, the album was largely overlooked in its home country, but unbeknownst to the inner-city troubadour, it grew an international cult following of millions (Rodriguez even became known as “Jesus” to many South African fans).

Upon its 2008 resurrection, Cold Fact became an instant classic, with tunes like “Sugarman” and “Hate Street Blues” still hitting a personal chord with every listener.

7. Roky Erickson and the Explosives: Halloween Live 1979-1981 (SteadyBoy)

Released on the heels of the decade’s most exciting and miraculous rock 'n' roll comeback, Halloween Live showcases the rock icon’s stunning voice and talent for songwriting, despite his then-fragile mental state.

Comprised primarily of material from the sci-fi-laced, psychedelic hard rock of 1980 album The Evil One (Roky Erickson and The Aliens, 415 Records), Halloween Live is perfect for fanatics and newbies alike with tracks such as the eerie “Creature with the Atom Brain” and “Bloody Hammer” and a ferocious rendition of “Stand For the Fire Demon."

8. Secret Chiefs 3: Xaphan: Book of Angels, Vol. 9 (Tzadik)

Led by multi-instrumentalist/composer Trey Spruance, Secret Chiefs 3 has re-imagined Masada material for Zorn's Book of Angels series. The group's use of Indian instruments and melodies, combined with surf rock, cinematic flourishes, African guitar, bits of electronics, and bursts of death metal, is unparalleled in execution and contemporaries.

Used here with Zorn's material, the outcome is magnificent.

9. Torche: Meanderthal (Hydra Head)

Meanderthal, the second full-length from Miami-based Torche, is in essence, a big “fuck you” to naysayers who would have you believe there is nothing fresh to be heard in rock 'n' roll.

Between the driving rhythms of “Speed of the Nail,” the punk-pop blend of “Healer,” and undercurrents of sludge, the album is accessible without losing any of its punch (these ain’t no “monster ballads”). Meanderthal is a wholly original, powerful album that will resonate with listeners for years and will undoubtedly mark a turning point in the band’s career and musical legacy.

10. Why?: Alopecia (anticon.)

The love- and death-riddled lyrics, shuffling snare drums, devious scenarios, and strangely un-pop hip-hop sound of Alopecia is somehow relatable.

It's evasive, but tempting, and acceptably poetic. With quirky wordplay and creative rhyme schemes from frontman Yoni Wolf, Alopecia slowly unfolds and then devours you into its own neurotic world.

Twelve Cups Records, the new label run by avant-garde violinist Carla Kihlstedt, has issued its first release. Titled Ravish (and Other Tales for the Stage), the album is a collection of music for theater and dance written by Kihlstedt, bassist Dan Rathbun, and drummer Matthias Bossi — each a member of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

The Dillinger Escape Plan has hired Billy Rymer (of The Rivalry) as its new drummer, replacing Gil Sharone, who will resume focusing on Stolen Babies with his brother Rani.

Beautiful electro-acoustic duo Lymbyc Systym begins a European tour today.

The Alex Skolnick Trio, an experimental jazz group led by Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick, has announced a short series of show dates, mostly in California. Skolnick's trio focuses on original pieces but also includes jazz renditions of rock and metal songs, including Testament's "Practice What You Preach."

After performing in France on New Year's Day, risque music/dance troupe Extra Action Marching Band returns to the Bay Area to play at The Uptown in Oakland on January 24.

Rock cellist Helen Money (the solo moniker of Alison Chesley) just finished a new album at Electrical Audio. Details of its release are forthcoming.

Video-game/metal experimentalists Horse the Band will begin recording a new album in March, likely with Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart at the boards. The album should be released in May or June on an unrevealed new label.

One of jazz saxophonist Ken Vandermark's upcoming recordings is a disc of live and studio improvisations with German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson. The group, Sonore, will have the album released in fall of 2009 on an undetermined label.

The request of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) to appeal the retrial of Jammie Thomas has been denied. Thomas was deemed liable for $222,000 in damages in 2007 for sharing 24 songs on Kazaa, but the same judge ruled months ago that the initial case was a mistrial. A new trial is set for March 9.