THIS WEEK’S HEAVY LISTENING:

The English Beat Here We Go Love (englishbeat.net)

George Clinton & Parliament Medicaid Fraud Dogg (C Kunspyruhzy Records)

Has it really been 23 years since Dope Dogs? That’s a long time to wait for new music from Dr. Funkenstein, George Clinton, and his zany crew Parliament. This song cycle through the intri- cacies and horrors of the American medical system is classic Clinton, with a song such as Psychotropic boasting psychedelic guitar, breathy soul choruses and some seriously jazzy organ. Then there is the outrageous bump of Kool-Aid, which sounds like the Holy Mothership’s prime libation.

Noah Preminger and Rob Garcia’s Dead Composers Club

The Chopin Project (Connection Works Records)

Not your classical music lover’s Chopin by any estimate, this quartet co-led by saxophonist Noah Preminger and drummer Rob Garcia, with guitarist Nate Radley and bassist Kim Cass takes on the Nocturnes and Preludes with full respect to their melodic complexity and drive. Naturally delivered with a swinging, modernist groove and some deep atmospheres. Etude Op. 25 No. 7 in C# minor is just lovely.

Seraphic Light

Live at Tufts University

(Aum Fidelity)

It would be impossible for any session featuring the monster talents of Daniel Carter (reeds, trumpet), William Parker ( bass) and Matthew Shipp (piano) to be anything less than riveting, and this session certainly is. Divided into three long improvised parts, the dialogue between the three is never less than telepathic and ranges from frenetic to quiet in equal parts but never grates. Often, this kind of performance is better attended than listened to after the fact, but this recording will take you right there and you can experience firsthand how great a night it was. In keeping with the Coltrane song the band is named after, this is spiritually deep.