Marc Ribot—the polymath guitarist and inveterate activist—alongside bassist Shahzad Ismaily and drummer Ches Smith, concoct this musical potion called Connection. Now, for those innocent in the Marc Ribot experience: envision a man on a guitar wielding it like Thor’s hammer, only with dexterity that defies the confines of musical genres. Oh, they’ve got guests, too—each one an ingredient adding zesty overtones to the already dynamic album.

“Connection” kicks the door wide open with a rambunctious two-note riff that tunes into a [...]