This page will feature record and concert reviews from our DJs. John Hammel (Mozart To Motörhead) and Jeff From Oxford (The Perfumed Garden) get the ball rolling.

March Edition

Xiu Xiu – Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu – Vol 1 – Polyvinyl Records - Xiu Xiu: Jamie Stewart – vocals, guitar, drum machine, synthesizers, organ, bass, piano; Angela Seo – vocals, backing vocals, synthesizers, percussion - David Kendrick – drum set. Additional musicians - Tim Berne – alto saxophone - Mary Halvorson – guitar - Tony Malaby – tenor saxophone - Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo – viola, vocals - Ches Smith – drum set - Houda Zakeri – backing vocals.

This is how you do it. Vulgar title aside, this is the way you cover songs. Unless you’re content to throw any vestiges of artistry out with the baby & the dishwater. Brilliant re-creations of songs that light Xiu Xiu’s fire and should ignite a spark in you too. From the opening ominousness of Psycho Killer to the Runaways Cherry Bomb and its visceral menace, this is a superb collection of songs done to perfection. I’m sure many lovers of the original versions will be put off but if left turns and skewered perspectives are your cup of tea, this is the record for you. - JH

Angelika Niescier - Chicago Tapes – Intakt Records - Angelika Niescier: Alto Saxophone -  Jason Adasiewicz: Vibes - Nicole Mitchell: Flute - Mike Reed: Drums - Dave Rempis: Alto & Tenor Saxophone - Luke Stewart: Bass.

The German composer/reed player has something to say and she bolts out of the gate with a ardent piece entitled Rejoice, Disrupt, Resist, her instrumental response to the current fascistic immigration goings on of the current administration, saying it loud with deft defiance. Working with some of the Chicago area’s best musicians, she & her teammates bring energy and fluidity to all of Niescier’s compositions. By turns atmospheric, nuanced, propulsive but most of all compelling new music. - JH

Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong – Highway 20 Records – Another essential addition to the Williams catalog of great albums. She has always struck me as the ultimate in emotional dichotomy in the sense that she sounds almost blasely world weary and angrily hopeful at the same time. As always Lucinda carries a strong social consciousness on her upraised fist up her sleeve. Speaking of strength, in spite of recent health issues, this record comes across as powerful both vocally and in the tough propulsive music on fine display. Her duet with the astonishingly ageless Mavis Staples So Much Trouble in the World is a standout track. The hard-earned experiential grain in their voices works beautifully together. Vocally there are also fine assists from both Brittany Spencer and Norah Jones. The core band of guitarists Doug Pettibone and Marc Ford, bassist David Sutton, and drummer Brady Blade light  a rocking fire under these songs. - JH

Van Morrison – Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge – Orangefield Records - John Allair (organ/piano), David Hayes (bass), Bobby Ruggerio (drums), Mitch Woods (piano), Anthony Paule (guitar), and drummer Larry Vann.

Van the Man sounds as good as he’s ever been. 80 years old now sounds impossible. This is an impressive outing of mainly blues covers and inspired originals by one of music’s most distinctive voices. The band plays with energy, originality, & imagination, working within the genre and ably complementing the impressive lineup of guest appearances by Taj Majal, Buddy Guy, John Allair & Elvin Bishop. This all sounds like a bunch of like-minded master musicians getting together for a session not to impress but to pay homage to a genre of music they all hold dear. My favorite track is their highly original take on Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame. Terrific new record from Morrison. – JH 

Dobrinka Tabakova - Sun Triptych – ECM Records - Maxim Rysanov - Viola; Dasol Kim – Piano - Roman Mints - Violin, Hurdy Gurdy - Kristina Blaumane – Violoncello - BBC Concert Orchestra - Dobrinka Tabakova – Conductor

What a transcendent recording. A mind-bending genre blending of musical currents incorporating folk, jazz, and of course classical music with a compositional skill & ease that defies imagination. Tabakova’s compositions shimmer & spin out in gorgeous perorations of light and movement. The players, of course, are world class and at the top of their interpretive game. From the opening piece, Whispered Lullaby for viola & piano to the titular Sun Triptych for orchestra and selected soloists, i.e. violin, cello & hurdy gurdy, this extraordinary album of works gleams and entrenches itself into your soul. I have never heard a musical depiction of light in music so aptly portrayed or performed. Grab it! – JH

Ania Karpowicz & Dominik Strycharski – SYRENA RE – FSR Records - Ania Karpowicz – flutes - Dominik Strycharski – blockflutes.

You will have heard nothing like this record. It is as captivating to me as when I first heard microtonal Bulgarian women’s choirs many years ago. Two flautists incorporate looping, not just with their instruments, but with snatches of cantorial singing, popular music and electronic processing in order to take us on an oddly spiritual but fulfilling musical journey. This is playful and rigorously edifying at the same time. – JH

Tiffany Poon – Nature – PentaTone Classics – Hong Kong born NYC based pianist Tiffany Poon delights in this scintillating program of short piano masterpieces reflecting her passion to explore the natural world via musical composition. The album has garnered immense praise for her performances of repertoire as wide ranging as Louis-Claude Daquin’s Pieces de clavecin to Lilli Boulanger’s D’un Jardin Clair from her 3 Morceaux. In between we get to hear exquisite renditions of Ravel, Couperin, Debussy, Rameau, Alkan, Fauré, and Saint-Saens. You might have to stretch your imagination to make the nature connections at times, but you won’t have to work too hard to just sit back and enjoy these delectable piano works as they weave their magic into your head and heart. Tiffany Poon is a major “newish” talent, showcasing her fine sense of balance & articulation. - JH

Jon Irabagon - Dan Oestreicher – Saturday’s Child – Irabbagast Records - Jon Irabagon – bass saxophone – Dan Oestreicher – bass sax/bass flute; Special guest – Mike Pride – drums/percussion on Sugar Rush radio edits.

Warning: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM IF YOU DON’T LOVE AVANT-GARDE MUSIC. Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, this extravagant exercise in pushing listening & esthetic boundaries breaks the surface. Fans of Jon Irabagon will no doubt not be surprised. I am a fan but this is not EZ listening by any means. Satisfying on multiple levels but not if you’re looking to tap your toes and swing your hips. Does that sound like a ringing endorsement. Of course not. But I for one am glad these two madmen decided to wreak havoc on my sensibilities. Oh, it does swing a bit on Sugar Rush and its radio edit. - JH

Barbican Quartet – Lux Intus – Berlin Classics - Amarins Wierdsma, violin - Kate Maloney, violin - Christoph Slenczka, viola - Yoanna Prodanova, cello.

Mozart, master of timelessness, clarity and purely reasoned emotion, is fully captured on the Barbican’s wonderful new recording of his Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575. Wonderful delineation and expression throughout. This new cd, the title which means, inner light, is best exemplified by the choice of works in the key of D Major is a sheer & utter delight. The works are given fresh insights whether the shimmering musical world of Sophia Jani’s Postlude, to the energetic intensity of Rebecca Clarke’s Poem for String Quartet and their excerpt of the Nimrod variation from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. A central highlight of the recording is the Barbican’s rendition of Britten’s expansive Quartet in D Major Op. 25, given an exceptionally incisive performance at the hands of these persuasive artists. - JH

Jon Irabagon – Focus Out – Irabbagast Records - Jon Irabagon – alto sax – Matt Mitchell – piano/Fender Rhodes - Chris Lightcap – electric bass – Dan Weiss – drums - With – Koyaki – vocals 3,5 – Dave Ballous – trumpet 3,4 – Miles Okazaki – guitar 3,4 - Donny McCaslin – tenor sax 4 – Mark Shim – tenor sax 4 - All songs by Jon Irabagan except * - Irabagon & Koyaki.

Secret weapons are a delight in a band. Koyaki, born Carl Walker, blends hip-hop and jazz vocalese to fluidly impressive effect, weaving in and out of the disjunct rhythms and sometimes leading them down avenues of improvisation that captivate the senses and delights one aurally. That said, this is a fantastic record by an artist who is under most people’s radar and instead should be celebrated as an incandescent star in the firmament. Jon Irabagon has been leading the pack for a long time now and continues to do so here with finely molded compositions allowing plenty of room for stellar bouts of improvisation. Listen closely and you can hear the history of jazz in this music but w/o any sense of retrogression. The two compositions featuring Koyaki co-compositions, Paper Planes & Indigo Stains, along with the all instrumental Evening Star, are standouts on a standout release. - JH

Brian Landrus – Just When You Think You Know – Palmetto Records - Brian Landrus – baritone/tenor sax/bass clarinet/flute/alto flute/bass flute/compositions; Zaccai Curtis – piano/Rhodes – Dave Stryker – guitars - Lonnie Plaxico – bass – Rudy Royston – drums/percussion - Violet Giu – vocals on Beyond.

Composer & reedist Brian Landrus is quite the chameleon. He’s been out there for a while making music in whichever sub-genre of jazz he wishes and doing so with aplomb & ease. This record is no exception. Gorgeous melodies & rhythmic groove undercut the finely honed harmonic nature of many of these works stirring up the sensibilities w/o holding anyone at arm’s length. Totally accessible tonally nuanced and enticing music. - JH

Maggie Nicols – Immersion – Discus Music - Maggie Nicols: voice - Robert Mitchell: voice, piano - Alya Al Sultani: voice.

The three principals probably would have been burned as witches in medieval times. This is almost scary stuff. Primarily wordless vocalizing in a highly improvisatory manner. If you lean towards adventurism and Yoko Ono at her most extreme doesn’t scare you too easily, then you will find this to be right up your alley albeit w/o any of the shrillness Yoko at her finest has always been capable of. Wide, wide swings of vocal effects keep this one enthralling but don’t put it on at your next party unless it’s way past your bedtime and you need to clear the house. - JH

Cecil Taylor New Unit – Words & Music – The Last Bandstand – FSR Records - Cecil Taylor – piano, spoken words - Harri Sjöström – soprano saxophone, sopranino - Okkyung Lee – cello - Tony Oxley – electronics - Jackson Krall – drums - Recorded: 23 of April 2016 at the Whitney Museum, NY.

Commitment, forcefulness, & always with a clear-eyed vision from the first note to last; these are some of the attributes that defined Cecil Taylor’s life and music. This was his last performance at age 87 and there is no discernible diminution of his formidable powers. One long nearly eighty-minute improvisation with the master both at the keyboard and speaking his own poetry leading his latest and last “Unit” of virtuoso musicians, this is improvisation that doesn’t grate against the sensibilities but instead flows with perfect logic making the journey as enjoyable as the ultimate goal.  A remarkable ending to a sixty-plus long career as one of music’s most original creators. – JH

Taupe – Waxing | Waning - Minority Records - Mike Parr-Burman ― guitar, bass guitar, electronics - Jamie Stockbridge ― alto and baritone saxophones - Alex Palmer ― drum kit, percussion.

Yes, yes, yes. More please. Scottish trio Taupe create a mind numbing, spine-tingling, viscerally charged music that leaves you gasping for air in your armchair! Yowser. The air around my stereo system was hyper-electrically charged for hours after listing to this undefinable music incorporating elements of electronic, “skronk”, jazz, rock & bold experimentalism. Funky, chic, and in yo’ face music making of the highest order. - JH

Eric Bibb – One Mississippi – Repute Records – A masterfully strong new record from Eric Bibb. Rooted in blues but with his gaze steady on the horizon, Bibb here provides insights into social issues and causes w/o a bit of alienation. Clear-eyed thoughtfulness and no hint of self-pity or interest. Just the facts ma’am presented in a manner that lets you, the listener, absorb & address within your own sense(s) of empathy, ethics and morality. The opener One Mississippi is a protest song that leans heavily on the tradition of field hollering without shouting. The strongest song on an album of heavyweight compositions is the strongly incisive & poignant tale of Emmett Till Crossroads Marilyn Monroe. - JH

Courtney Marie Andrews – Valentine – Loose Future Records - Courtney Marie Andrews: Vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, piano, keyboards. Jerry Bernhardt: Producer, bass, twelve-string guitar, keys, backing vocals. Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear): Drums, percussion.

Powerhouse vocals to the fore in this outing of courageously bare Americana folk-pop. A fever dream of introspection balanced with atmospherically nuanced accompaniment. Songs of love and self recognition deliver with intimacy, profound emotion and depth. - JH

SF Collective – Collective Imagery – SFJAZZ Records - Chris Potter – Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet - Michael Rodriguez – Trumpet, Flugelhorn - David Sanchez – Tenor Saxophone, Congas - Edward Simon – Piano, Electric Piano - Warren Wolf – Vibraphone, Marimba - Kendrick Scott – Drums
Matt Brewer – Bass, Guitar (Track #6) - Cava Menzies – Vocals (Track #4)

Exceptionally strong compositional voices are evident on this newest addition to the SF Jazz Collective’s oeuvre. This record is a collaboration with the de Young Museum, which required each member to compose pieces based on works in the "About Place" exhibition. The concomitant masterly musicianship prevails as always with this grouping and individually each contribution is highly evocative showcasing each composer’s strengths. This is an admirable record with outstanding melodic and harmonic tales of nature, politics, spoken word intervals and terrific texture. – JH

Craig Taborn Tomeka Reid Ches Smith – Dream Archives – ECM Records - Craig Taborn - Piano, Keyboard, Electronics - Tomeka Reid – Violoncello - Ches Smith - Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion, Electronics.

Well it’s all in the title. Dreamscapes rendered with percussion, electronics, keys and one of the most vocal of instruments, the cello. Neato juxtaposition between through composition and improvisatory passages in abundance here. Craig Taborn is part of the “new music” practitioners who challenge the listener with music that is both alluring unpredictable from one moment to the next. Extraordinary explorations of two covers, Paul Motian’s Mumbo Jumbo & Geri Allen’s When Kabuya Dances add to the quiet excitement of this release. – JH

NDR Big Band – Talking to Bela – NDR Big Band Records - NDR Bigband (band), Claus Stötter (soloist, flugel horn, trumpet), Fiete Felsch (soloist, bass flute), Dan Gottshall (soloist, trombone), Florian Weber (soloist, piano), Ingmar Heller (soloist, bass), Peter Bolte (soloist, alto saxophone), Stefan Lottermann (soloist, trombone), Sandra Hempel (soloist, guitar), Percy Pursglove (soloist, trumpet), Klaus Heidenreich (soloist, trombone), Julius Gawlik (soloist, tenor saxophone), Luigi Grasso (soloist, bass saxophone, bass clarinet), Ian Thomas (soloist, drums), Marcio Doctor (soloist, percussion), Ingolf Burkhardt (soloist, flugel horn), Ingo Lahme (soloist, bass trombone), Frank Delle (soloist, tenor saxophone) – Geir Lysne – compositions/arrangements – leader.

78 minutes of sheer unmitigated Bela Bartok transcriptional joy! Geir Lysne has assembled a stellar ensemble of some of the best European soloists and let them rip on his magnificent arrangements of one of the greatest 20^th century classical composers. This meeting of classical, jazz, folk & is both adventurous & eminently satisfying on multiple levels. Ingenious use of the folk music that influenced Bartok and then taking elements of Bartok’s compositions to inform his own newly minted music & arrangements. - JH

Dry Cleaning – Secret Love – Rough Trade Records - Dry Cleaning

Nick Buxton – percussion (1–4, 6, 9–11), backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 11), programmed drums (1, 4, 6–9), synthesiser (1, 4, 9), drums (except 1), keyboards (2, 6, 7), piano (3, 5, 9)  - Tom Dowse – guitar; backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 11), mandolin (4), synthesiser (10) - Lewis Maynard - bass; backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 11) - Florence Shaw - vocals; backing vocals (1, 5, 6, 11), synthesiser (10). Additional musicians - Cate Le Bon – programmed drums (1, 2, 6–10), synthesiser (4, 10, 11) - Euan Hinshelwood – alto saxophone (3) - Jeff Tweedy – guitar (3), Bruce Lamont – tenor saxophone (5) - Stephen Black – bass clarinet (10).

This is the third album for this group led by Florence Shaw. They’re new to me and remind me a bit of the punk & post-punk NYC scene of the seventies in their musical approach. Lots of additional musicians here to spread the joy around, most notably Jeff Tweedy on My Soul/Half Pint & Cate Le Bon’s production efforts adding to the expanded textures beneath Shaw’s speech-singing style. - JH

Morton Feldman – Complete Works for Multiple Pianos – Wergo Records

Jovita Zähl, Philipp Kronbichler, Peter Degenhardt, Rohan De Saram, John McAlpine, Friedrich Jaecker, Sarah Becker, Claudia Boettcher, Nicole Ferrein, Sylvia Koke & Stefanie Kunschke.

Patience. That is a hallmark of Feldman’s music in general, and his piano music in particular. Soft & shimmering textures beg the listener to allow the music to slowly immerse itself into your consciousness for rewards of meditative serenity. This three cd set of duets, trios, piano four hands and music for five pianists & vocalists, is tempered by expert atmospheric musical conjuring. This is music you can allow to seep into your soul OR use as background while working other, quiet, tasks. Doing either will definitely enrich your life. Kudos to the pianistic artists involved and Wergo records for producing this release. - JH

Juan Dahmen – Muss Raus – www.juandahmen.bandcamp.com – Juan Dahmen – drums/percussion/electronics – Recorded live at Estudio Parche, Spain, July 2024 this is mind expanding sound scaping nerve scraping music making of the highest order. If you could imagine yourself boppin’ and hummin’ along to an EP of drum improvisations with electronics and thoroughly enjoying yourself in the process, sorta, kinda wishing it wouldn’t end, then this is the album for you. Great stuff. - JH 

Mattias Svensson – Embrace – Origin Records - Mattias Svensson - bass
Bill Mays – piano - Morten Lund – drums – Recorded in three studio sessions four years ago, and finally released now, you have to wonder why the wait? Gorgeously rendered performances of contemporary jazz trio sounds. Svensson’s swing oriented bass anchors his musical compadres so all can sing the musical lines and accent the harmonic sweetness within this strongly centered outing of sharply defined, enjoyable straight ahead jazziness. If you like to tap your toes while you’re listening or doing chores around the house or motor-vating down the road, then this one’s a killer. - JH

Julia Hulsmann Octet – While I Was Away – ECM Records - Aline Frazão (vocalist) - Héloïse Lefebvre (violin) - Susanne Paul (cello) - Julia Hülsmann (piano) - Eva Kruse (doublebass) - Eva Klesse (drum) - Michael Schiefel (vocalist)
Live Maria Roggen (vocalist).

Genre busting music. The kind I love to revel in. Classical trio with jazz rhythm and a trio of vocalists who bring folk & jazz elements & elegance galore to this intriguing new release under Julia Hulsmann’s name. Employing texts from poets e. e. cummings, Margaret Atwood, & covers of Ani DiFrano & Zelia Fonseca, this record has got it all. Superb playing and interpretations make this a relevantly must listen. – JH

Kate Olson – So It Goes – OA2 Records - Kate Olson - soprano saxophone
Conner Eisenmenger - trombone (except 6) - Tim Carey - electric bass (except 6), electric guitar (4) - Evan Woodle - drums & percussion - Wayne Horvitz - piano (5,6,8) - Geoff Harper - double bass (5,6,8).

The album kicks off in a strong accented be-bop flavor but quickly shifts gears to showcase a band, led by Kate Olson, that is highly capable of generating highly charged music in multiple genres, sometimes all within the same tune. I.E., influences range from off-kilter Dixieland to the aforementioned be-bop to more picturesque sound sculpturing in that hard to define modern jazz composition, in which it is ofttimes difficult to differentiate between classical and jazz. And we the listener are all the better for it. At turns, lyrical, soulful and always accessible music. - JH

Julian Lage – Scenes from Above – Blue Note Records - Julian Lage: Electric Guitar - John Medeski: Hammond B3, Piano - Jorge Roeder: Double Bass - Kenny Wollesen: Drums, Percussion.

Smokey Robinson once coined his music (and released an album of the same name) as a quiet fire. That description is apropos in this case. Terrific interplay among these versatile master musicians in presenting a template on, soul, empathic communication, strength through control and teaching us on how to marry harmony over the top of gorgeous melody. I remember first hearing Julian Lage and immediately realizing that I was in the presence of a giant and he has lived up to that initial impression. Simply one of the most unpretentious guitar geniuses alive. John Medeski outdoes himself by creating superb atmospheric textures over the top of these tunes like an effervescent rain shower breaking the humidity on a summer’s day. Underpinning all is the fabulous rhythm section of Jorge Roeder & Kenny Wollesen, layering everything with laid back but fervent texture & nuance. - JH

Juan Dahmen – Vendra – www.jd.bc.com - Piano, drumset and recording by Juan Dahmen at estudio Parche, Spain, February 2026 – Whoa, two reviews for Juan Dahmen in one month. Well he has promised to deliver one new work a month this year and I for one can’t wait. Another drop of highly creative, imaginatively structured ambient music that absolutely captivates on first listening and reinforces itself upon further aural peregrinations. This is music that takes you on a journey down a different path with every listen. You can pretty much figure out where he’s leading you but of course with all art, it becomes a personal choice in how the individual may respond and react. It’s all there in the music. Love, pain, hope, problems, solutions and then you arrive at your own conclusion. Or just revel in Juan’s. - JH

Joey Hines – Hopeless Fantasy – www.joeyhines.bandcamp.com – Joey Hines is prolific if nothing else. But he is something else. One of the most impressive, new to me, singer/songwriters I’ve encountered over the past few years. Incisive insight, wit, charm and a gift for fecund melody, Hines continues to mature with his songwriting, seemingly in real time, from one song/album to the next. Wonderful musings on the heights and depths of human nature in a multiplicity of slants that keep me shaking my head and whistling his tunes as I buoyantly walk out the door to greet another day with fresh resolve. Joey will uplift you one moment and break your heart the next but never at the expense of cruelty, and always with wealthy dollops of the milk of human kindness along with that friendly smile. - JH

February Edition

Annahstasia – Tether – drink sum wtr Records – An enormously gifted singer/songwriter- Beautiful timbre to the voice and the story goes that various vocal teachers tried to change it ‘cause it was “wrong.” They were wrong. Beautifully emotive with songs of great depth and character to match. Gorgeous acoustic arrangements make this an easy recommendation. A stunning debut – JH

Yunchan Lim – Rachmaninoff Piano Cto No. 3 – Decca Classics - Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra -  Marin Alsop -  Yunchan Lim - Recorded: 2022-06-17

Recording Venue: Bass Performance Hall, Ft. Worth, TX – Sergei Rachmaninoff is generally considered by many critics to be the greatest pianist of all time and his own compositions played up to his superlative technical mastery and rich emotional conceptions. Yunchan Lim spotlights the piece that won him the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition with aplomb & profound musicality. His is a unique new pianistic voice that appears undaunted by this challenging music as he takes total command in the virtuosic finale, daring the orchestra to keep up. He is being compared to the keyboard greats already and the evidence is in the pudding if you will. – JH

Martin Wind – Stars – Newvelle Records - Martin Wind – bass/composer - Kenny Barron – piano - Anat Cohen – clarinet - Matt Wilson – drums

Beautifully crafted swinging tunes from master bassist/composer Martin Wind with strong outings from all the players involved. Anat Cohen takes the lead on most of the tunes but when it comes time to step into the spotlight Kenny Barron, naturally doesn’t fail to utterly delight with his signature light fleet fingered filigrees beautifully constructed solos. Matt Wilson is a great drummer and has been since the onset of his career. A terrific record & you’ll delight in their wondrous cover of "Stars Fell on Alabama" - JH

Wednesday – Bleeds – Dead Oceans Records – Karly Hartzman – lead vocals, guitar - Jake Lenderman – guitar, vocals - Xandy Chelmis – lap steel, pedal steel - Ethan Baechtold – bass guitar, piano - Alan Miller – drums

I love Southern Gothic anything. Books, literature, acting, whatever. Flannery O’Connor & William Faulkner are two of my favorite writers. Drive By Truckers, one of my favorite bands. Add Wednesday to this list. Distinctive vocals by Karly Hartzman combined with a mishmash of grueling & shoegaze contemplation with expert grinding production and playing make this one of the best records released last year. Tales of broken relationships & vulnerability, personal struggles & catharsis. - JH

Ben Rosenblum's Nebula Project – The Longest Way Round - One Trick Dog Records - Ben Rosenblum – piano/accordion/composer - Trumpet/flugelhorn -  Wayne Tucker – soprano/alto/clarinet/bass clarinet/flute - Jasper Dutz -guitar -  Rafael Rosa – bass - Marty Jaffe – drums/percussion - Ben Zweig percussionists - Gustavo Di Dalva – 1,6,7,10 - Brad Dutz -2 – Pianist/accordionist

Rosenblum adds to his growing body of work and significant oeuvre with this beautifully crafted and executed new record. Plangent & exultant melodies compete for your attention and all is infused with jazz & world folk music influences add to the charm and accessibility of this new music. - JH

Benjamin Appl – Lines of Life Schubert & Kurtag – Alpha Classics -

Benjamin Appl (baritone), György Kurtág (piano), James Baillieu (piano 2,4,6,7,14,15,) , Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano 16-19), Csaba Bencze (trombone 8-13), Gergely Lukác (tuba 8-13).

“New” singers come along every generation and there is always someone or something new to marvel at. Benjamin Appl is certainly no exception. His touchstone is possibly the greatest lieder singer of all time Dietrick Fischer-Dieskau, and any comparisons would be apt. Appl enjoys a beautifully resonant vocal instrument with strength, beauty of line and highly nuanced emotional capabilities all brought to full fruition in this fine program. The selections span centuries and juxtapose the melodic fecundity of Schubert with the more starkly rigorous compositions of Gyorgy Kurtag. Not that Kurtag isn’t emotional, it’s simply of a different nature. Whereas Schubert’s lines flow like a swiftly flowing but non-treacherous river, inevitably towards the sea; Kurtag’s melodic meanderings take a more jagged flow to what ultimately proves to be a equally fulfilling ocean of song. Both piano accompanists are accomplished soloists in their own right, and their commitment to the singer and the text underlines this wonderful program and collaboration. - JH

Brandon Seabrook Quartet – Hellbent Daydream - Pyroclastic Records -

Guitar/banjo/composer - Brandon Seabrook – piano/synth - Elias Stemesder – bass - Henry Fraser – violin - Erica Dicker

A new quartet for Brandon featuring the artists above, providing an eclectic sound to capture these more outré compositions, most dealing with the dream fugue-y ability of the human spirit to capture and encapsulate weird and fantastic stories & works of art. This fits the bill and the new members are operating with B. S. on a lightning fast almost subliminal level. This is a blend of styles & musical influences that works again and again on every track, with the emotional content veering away from and colliding into each other in compelling fashion. Sort of like those old looney tunes cartoons where anything went and the most outlandish seemed to make an oddly captivating sense. Great record with some of the best titles on a jazz record in age. Sample, besides the title track:  Existential Danger Infinite Ceiling. - JH

Warren Zevon – Epilogue - Live at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival – Omnivore Records - August 9, 2002 – Zevon’s Final Concert – Gallagher Park -

Warren on guitar, harmonica, and piano - Matt Cartsonis - guitar, dulcimer, fiddle, harmonies and more!

Stripped down acoustical versions of Warren’s last concert with friend & multi-instrumentalist Matt Cartsonis helping out. Zevon was one of the most gifted songwriters of our era & his untimely death robbed friends & fans alike of his discerning wit and sardonic humor. Some have criticized his diminished vocal abilities at times & wavering tuning but for god’s sake he was dealing with his devastating health death sentence. This is an astonishing document, not just for hard core fans, & evidence of the indomitability of the human spirit. Good to have. JH

Ingrid Jensen – Landings – Newvelle Records - Ingrid Jensen – trumpet - Gary Versace (organ), Marvin Sewell (guitar), and Jon Wikan (drums) – George Coleman – tenor sax – Ingrid Jensen is a top-flight trumpeter & composer. Her new album kicks off with Amsterdam After Dark, a George Coleman composition on which the legendary saxophonist guests, trading solos with Jensen, and it’s a scorcher. This album is a new take on organ jazz. Most organ led groups (of which this is not) are trios with guitar & drums, but in this expansive lineup we have Jensen floating and alternately sizzling her solos above the musical fray, adding depth & warmth. There is tasteful use of electronics which serve this music superbly. Superb. That’s an apt word for this outing. – Versace’s organ work is exemplary and this album features excellent textures & playing from Sewell & Wikan. Great covers of Carla Bley’s Ida Lupino & terrific new originals from Jensen, Sewell & Versace. – JH

Brad Mehldau – Ride into the Sun – Nonesuch Records – Brad Mehldau continues to astonish with his incredibly far-reaching taste and expansive musical interests & sensibilities. He expands on the music of the people whom he admires and emulates. This outing its Elliott Smith’s turn to garner exposure in the Mehldau universe. He takes the warmth & intimacy of Smith’s writing and with an orchestral ensemble augmenting a core rotating trio of bass & drums manages to take your breath away with the beauty and depth of these compositions. He adds a few of his own complimentary songs, most notably, Sweet Adeline Fantasy and juxtaposes Smith’s work with two tracks from musicians Smith admired. So, we are graced with covers of Big Star’s Thirteen and Nick Drake’s Sunday. It took me a while to get to this record, and I only wish I had arrived at it sooner. A big beautiful humanistic record of the year for 2025. - JH 

Quinsin Nachoff – Patterns from Nature – Whirlwind Recordings - Quinsin Nachoff – sax – pianist Matt Mitchell, trombonist Ryan Keberle, clarinetist François Houle, percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, bassist Carlo De Rosa. Molinari String Quartet: Olga Ranzenhofer – violin - Antoine Bareil – violin - Frédéric Lambert – viola - Pierre-Alain Bouvrette – cello.

Carazzy man! There are those probing musical minds that seem to easily shed genres & preconceptions. Quinsin Nachoff is one of these composers. Is it jazz? Is it classical? Well, it’s a genre bending new record with a large ensemble and a string quartet that simply defies categorization. The music, basically two large pieces, Patterns from Nature in four parts and Winding Tessellations, a saxophone concerto in three parts. This is ambitious music that succeeds on every level, offering not only depth & complexity but rigorous melodic accessibility. I should add that it is the soundtrack for a film dealing with emergent patterns of flow and fracture. – JH

Geese – Getting Killed – Partisan/Play It Again Sam Records - Max Bassin – drums - Dominic DiGesu – bass - Emily Green – guitar - Cameron Winter – vocals, guitar, keyboards

I believe this is Geese’s third full length and as good as they have always been this is a quantum leap forward. Anchored by the highly distinctive vocals and lyrical songwriting of frontman Cameron Winter these tracks combine punk, indie, art-rock, prog, jazz & the kitchen sink to make a compelling case for this to be the hot “new” band of the moment. They have the talent to make this a long-term affair of musical excellence. The new record explores many of the existential themes of the current societal & political moment. Potential leaders of the pack. - JH

Shawn Lovato – Biotic – Endectomorph Music – Bassist/composer Shawn Lovato - tenor saxophone - Ingrid Laubrock - drums - Henry Mermer

A unique trio outing from composer/bassist Shawn Lovato. Tenor sax, bass & drums. You know this music is going to be challenging and it certainly makes the case for advanced musical sensibilities & attentive listening. Plenty of give & take, push & pull going on in this music and the trio pulls it off admirably. Attentive listening doesn’t mean off-putting or inaccessible as this music is certainly capable of drawing you into Lovato’s singular sound world. His bass playing almost acts as intriguing morse acting as counterpoint to more expansive journeyings on the part of his collaborators.  – JH

The Mountain Goats – Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan – Cadmean Dawn – John Darnielle had a dream. Not that one. A dream about Captain Peter Balkan & others surviving a shipwreck & a fire. Out of that dream came this carefully crafted record exploring themes of sharing, care, struggle through travail & confrontation of fate. In order to make art out of the chaos of his own and his character’s visions, Darnielle employs not just a rock band but strings and other orchestral forces which imbue this music & story with a theatrical richness & emotional depth. There is a plethora of guest musicians, most notably Lin-Manuel Miranda as additional vocalist on a quarter of the album’s tracks. - JH

Cecile McLorin Salvant – Oh Snap – Nonesuch Records – Yawn, yet another genre bending release designed to show off an artists wide ranging influences and ability to synthesize and forge these elements into music new and exciting. Wait! That’s not a good thing, it’s a great thing! Salvant even employs auto-tune & electronics better than just about anyone out there and even sings in a retro style, well just to show she can do that to. Terrific new record showcasing, at times, a lighter more effervescently playful side. - JH

Kronos Quartet – Forgive Us For – Phenotypic Records - David Harrington, violin - Gabriela Díaz, violin - Ayane Kozasa, viola - Paul Wiancko, cello

What a brilliant record. Kronos collaborating with three distinctive composers creating musical stories of injustice, exile, and resilience from Palestine, Iceland, & Ukraine. First up is Rim Banna who sings on a pre-recorded tape to a short, traditional Palestinian folk song Ya Taali’een el-Jabal, a plea for liberation. We next hear from Hildur Guðnadóttir who pens an arrangement of Fólk fær andlit, whose solemnity is imbued with icy fervor, as Kronos is joined by accordionist Jeanne Velonis. An apt imagining for music based on a tale of forced deportation of Albanian families. Finally, we hear from Mariana Sadovska, composer, vocals & harmonium, in her four-part piece, Chernobyl: The Harvest. This piece juxtaposes and takes us on a journey encompassing the destructive devastation & surprising resilience of nature. The four parts are titled The Road, The Harvest, Lamentation & finally Paradise. Some critics have described this record as challengingly listenable. Indeed. Kronos, of course, are up to their usual high standards. – JH

Mayuko Katakura - The Duality of My Soul – Mayuko Katakura Music - Piano - Mayuko Katakura – bass - Takumi Awaya – drums - Noritaka Tanaka – Seven Katakura originals & one cover, Abbey Lincoln’s Being Me. A gently muscular outing from Katakura with fine syncopated dynamism from the trio. Most of the music & playing is on the contemplative side & features fine interplay between the three musicians in both articulation & interpretation. A beautiful workout and not surprising as Katakura has cited McCoy Tyner as a major influence. - JH

Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer – Warp Records – Daniel Lopatin has been doing this a long time. And he’s good at it. So, when he describes the music (electronic composition, found sounds, etc.) as tranquil, I guess you have to wonder what serene universe he is living in. Not that the music is intensely overdriven, just that’s it powerfully propellant with a core of restless ambiguity. As always, the unexpectedness and shifting sands of sounds are compelling. Kudos to him for his recent Golden Globe win for the Marty Supreme score. - JH

Thomas Ades – Orchestral Suites – London Philharmonic Orchestra Records - London Philharmonic Orchestra – Thomas Ades – conductor/composer

The composer conducting three suites from his own works is an opportunity for further insight into the creative innerworkings of Ades. He is a masterful composer and his orchestrations are filled with excitement and vivacity. The Luxury Suite from his opera Powder Her Face is full of delicious dancing atmospheres and jig-saw rhythmic swerve. The next suite of music Five Spells from his opera The Tempest conjures swirling dynamism and adventurous energy. Finally, Ades presents Inferno Suite from his ballet Dante, and is, as to be expected, a convulsing piece full of drama & playful metrics. A fine recording by the always excellent London Philharmonic, superbly conducted by the composer and offering a peek into his musical imagination. – JH

Thomas Strønen – Time is a Blind Guide - Off Stillness – ECM Records - Thomas Strønen – Drums - Ayumi Tanaka – Piano - Håkon Aase – Violin - Leo Svensson Sander – Violoncello - Ole Morten Vågan - Double Bass – Drummer led ensembles are usually rhythmically complex and this is no exception with the caveat that most of the underpinning pulse is provided by bassist Ole Morten Vågan allowing Strønen’s drumming to create & inspire some uniquely facile phrasing. This is exceptionally contoured music with contrasting sections tweaking the ear as Strønen uses silences and deletions rather than overloading the senses as most would. Not minimalistic by any means but masterful usage of space and time. – JH

Zack Browning – Rock Galaxy – Neuma Records - Zack Browning is a new composer to me but he has been around for a while. We are age contemporary and I’m disappointed in myself for missing him prior to this excellent release. He possesses a singular creative vision that encompasses both rigorous classical music training fused with the palpable energy of rock. This is unique music well worth exploring as Zack Browning himself explores space, rhythm & harmony in visionary ways. The 8 pieces comprising this release are for various configurations from Woodwind Quintet (Jupiter LVB) to solo piano (Upscale Jammer) but all the music on this recording is intriguingly beguiling. JH

Patti Cudd – Cyanotypes – Neuma Records - Patti Cudd - percussion and electronics – Not a new recording, but new to me. This album came out a year or so ago and arrived via an email from a publicist for the Neuman record label. See the review above. Very impressed with what I’ve heard so far from far-reaching expansive minded artists. Patti Cudd is talented performer utilizing percussion and electronics to create energetically charged performances that captivate your senses & imagination. 5 compositions from female composers exploring sonic soundscapes designed to draw you in and carry you along on a high musical tide of creativity. – JH

Michael Jackson – The Gal from Ochi – JackoJazz Records – Smooth pop jazz that can morph into some hard charging bop and free at the drop of a hat from saxophonist Michael Jackson with a plethora of rotating core players sprinkled throughout. Makaya McCraven on drums/percussion; Xavier Breaker on drums; Aaron Koppel on guitar; et al. Cool vibes and other percussion aid in giving this a breezy Caribbean flavor at times and all goes down like a balmy summer day on the sands beside undulating wavelets breaking on a sunny shore. – JH

Alfie Jackson – The Peacocks – JackoJazz Records – Terrific debut album from vocalist (and guitar on one track) with her band of erstwhile young players. Leo Milano – tenor sax - Sam Roberson – guitar – Chase Wilkins – drums – Daniel Ellis Perez – bass – Wayne Williams – vibes.

An accomplished vocalist beyond her years, she imbues these covers with a fine musical sensibility. Daughter of the saxophonist in the review above, he must be a proud papa with this fine outing, and offers his support with a fine solo on the Nina Simone cover Do I Move You? – Jackson scats easily and has a nice tone which I anticipate will fill out with age & experience. The only caveat is she doesn’t seem to inhabit the heart of these songs as well as I’m sure she will in the not too distant future. An outstanding choice of covers underscoring a precocious jazz sensibility Coltrane’s After the Rain, Corea’s 500 Miles High, Cedar Walton’s Ugetsu et al. – JH

Rempis – Adasiewicz – Corsano – Dial Up – Aerophonic Records - Dave Rempis – soprano/alto/tenor/baritone saxophone - Jason Adasiewicz – vibes - Chris Corsano – drums

An intriguing and exhilarating new trio. Reeds, vibes and drums. Nothing could go wrong and it doesn’t. This is a gorgeously creative outing of five improvised pieces recorded in “real” time. The players are all non-plussed, weaving tensile magic out of thin air and releasing arcs of structure and time, form & line, combined with melodious & harmonic patterning sure to delight the engaged listener. Strength, vigor & superlative musicianship make this an astonishing document of hypnotically infused sound worlds. Echoes of Coleman, Coltrane & Sun Ra only in the sense that it is within the same experimentally spacious sensibility.  – JH

Earl Sweatshirt – Live Laugh Love – Warner Brothers Records – Fifth record from Earl Sweatshirt. Hard to believe he burst upon the scene as a prescient teenager and is now married, with two kids and approaching his 32^nd birthday. This is a short recording, less than 25 minutes long, but bursting at the seams with narratives & visions of personal growth; an extension of his own experience(s). Since his early days as part of the Odd Future conglomeration of artists (think Tyler the Creator, et al) he has forged his own singular path with an affinity for dream like word play and imagery. That still stands but now with accreted maturity which lends even more relevance to his observations. Being a parent can do that to you. – JH

January Edition

Luke Marantz & Simon Jermyn – Echoes – Chill Tone Records - Luke Marantz – piano/synth/Rhodes & Simon Jermyn – guitar/bass - Josh Dion – drums – An impressively beautiful soundscape of color and nuance from these three marvelous musicians. Fans of King Crimson wouldn’t be disappointed, although I find this music even more melodious. All the music permeates your being, enveloping one in a miasma of serene creativity, even when the drums are pushing and the guitar is nipping its way into your soul. JH

Rosalia – Lux – Columbia Records – Rosalia Vila Tobella is one hell of an artist. What a mindbender this album is. This is like no other record I heard in 2025. Genre defying in it’s blend of rock, electronica, classical (symphonic & operatic), flamenco, et al. Also utilizing the talents of hot classical composer Caroline Shaw and old school avant-gardists like Bjork, this record should be a must listen for all inspiring artists, although it just might intimidate some out of the arena! It pretty much deals with themes that plague all of us to greater and lesser degrees depending on you intellectual and emotional make-up; divinity, the ability to transform oneself, sainthood, and most especially how to make sense out of an increasingly chaotic or non-sensical world. She is pushing her fan base and envelopes like virtually no other artist out there. The record of 2025. JH

John Vanore & Abstract Truth – Easter Island Suite – Acoustical Concepts Records – Trumpeter John Vanore has composed a big 4-part suite that marries small group intimacy with big band sensibilities. Richly inventive & expressive writing and execution elevate this disc beyond the purview of most efforts in the big band genre. The giant stone sculptured heads on Easter Island have enthralled both archeologists & tourists alike for centuries and this music shares in the sense of awe that these manifestations inspire. This record might well evoke memories of the great Gil Evans/Miles Davis collaborations and easily is able to stand up to the comparison. JH

Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World – Anti-Epitaph Records – Eighty-five and still singing as if our lives depended on it. What an artist. One of planet earths sublime interpreters of song, navigating the darkness of human existence with grace, dignity and forgiveness. Always finding the goodness in life in spite of so much evidence to the contrary. Emphasizing the good over the evil, pushing, prodding and bending the arc of  the universe to her own sense of light & goodness. The key to this album is in her astonishing interpretation of Leonard Cohen’s Anthem. Finding hope among the hopeless situations in life. “There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in.” Oh God, continue to shine a light on Mavis Staples. May she live and sing to one hundred years old. JH

Kris Davis & the Lutoslawski Quartet – The Solastalgia Suite – Pyroclastic Records - Kris Davis – piano/composer; Lutoslawski Quartet: Roksana Kwasnikowska – violin; Marcin Markowitz – violin; Artur Rozmyslowicz – viola; Maciej Mlodawski – cello. Something new to learn. This suite’s music deals with solastalgia, a condition which deals with the distress caused by environmental change. Eight movements that aim to encapsulate the shadowy feelings of dread, yearning and hope that partially define the condition. This is a profound composition by Kris Davis, not merely jazz or classical, but an intense synthesis of the two genres. Certainly not just jazz with strings, this is a completely successful amalgamation of the two genres. A commission of the Jazztopad in Poland, it provides a showcase for the uniquely talented Ms. Davis in which she creates a rich narrative composition that is both driven and exultant. Extraordinary playing by all the members of the Lutoslawski Quartet & Davis. JH

Fred Hersch – The Surrounding Green – ECM Records - Fred Hersch - piano/compositions; Drew Gress - double bass; Joey Baron- drums. This trio recording is masterly. Nuance, depth, brilliant use of space and silence and phenomenal interplay between the three players provide us, the listener, with an opportunity to enjoy this highly sophisticated yet accessible music to the fullest. Always the most sensitive of composers & pianists, Fred Hersch draws you into this quiet firestorm of an emotional musical persona with his usual warmth and sensitivity. A plus plus. JH

Raphael Pannier Quartet – Live in Saint Louis Senegal – Miel Music - Raphaël Pannier – drums; Thomas Enhco – piano (and Rhodes); Yosvany Terry – saxophone; François Moutin – double bass - Khadim Niang & Sabar Group – drums & percussion; Mouhamed Niang; elder Cheikh Ndiaye Baba; Abdou Salam Sy, Bathie Gueye, Fallou Gueye, and Khadim’s two sons, Papa Madiodio Niang and Yoro Niang. An album of firsts, most notably, the first time a Senegalese sabar percussion group has worked with a piano jazz quartet. What a magnificent dialogue it is! Jazz returning to it’s cultural roots in Africa. The complex African rhythms blend seamlessly with Pannier’s quartet and the results should be enough to intrigue & lift anyone’s spirits. Mission accomplished. JH

Khruangbin - The Universe Smiles Upon You ii - Dead Oceans Records - Laura Lee Ochoa – bass guitar, vocals - Mark Speer – guitars, percussion, vocals - Donald "DJ" Johnson – drums, percussion, keyboards, piano, organ, vocals. – A rich re-imagining of their 2015 debut album, this recording magnifies the growth in both confidence, nuance & sound sculpting. My oldest son turned me on to this group when they first appeared and his ear is impeccable. There is nothing quite like this band of extremely talented musicians who excel in the slow burning groove orientation inherent in music of this type, employing style & silence better than 99% of shredders. Almost every sound they make fills your ears & soul with a buttery warmth. JH

Vance Thompson – Lost and Found – Moondo Records (www.vancethompsonmusic.com) - Vance Thomspon – trumpet/composer - piano - Taber Gable – guitar - Steve Kovalcheck - bass - Tommy Sauter – drums - Marcus Finnie – Vance Thompson leads a tightly swinging set with his new quartet reveling in a batch of his own tunes and two covers. They hit the musical pavement running with a nifty number entitled Tell It Like It Is. Not the Aaron Neville classic, but instead an energetic piece that lays the foundation for all to follow. Vance is telling it like it is with imagination & courage. Suffering from focal dystonia, an affliction which affects brass players and causing uncontrollable muscle contractions around the mouth, face and jaw, Vance took matters into his own hands. After a highly successful career of over 25 years as a leading jazz trumpeter, he took a few years off to study the vibes. The result is what we hear here. A heady mix of new compositions that stand comfortably beside two covers, and expertly played by all. Their cover of Arlen’s Over the Rainbow is beautifully rendered and I particularly enjoyed their cover of a Donald Brown number entitled My Three Suns. Donald is an underrated & excellent pianist & composer. JH

Wu Wei – Martin Stegner – Janne Saksana – Pur Ti Miro – ECM New Series

Wu Wei – sheng - Martin Stegner – viola - Janne Saksala - double bass – Pur ti miro in Italian means "I still gaze at you." It is a sensual declaration of love between the Roman Emperor Nero & Poppea from Monteverdi’s opera, The Coronation of Poppea. The music of Monteverdi, Vivaldi & Bach rendered anew with richness & vibrancy in this exacting trio recording utilizing instruments that expand rather than restrict the music. The sheng in particular, a Chinese mouth organ, integrates expertly with viola and bass to inform this music with colors I had not previously imagined. All captured with ECM’s fine recording standards. JH

Moor Mother – Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes – MDG Gold Records - Beethoven Orchestra Bonn – Dirk Kaftan – conductor - Wooden Elephant -  String Quintet – Aoife Ní Bhriain (violin), Hulda Jónsdóttir (violin), Ian Anderson (viola), Stefan Hadjiev (cello), and Nikolai Matthews (double bass) - Moor Mother – Camae Ayewa – This extraordinary composition from Moor Mother, originally released in 2019, has been stunningly re-imagined for full orchestra and string quartet. Dear God this is an amazing record. This composition dares you to look away from the horrors of human bondage and man’s inhumanity to man & the consequences that ensue for generations & hundreds of years. Powerfully visceral, it incorporates core elements of hip-hop, jazz, classical, electronica, industrial, geez, name a genre it doesn’t tap on the shoulder in its quest to pull everyone into its darkly honest artistic vision. Listen to this record at your emotional peril. That’s half a joke. Just listen to this record. JH

Theo Bleckmann – Love and Anger – Sunnyside Records - Theo Bleckmann – vocals - Mike King - piano & organ - Matt Penman – bass - Ulysses Owens, Jr. – drums - Timo Vollbrecht - saxophone & flute (1, 4, 5, 12) - Ben Monder - guitar (1, 5, 12) – Theo Bleckmann has always surrounded himself with top notch musicians and this has enhanced both his sound & appeal. This is primarily an album of covers and Theo is out to showcase his versatility and interpretative abilities. He is a nonpareil translator of other people’s material and in this case brings his imaginative abilities to the fore. Wonderful accounts of Kate Bush, The Beatles, disco icon Sylvester, Henry Purcell and more are both to new life with able support from his musical associates. JH

Suzanne Baca – Live at WOMAD 2023 – Real World Records - Susana Baca – vocals - Oscar Huaranga – Musical director, bass - Jonathan Mendoza – Acoustic guitar - Renzo Vignati – Electric guitar - Miguel Díaz – Percussion - Alexandro Quijandria – Backing vocals - Recorded at the WOMAD Festival 28 July, 2023, Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England. This perennially great Peruvian singer has been gracing us with her hypnotically infectious music making for over 60 of her 81 years. Her style if laid back and alluring. The voice intimate and gently emotional. This document from the 2023 WOMAD festival is an essential addition to her expansive catalog. She is backed by a terrific group of bandmates who complement her singing & story-telling as if they’re connected by DNA. JH

Keith West - Cross That Bridge - The Anthology 1965-1999 (Strawberry)

Keith West secured his place on the British psychedelia pedestal as singer and composer (with Ken Burgess) of Tomorrow’s legendary eponymous album. This 46-track compilation selects six tracks (including the recently-discovered ‘My White Bicycle’ acetate) and adds the entire output from their mid-‘60s mod/soul progenitors Four + One and The In Crowd. The former’s two covers ape the Stones’ versions right down to West’s Jagger impersonation, but The In Crowd’s raucous proto-punk banger ‘Things She Says’, the Sonny Bono-via-Barry McGuire ‘Why Must They Criticize’, and two outtakes from the Blow-Up soundtrack spotlight West’s versatile vocals encompassing blues, soul, and garage screamers.

West’s solo debut (the theme from Mark Wirtz’s aborted Teenage Opera project) was a #2 smash but the follow-up ‘Sam’ and the brilliant shouldabeen a hit ‘On A Saturday’ failed to excite, and West concentrated on production and songwriting.

Disc two focuses on “1970s Recordings Plus.” Following two Deram solo efforts with a decidedly mellow CSNY/Brinsley Schwarz/Mighty Baby vibe, he released his lone solo album, the German-only Wherever My Love Goes, most of which is included. Featuring all-star backing from members of Stealer’s Wheel, Jeff Beck Group, Strawbs, Misunderstood, and Animals, it continues that stony Flying Burritos/Traffic style. Highlights include the magnificent ‘West Country’ (an even-better demo is on Disc 1), a heavy-lidded ‘Leitmotiv’, ‘Hope You’re Feeling Better’ (with its surprise ‘My White Bicycle’ coda!), and the dreamy ‘Sad Song.’ Favourable comparisons with Action singer Reg King’s solo albums would not be misplaced.

His next venture was the one-off Moonrider with Family guitarist John Weider and future Attractions bassist Bruce Thomas. Four tracks are on offer: earlier single ‘Having Someone’ gets a fresh coat of countrified paint and the funky ‘Living On Main Street’ are my favourites. Overall, more of the same excellent laidback grooves with hints of Plainsong to enjoy. Weider’s solos are particularly tasty.

The set concludes with several unreleased demos, the best being the Dylanesque Moonrider outtake ‘Baby Blue’, and two collaborations with Tomorrow cohort Steve Howe. The title track is an upbeat pop banger demo rejected by Robert Palmer, but Dylan’s ‘Lay Lady Lay’ is rather pedestrian. JFO

Moonrider - Moonrider (Think Like A Key)

It's a Keith West bonanza this month! Following his brilliant work as singer/songwriter in the much-loved Tomorrow and a German-only solo album with a stoney Brinsley Schwarz vibe, Keith West (aided by Animals/Family guitarist John Weider and future Attraction Bruce Thomas) released this one-off venture. Weider’s guitarwork is exemplary, West’s melodic songs evince a relaxed, West Coast vibe a la Help Yourself, Mighty Baby, and Plainsong, and the whole album is a buried treasure ripe for rediscovery. This 50th anniversary remaster appends live BBC performances of most of the tracks demonstrating the band were a formidable live act. ‘Having Someone’ and ‘I Found Love’, the hit singles that never were and the funky ‘Living On A Main Street’ are highlights, but Thomas’s bubbly basslines (‘Too Early In The Morning’), the Dead-infused ‘Ridin’ For A Fall’, and the dreamy ‘Danger In The Night’ are worth a few extra spins. JFO

The Black Watch - Varied Superstitions (Blue Matter)

John Andrew Fredrick and his revolving band of merrymakers’ twenty-sixth album continues a long line of power pop confections with psychedelic overtones, Beatlesque nudges, literate lyrics (Fredrick is also a novelist), and a whole lotta great music. Seven-minute opener ‘It Is What It Isn’t’ questions reality while delivering crystalline guitar lines that shimmer like the sun on the ocean. The title track is an eponymous litany set to a toetapping dance beat while ‘Living Backwards’ encourages us to forsake the past and concentrate on making the future a better place. While a sense of frustration with the world we live in permeates some lyrics (“Have we all gone insane?”, ‘Some People Will Believe’), Fredrick paints them with such tender brushstrokes of shoegazing guitars (‘Jolly Melancholy’, ‘In This Town’) that we’re whisked away to safer environs where only the music matters. JFO