Darren Johnston

Wild Awake

Diskonife, 2023

8/10

Listen to Wild Awake

The trumpet and vocalist Darren Johnston put quite a bit of time into these 7 songs, where he’s joined by Dayna Stephens, Jacob Sacks, Sean Conly and Ches Smith for this exciting, experimental jazz listen.

“The Anchorite’s Travel Guide” opens the listen with the warm and bright brass from Johnston and Stephens that’s quite unpredictable and animated, and “Joe Hill’s Last And Final Will” follows with Conly’s cozy bass plucking alongside Johnston’s expressive singing that makes for an intimate climate.

The title track arrives in the middle and showcases Sacks’ fluid piano amid Johnston’s sublime trumpet for the mesmerizing album highlight that builds into a dense jazz rocker, while “Mood Board” spends 8 minutes impressing us with its dancing keys, Smith’s very diverse drumming and the strategic horns.

The final and longest track, “John’s Song”, then blends the soulful trumpet with light drums, strategic bass and absorbing keys for the pensive yet frisky finish that’s dreamy, melodic and strong on atmosphere.

All the tracks here were penned by Johnston, and along with his esteemed company it makes for harmonic, groove filled and occasionally improvised song craft that you can’t help but enjoy.

Travels well with: Rossi/Hess/Moran- You Break You Buy; Sam Bardfeld- Refuge

Trad.Attack!

Bring It On

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to Bring It On

The powerful Estonia trio of Sandra Vabarna, Jalmar Vabarna and Tõnu Tubli, as Trad.Attack! they bring along some excellent guests for these Estonian folklore tunes that makes great use of electronica, programmed beats and plenty of pop moments, too.

“Lase Käia (Bring It On)” opens the listen with atmospheric synth and thundering drumming in the arena ready pop-rock explosion that welcomes Laur Joamets’ muscular guitar work, and “Keera (Spin It)” follows with a charming dreaminess that showcases the Seto dialect in the textured melodies.

Elsewhere, the soft beats and cozy guitar of “Maka (Sleep)” makes for a stirring intimacy, while “Öelge Sõnnu (Say Some Words)” spotlights guest vocalist Ravid Kahalani amid the Yemeni Arabic nods that thumps with a lively club friendly appeal.

Near to the end, “Kiigelaul (The Swing Song)” showcases the polyphonic Iberi choir, is performed by Vabarna and is quite intimate and gentle, and “Püksata Magama (Going To Bed Without Trousers)”exits with much focus on mood in the playful and breezy finish.

A very animated listen that comes with delicate moments, too, the trio make for a distinct version of pop that’s stylish, steeped in the heritage of their home country and is truly in a genre all its own.

Travels well with: Esbe- I Might Be Dreaming; Roopa Panesar- ATMA

Buzz Amato

Muse Cafe

Blue Canoe, 2023

9/10

Listen to Muse Cafe

The producer, writer, arranger, and keyboardist Buzz Amato was forced to take time off from touring with Three Degrees due to the pandemic, which gave him time to flesh out these 11 tunes that were inspired by Greek Muses.

“Mount Helicon” opens the listen with Amato’s fluid and driving synth amid the frisky sax and flutes, and the title track follows with Chris Blackwell’s warm guitar and Louis Newsome’s agile drumming in the very melodic, smooth climate.

In the middle, ‘Round 12am” welcomes Joseph Patrick Moore’s meticulous bass and Newsome’s thumping drums to the dreamy display, while “Bosame Mucho” is populated by Timothy Courts’ diverse drumming and Rich Hinkle’s playful guitar, as Amato’s winds and brass make for an elegant album highlight.

The final 2 tracks, “Sappho, Last Call” and “Going Home”, don’t disappoint, either, where Bennie Sims’ moody bass complements Amato’s reflective keys on the former, and the latter exits with buzzing synth and psychedelic nods in the sublime intimacy.

Amato has over 4 decades of experience in the music industry, and has played on over 150 recordings. He cut his teeth playing keyboards for Curtis Mayfield in the ‘80s, and as evidenced by this exceptional body of work, his creative output hasn’t waned one bit.

Travels well with: Eric Lilley- Trio; Jeff Richman- XYZ

Benson

Pick Your Poison

Mountain Home Music, 2023

8/10

Listen to Pick Your Poison

A pair of the best in bluegrass, Wayne and Kristin Scott Benson, who have been married for 20 years now, bring their mandolin and banjo fueled songs to this first album on the Mountain Home Music Company, where they’ve got some excellent help along for the listen.

“Icy Cold” leads the listen with Kristin’s swift banjo and Wayne’s warm mandolin alongside the soothing vocals from Grayson Lane and harmony vocals thanks to Mickey Harris, and “I’ll Follow The Sun” follows with Jim VanCleve’s agile fiddle and Paul Watson’s precise bass populating the melodic and dreamy take on the classic McCartney and Lennon tune.

At the halfway point, the very quick “Red Mountain Wine” benefits much from Cody Kilby’s skilled acoustic guitar that suits the meticulous banjo and mandolin, while rich and cautious “What Kind Of Fool Are You?” is full harmonic bluegrass playing that will always be relevant.

“Living In These Troubled Times” and “Riverside” exit the listen, where the former showcases Tony Creasman’s adaptable drumming and Jon Weisberger’s intricate bass to fuel the album’s best, and the latter finishes with a dreamy instrumental that blends the banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass, fiddle and drums into a very memorable closer.

Wayne has an impressive resume playing in Russell Moore & Illard Tyme Out, and Kristin has been a consistent member of the Grascals. Together, and with an excellent band, they flesh out superb originals and charming interpretations of classics via their unpredictable bluegrass.

Travels well with: The Alex Leach Band- All The Way; Ashby Frank- Leaving Is Believing

Alex Weitz

Rule Of Thirds

Outside In, 2023

8/10

Listen to Rule Of Thirds

The saxophonist Alex Weitz penned this 3rd album as leader following the pandemic and loss of his father, where 8 originals and a cover take help from Tal Cohen, Ben Tiberio and Michael Piolet, plus others for the modern jazz listen.

“The Hive” begins the listen with Emmet Cohen’s stunning piano playing alongside Weitz’s glowing sax and Ari Hoenig’s proficient drumming, and “Nocturne In C Sharp Minor” follows with a calmer demeanor of warm guitar from Yotam Silberstein and Tiberio’s strategic bass amid Weitz’s soulful sax.

In the middle, “Harlem Lullaby” showcases Cohen’s intimate piano that suits Weitz’s reflective brass, while “Odyssey” picks up the pace with a rock focused album highlight that’s populated by Michael Piolet’s agile drumming and Silberstein’s thick guitar.

“Love For Sale” and “Sonata For Fred” exit the listen, where the former, a Cole Porter original, is textured playfully and truly spotlights Weitz’s powerful sax, and the latter finishes soft and dreamy, with the expressive sax and poetic piano working together sublimely.

An emotionally rich and dynamic collaboration that hones in on straight ahead jazz, classical music and rock spirited, odd meter ideas, Weitz and company make the most of these timeless and exciting 9 tracks.

Travels well with: Ben Wendel- All One; Nick Finzer- Dreams, Visions, Illusions

K. Campbell

Smoke b/w Somebody Else

Poison Moon, 2023

9/10

Listen to Smoke b/w Somebody Else

The Houston musician K. Campbell sure does have an affinity for these 2 song cassette releases, which is fine by me since they’re packed with quick bursts of indie-rock, power-pop and alt-rock song craft.

“Smoke” opens the listen with chunky bass, crisp drums and swirling guitar, as some buzzing in the background makes for a dreamy, spacey version of indie-rock that’s harmonic and even flirts with punk nods amid the warm keys and the soulful sax from Danny Kamins.

The back half belongs to “Somebody Else”, where strong attention to atmosphere and thicker bouts of hazy ideas mesh with the post-punk and power-pop ways that might bring to mind Matthew Sweet.

The physical release comes with lyrics, liner notes and a download code, and even though it’s just 2 tracks, Campbell again impresses us with a very memorable take on dream-pop, ‘90s college rock and timeless indie-rock prowess.

Travels well with: Pearl Crush- Coax Me Out; K. Campbell- Heads Up

Magos Herrera

Aire

Sunnyside, 2023

8/10

Listen to Aire

The Mexican jazz singer and composer Magos Herrera sings songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese here, where she takes all the overwhelming feelings during the pandemic and turns them into worldly jazz songs.

The title track opens with much beauty, where Herrera’s gorgeous voice is met with Gonzalo Grau’s chekeré and plenty of soaring and elegant strings, and “Gracias a la Vida” follows with Vinicius Gomez’s warm acoustic guitar and Ingrid Jensen’s soulful trumpet helping make for a rich and intimate delivery.

In the middle, the dreamy keys from Blair McMillen are met with the expressive and poetic singing of “Alfonsina Y El Mar”, while “Obra Filhia” moves with a frisky pace of playful drumming from Alex Kautz and Sam Minaie’s strategic bass in the album’s best.

Landing near the end, “Papalote” blends orchestral and jazz qualities into the melodic and textured climate, and “Healer” exits with Grau’s cajon, palmas and jaleos complementing the breezy, cinematic and flowing finish.

An extremely detailed listen that recruits The Knights, i.e. Colin and Eric Jacobsen, plus many players on strings, winds, brass and piano, there are 20+ musicians supporting Herrera for the cultured Samba and Bossa Nova friendly jazz that is globally embraceable.

Travels well with: Annabelle Chvostek- String Of Pearls; Malika Zarra- RWA (The Essence)

Léon Aphar & Ivann Cruz

Aphar’s Cave

Circum-Disc, 2023

8/10

Listen to Aphar’s Cave

A very creative duet listen from Léon Aphar and Ivann Cruz, there is no lack of Nick Cave influence to be found here, where folk and gospel moments are present and appreciated, too.

“Dream I” opens the listen with the mysterious guitar playing amid the cryptic talking of the atypical folk song, and “Sisters” follows with a more melodic approach of acoustic strumming and expressive singing in the dreamy delivery.

Further along, “Dream IV” finds a hypnotic place to reside, where firm guitar and repetitive singing makes an impressions, while “Maison-ruine” is a bit off kilter in very exciting ways, and the conversational singing and wordless gestures make this the album’s best.

Approaching the end, the atmospheric “Nuit troueé” uses call and response singing, light percussive sounds and atypical guitar progression, and “Par dessus la ferraille” exits with a distinct intimacy that’s unorthodox but immediately memorable.

A listen that’s steeped in semantic and aesthetic inclinations, Aphar’s voice and Barcelona’s guitar and Cruz’s voice, Kinshasa’s guitar and tambourine make for 18 tracks of unpredictable and inimitable songs that are avant-garde and experimental in very enlightening ways.

Travels well with: Peter Orins- Dead Dead Gang; Kaze & Ikue Mori- Crustal Movement

Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra

Conspiracy

Mons, 2022

9/10

Listen to Conspiracy

The Austrian saxophonist, composer and arranger Tobias Hoffmann returns with a big band effort that was recorded during the pandemic, and allows for his rich jazz vision to unfold with many players on hand for the 10 tracks.

The dynamic and bright title track opens the listen with animated horns and agile drums that can be both loud and quiet, as Robert Unterköfler’s tenor saxophone sax makes an impression, and “Elegy” follows with an absent rhythm section that allows the horns to cultivate a reflective and stirring presence.

“Relentless” occupies the middle spot and leads busy and dense with alto saxophone prowess provided by Patrick Dunst, while “Trailblazers” showcases Jonas Brickmann and Kasperi Sarikoski’s solos on baritone sax and trombone amid the frisky drumming.

The final 2 tracks, “Who Knows Intro” and “Who Knows”, are equally impressive, where the former hosts Daniel Holzleitner’s solo trombone alongside other trombones and a stylish beat, and the latter focuses on rock ideas, where Vilkka Wahl’s thick electric guitar finishes the listen on a very high note.

A listen that spans nostalgic ideas, darker ebbs and cinematic exploration, Hoffmann and company create an experience that fans of jazz from any era will enjoy.

Travels well with: Tobias Hoffmann Nonet- Retrospective; Will Vinson- Tripwire

George Coleman Jr.

Resurgence!

Legacy, 2023

8/10

Listen to Resurgence!

The drummer, producer and composer George Coleman Jr. is in some excellent company on this debut as leader, where he meshes his father’s Memphis jazz roots, his mother’s organ sound and his adoration of Cuban rhythms.

The brief, drum focused “The Call” opens the listen with Coleman Jr.’s fluid and inviting drumming, before “Rakin’ And Scrapin’” follows with Michael DiRubbo’s bright alto sax and George Coleman Sr.’s soulful tenor sax complementing the younger Coleman’s agile drumming.

Approaching the middle, “Little Green Men” benefits much from Brian Charette’s playful organ amid the rhythmic climate, while “Blues Inside Out” allows Paul Bollenback’s meticulous guitar work to shine in the timeless jazz display.

Further still, “Amsterdam After Dark” trims the pace back with an elegant intimacy that’s a bit mysterious and quite mesmerizing, and “Lilt” exits with the reflective brass and well timed keys that suit the meticulous drumming of the rich album highlight.

A cultured, animated and soulful listening experience, Coleman Jr. and company are certainly rooted in jazz, but also touch on blues, funk, soul and Latin moments across the diverse and exciting 14 tracks.

Travels well with: Trio Profondo- Mosaic; Jakob Dreyer- Songs, Hymns And Ballads: Volume 1

Deano & Jo

Deano & Jo

Plenty Tuff, 2023

9/10

Listen to Deano & Jo

Deano, i.e. Dean Schlabowske of Chicago’s esteemed Waco Brothers, and Jo Walston of Austin’s Meat Purveyors come together for this debut release of swampy songs that surround lost love, cheating, drinking, and death.

“One More Day” wastes no time making an impression with Beth Chrisman’s warm fiddle complementing Deano and Jo’s heartfelt harmonies in the twang friendly opener, and “Come On Down” follows with Mark Rubin’s playful double bass alongside Jo’s pretty pipes and Deano’s deeper voice.

Further along, “Tennessee Border” has Chas Justus on lead guitar for the frisky country rock that’s retro in all the best ways, while “Flame In My Heart” makes great use of Chris Stafford’s glowing pedal steel as the pair’s vocals soar with a gorgeous intimacy.

“Down, Down, Down” lands near the end and showcases cozy fiddle acrobatics and well timed pedal steel that suits Jo and Deano’s expressive singing, and “Never Going Back” exits with a timeless rural flavor that’s rootsy and Americana spirited.

An extremely well done body of work that embraces honky tonk, ballads and the sounds of AM country, Deano and Jo bring a wealth of talent and experience a very distinct version of alt-country.

Travels well with: Buddy & Judy Miller- Breakdown On 20th Ave. South; Buck Owens And The Buckaroos- Bakersfield Gold

Anthony Gaser

Read The Signs

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Read The Signs

The Los Angeles producer and composer Anthony Gaser makes quite an impression with these 4 lively and memorable tunes that reside in the area of rock and pop sounds.

“Wanna Be Sure” opens the listen with upbeat drumming and no lack of grooves, as soulful singing and some funk nods make for a nostalgic feel, and “Elevation” follows with a charming dreaminess that welcomes strong attention to atmosphere via the chunky bass, animated drumming and very pretty singing.

“Right Out Of Love” and “Waiting It Out” exit the listen, where the former recruits strings to the fluid and rich EP highlight, and the latter showcases agile piano amid a stylish buzzing that’s got plenty of modern pop flair.

Even though he may be a name to most, Gaser has 4 EPs and 11 singles under his belt, and his disco, funk, R&B, soul, rock and pop influences will certainly make anyone’s ears perk up and pay attention to his smooth and meticulous formula.

Travels well with: Object Heavy- Love & Gravity; Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal- Green Light

Tobias Hoffmann Nonet

Retrospective

Alessa, 2019

8/10

Listen to Retrospective

The Vienna saxophonist and composer Tobias Hoffmann made quite an impression with these 10 tracks released in 2019, where an all star cast of players join him for the big band and jazz fueled listen.

The title track gets the listen off to a dynamic start, where the bright brass and Michael Prowaznik’s fluid drumming make for a timeless jazz spirit, and “Happenstances” follows with Philipp Nykrin’s warm keys amid the soothing sax prowess that’s melodic and cozy.

Landing near the middle, “Procrastinator” benefits much from bouncy bass lines of the more rock focused display, while “Propulsion” layers the brass strategically amid Christopher Pawluk’s clever guitar work for the album’s best.

“Venteto” and “Am Ende des Tages” exit the listen, where the former brings both intimate and playful bouts to the precise landscape, and the latter is quite pretty, where the elegant keys, charming bass and romantic sax make for a very memorable finish.

A listen with no lack of melodies or grooves, Hoffmann handles tenor and soprano sax superbly, and Simon Plötzeneder’s trumpet and flugelhorn, Stefan Gottfried’s alto sax, Daniel Holzleitner’s trombone and Fabian Rucker’s bass clarinet and baritone sax sure do help make this a top notch affair.

Travels well with: Will Vinson- Trip Wire; Simon Belelty- Pee Wee

The Salt Collective

Life

Propeller, 2023

10/10

Listen to Life

A long running Paris outfit consisting of the guitarist and songwriter Stéphane Schück, Benoit Lautridou (drums) and Fred Quentin (bass), the trio welcome an incredible set of guests to these 12 songs that includes Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Matthew Sweet, Juliana Hatfield, Richard Lloyd (Television), Anton Barbeau, Susan Cowsill (Cowsills), Mitch Easter, Matt Douglas (Mountain Goats), Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Gene Holder and Will Rigby (the dB's).

“Asylum” opens the listen with Caws and Hatfield on vocals, and with Holder’s warm bass and Schück’s swirling guitar in the melodic power-pop presence, and “Where The Wild Things Are” follows with Hatfield and Stamey contributing their pipes to Lautridou’s skilled drums amid the dreamy, alt-rock nods.

Elsewhere, the intimate and reflective “Another Bus Coming” showcases violin from Laura Thomas and Leah Gibson’s cello for the sophisticated climate, while “A Piece Of Candy” places Barbeau on vocals to complement the frisky rhythm section of the textured album highlight.

Further still, Cowsill’s inimitable voice populates the bouncy and breezy “Spacewalk 2068”, and “Making It Up As We Go Along” exits with Stamey on lead vocals for the harmonic and animated indie-rock that sounds both modern and nostalgic.

You might think that the combined talent of The Salt Collective matched with the esteemed guest players would make for a pretty incredible album, and you’d be right. In fact, it extracts the best bits of alt-rock, indie-rock, psychedelic and power pop in ways that just might deem it record of the year.

Travels well with: Matthew Sweet- Catspaw; Holsapple & Stamey- Our Back Pages

Emilie Cecilia LeBel

Field Studies

Redshift, 2023

9/10

Listen to Field Studies

The inimitable chamber artist Emilie Cecilia LeBel makes quite an impression on this debut album that’s quite calm, precisely textured and abstract in very absorbing ways.

“evaporation, blue” opens the listen with Cheryl Duvall’s graceful piano and soothing harmonica that spreads out across 11+ minutes of intimate waves, and “and the higher leaves of the trees seemed to shimmer in the last of the sunlight’s lingering touch of them” follows with Roger Admiral’s eloquent piano alongside the strategic electronic processing that makes for much ambience.

“drift” arrives in the middle and welcomes Jane Berry’s powerful pipes to the Edmonton Ensemble that is Ultraviolet, who use Mark Segger’s precise percussion superbly, while “even if nothing but shapes and light reflected in the glass” highlights Ultraviolet’s Chenoa Anderson’s atypical flute and Balcetis’ moody sax in the album highlight.

The final track, “further migration (migration no. 1)”, then finds Ilana Waniuk on violin for the very unconventional string manipulation that’s cinematic, mysterious and expressive in very unique ways.

An artist who excels in chamber and orchestral moments and whose sonic palette is always unpredictable, the very harmonic shapes and structures from LeBel makes these 5 tracks highly captivating.

Travels well with: Joseph Petric- Seen; Instruments Of Happiness- Slow, Quiet Music In Search Of Electric Happiness

Chris Vallillo

Forgottonia

Gin Ride, 2023

8/10

Listen to Forgottonia

The roots influenced songwriter Chris Vallillo pens a listen inspired by the people and places occupying American’s heartland, and he’s got an excellent cast of players on hand for the diverse and timeless affair.

“The King Of Iowa” opens the listen with Valillo’s deep pipes alongside the slide guitar and crisp drums in the rockabilly climate, and “The Bootlegger” follows with an old time feel that benefits from banjo and jaw harp for the distinct rural feel.

Halfway through, “Ma Belle” displays meticulous finger picking that takes nods to French Cajun ideas and showcases Dennis Stroughmatt’s fiddle skills, while “Flower In A Crannied Wall” uses bass strategically for the rhythmic and flowing instrumental.

Near to the end, “Cliché” places the jazz wizard David Stiernberg on mandolin for the upbeat and frisky album highlight, and “Softly And Tenderly” exits with much grace and intimacy thanks to the pensive melody via the 9 string parlor guitar.

A very thoughtful listen that pays homage to the rural Midwest, Vallillo touches on gospel, folk, and Americana, and names like Ry Cooder, Guy Clark and Steve Goodman might come to mind, too, via his rich and eloquent song craft.

Travels well with: Daniel Janke- Songs Of Small Resistance; Greg Greenway- Between Hello & Goodbye

Dean Mueller

Life Ain’t All Roses

Ripping Glass, 2023

8/10

Listen to Life Ain’t All Roses

An artist who has played with the Duffy Bishop band, the Insomniacs and the Julie Amici Band, this debut solo album from Dean Mueller brings 11 originals and a cover that are fleshed out with Mueller’s strong attention to detail.

“Sky Fallin’” begins the listen with conversational singing, as a warm version of Americana unfolds with Mueller’s smooth pipes amid the crisp drumming, and “You Don’t Know How It Feels” brings a very cozy spirit to the Tom Petty tune that’s lush and pretty in this slower version.

At the halfway point, the playful twang of “Dance A Life” welcomes an intimate delivery of country influenced song craft, while “I Wish I Said” takes that lead a step further into poetic territory thanks to Mueller’s vivid storytelling.

Close to the end, the quicker pace of “Home To Me” displays a timeless, rootsy appeal, and “Find My Way” exits with a bare display of folk friendly songwriting that’s reflective, mature and memorable.

An excellent first outing on his own, Mueller’s vision is one of depth and substance and will likely resonate for decades to come.

Travels well with: Buddy Mondlock- Filament; Brian Blake- Book Of Life

Malcolm Holcombe

Bits & Pieces

Proper, 2023

8/10

Listen to Bits & Pieces

The cancer survivor Malcolm Holcombe returns with an 18 album of his expressive and heartfelt song craft, where the multi-instrumentalist and producer Jared Tyler lends a hand for the 13 genuine tunes.

The title track opens with Holcombe’s warm acoustic guitar and raw vocals that are complemented by Tyler’s backing vocals amid the dark folk ideas, and “Fill Those Shoes” follows with Tyler’s soft drumming adding much beauty to the vivid storytelling from Holcombe.

Close to the middle, “Conscience Man” brings a hint of the blues thanks to the mesmerizing guitar and rugged climate, while “Happy Wonderland” benefits much from the percussion and vocal harmonies that make this lush delivery the album’s best.

Near to the end, “Rubbin’ Elbows” is equal parts grit and melody in the agile folk demeanor, and “Bring To Fly” exits with Holcombe’s conversational approach alongside the meticulous guitar and slight twang.

Quite possibly your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter, Holcombe has received praise from Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle, to name a few, and anyone willing to listen to his sage-like and timeless songwriting will certainly see why he is so revered.

Travels well with: The Rifters- The Enchanted World; Kenny Shore- Time Stands Still

Dex Romweber

Good Thing Goin’

Propeller, 2023

8/10

Listen to Good Thing Goin’

On this first album in 7 years, the always impressive Dex Romweber brings guitar rockers, piano ballads and plenty of reverb to this gospel, soulful and R&B flavored listen.

“A Good Thing Going” opens the listen with Romweber’s loud guitar and gritty voice alongside Dave Schmitt’s lively drums and a few soulful backing vocalists, and “If You Love Me” follows with Laura Thomas contributing violin and Crowmeat Bob Pence’s tenor and baritone sax bringing much diversity to the cautious yet animated landscape.

At the halfway point, the dreamy and intimate “For All We Know” is just Romweber’s elegant piano and stirring voice, while “Twine Time” thumps and shakes with Mark Simonsen’s Hammond organ and Aaron Olivia’s electric bass giving the album highlight plenty of retro spirit in the vocal-less climate.

Approaching the end, the rhythmic and gruff “Saturday Morning” has Romweber’s playful guitar throaty pipes in attendance, which are joined by Simonsen’s drums, conga, bass and piano, and “I Found My Love” exits with Taz Halloween’s well timed backing vocals for the nostalgic love song that sounds right out of The Great American Songbook.

Whether this is your first trip with Romweber of you’re a long time fan, you’re going to love these powerful, anthemic and animated tunes that populate his retro and diverse version of rock’n’roll.

Travels well with: Jason Hawk Harris- Love & The Dark; Mekons- Deserted

The Flying Horse Big Band

Good News!

Flying Horse, 2019

8/10

Listen to Good News!

The big band stars The Flying Horse Big Band return with another installment of their energetic jazz and hard bop stylings, and this time they’re aligned with the UCF Studio Orchestra.

“The Serpent’s Tooth” gets the album off to a peppy start with glorious interplay between the many instruments, as trombones and saxophones get their own solos, and “Vierd Blues” follows with a more subdued setting of intricate guitar work and a flourishing jazz feel.

Further along, “Trinkle Trinkle” builds into a mesmerizing display of brass fun, while “‘Round Midnight” offers a setting of elegance and mystery in the album highlight.

Deeper cuts brings us “Imagine”, which is a dreamy, flute friendly version of the classic where both singing and talking are present, and the last instrumental, “Blue Steps”, uses strategic keys in a busy display of rhythm and melody.

The work of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Bob Mintzer and Antonio Carlos Jobim are all reworked here with the 18 members in attendance, and the delivery is nothing short of stunning with its textured, groove heavy, vintage jazz feel.

Travels well with: Bill O’Connell And The Afro Caribbean Ensemble- Wind Off The Hudson; David Fink- BASSically Jazz