Gino Amato

Latin Crossroads 2

Ovation, 2025

8/10

Listen to Latin Crossroads 2

The always impressive arranger Gino Amato enlists some excellent guests for both standards and a classical selection, where much imagination is present and the setting becomes Latin-ized.

“Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” opens with Itai Kriss’ bright flute and Arnold McCuller and Matt Cusson’s animated vocals in the cultured fun, and “I Only Have Eyes For You” follows with Chris Rogers’ muted trumpet that suits Kandace Springs’ soulful pipes.

In the middle, “Tangerine” blends Amato’s warm keys and Lou Marini’s fluid sax amid the playful scatting, while “I Love Paris” recruits Veronica Swift’s inimitable pipes alongside Mitch Frohman’s firm sax and Oscar Hernández’s’ strategic Rhodes for the lively album highlight.

Near the end, “Windmills Of Your Mind” benefits from Alex Norris’rich flugelhorn that coincides with Cusson’s smooth pipes via the flowing melodies, and “Scheherazade” exits with Randy Brecker’s unmistakable trumpet that aligns with graceful and cinematic musicianship.

Some of these songs might be familiar to you, but Amato dresses them up with grooves, jazz festivities and worldly rhythms that are energetic and breathes new life into them.

Travels well with: Gino Amato- Latin Crossroad; Andy Nevala- El Rumbón (The Party)

Tekla Waterfield & Jeff Fielder

Mother Mind

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Mother Mind

Tekla Waterfield and Jeff Fielder bring their inimitable talents to these 11 folk and Americana songs that welcome several guests for the heartfelt and socially conscious effort.

The a capella beauty of “I Am Alive” opens with Waterfield’s touching voice tugging on the heartstrings, and “Something My Own” follows with Fielder’s warm guitar and William Sage’s thumping drums occupying the fluid Americana.

Later on, “Saw Myself In Her” makes great use of Daniel Walker’s mature keys amid the soaring vocals and upbeat mood, while “A Million Times” is closer to country territory via Walker’s accordion and David Salonen’s violin that surrounds the balladry.

Closer to the end, “Sad” comes with an orchestral angle that’s quite emotive and relatable, and “Will You Remember Me” exits with a lullaby demeanor that has Fielder playing drums alongside the duo’s 2 year old daughter’s vocals.

An often autobiographical effort, Waterfield and Fielder explore parenthood with these lush, groove filled and rootsy tracks that might bring to mind Bonnie Raitt, Patty Griffin or Lake Street Dive.

Travels well with: The Heart Collectors- Alchymie; Ponyfolk- The Woods Have Shown Us

Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra

Multiversal: Live At Bop Stop

Hidden Cinema, 2025

9/10

Listen to Multiversal: Live At Bop Stop

This sophomore album from the Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra showcases Harvey’s conducting, arranging and composing skills alongside an excellent cast for the 11 energetic tracks.

“Multiversal” starts the listen with a warm Big Band approach, where Tommy Lehman’s radiant trumpet is met with Dustin May’s agile drumming, and “Covert Ops” follows with Max Schlenk’s colorful sax amid the dreamy winds and strong attention to atmosphere.

Entering the middle, “Men Of Steel” spotlights Clint Bleil’s skilled baritone sax and Zach Warren’s impressive trombone prowess in both gentle and busy bouts, while “Ain’t No Sidekick” benefits from Jordan McBride’s meticulous bass and Chris Coles’ strategic alto sax that suits plenty of melody.

Arriving late in the listen, the alternate take of “Covert Ops” comes with a cinematic delivery that’s unpredictable and stylish, and the alternate take of “Earth-Two” allows for Ben Tweedt’s elegant keys to complement the sophisticated and adventurous songwriting.

There’s 17 players in this orchestra, and that equals a lot of talent that was recorded live, in one take, and it brings us on an eclectic comic book inspired journey that anyone with an interest in jazz will admire.

Travels well with: Stephen Philip Harvey- Live At Radio Artifact; Stephen Philip Harvey- Library Card

Conrad Herwig

Reflections-Facing South

Savant, 2025

9/10

Listen to Reflections-Facing South

Conrad Herwig, Eddie Palmieri and Luques Curtis come together for these rhythmic 9 tracks that emit flowing and timeless Latin jazz.

“Bianco’s Waltz” opens with Palmieri’s playful keys alongside Herwig’s soulful trombone in the warm climate, and “C’mon (Mi Guajira)” follows with Curtis’ frisky bass amid the rich keys and rich brass.

The title track and “Listen Lady” land in the middle. The former is a cozy moment thanks to the pretty piano and heartfelt trombone, while the latter comes with mystery and atmosphere via Palmieri’s moody piano and hazy horn.

Nearing the end, “Monica” showcases the meticulous bass amid the trio’s rich dynamics that are heartfelt, and “El Guerrero Solitario” exits with elegance and poeticism that occasionally gets a bit more firm, and really allows for Curtis’ bass acrobatics to shine.

Tragically, Palmieri passed away after this recording, and he leaves behind an unparalleled body of work in the area of jazz. Curtis and Herwig’s efforts here are nothing short of stunning, either, and it makes for plenty of rhythm, melodies and timelessness.

Travels well with: Conrad Herwig- The Latin Side Of McCoy Tyner; John Sturino- Blow Globe

Subshine

Easy Window

Apollon, 2019

9/10

Listen to Easy Window

The debut album from the Norwegian pop outfit recruits some of the best ideas of the ‘80s and injects them into modern indie-rock sounds on Easy Window, leaving an indelible mark in its all too brief gloriousness.

“Florence” starts the listen with calm, fluent indie-pop with breezy melodies and a soaring atmosphere, and “Your Love” follows and brings a dreamy ‘80s feel where pulsating synth really punctuates the setting.

Further along, “Trust” increases the tempo to quick paced electro-pop fun, while “Shadows” recruits a contemplative feeling with plenty of cautious instrumentation that takes nods to the early days of post-punk.

The back half of the listen stays indebted to earlier decades, too, with the crisp, atmospheric “Stones”, and the moody dance-rock of “Easy”. The quick album ends on “Where Does It Go”, where an adventurous, restrained and warm spirit end on a high note, putting a firm exclamation point on just how strong this first LP is.

Spearheaded by Ole Gunnar Gundersen, formerly of Lorraine, the songwriting legend brings a wealth of talent and experience to one of the year’s best listens.

Travels well with: New Order- Low-Life; Pet Shop Boys- Actually