Shawny

Go Go Stop- Music & Movement For Kids

Ollie Ollie, 2025

8/10

Listen to Go Go Stop- Music & Movement For Kids

The Montréal artist and Youtube star Shawny brings us 12 lively songs for families, where plenty of genres are touched on and the lyrical themes surround self-care and acceptance.

The warm strumming of the upbeat “Hi Hello” opens with plenty of sing-alongs that are both harmonic and fun, and “Go Go Stop” follows with a start and stop approach that’s as infectious as it is clever.

In the middle, the very wise “Winter Clothes” uses playful drumming and flowing acoustic guitar, while “Here Comes The Sharks!” flirts with funk and hip-hop, as the frisky keys won’t go unnoticed.

Residing close to the end, the folk friendly “Rainbow Parade” welcomes Strawbitty Yops via the joyful inclusivity, which is much needed right now, and “Goodbye Goodbye” exits with a cozy and intimate finish that’s heartfelt.

A really enjoyable listen of ‘melodic optimism’, Shawny’s message isn’t bound by age and the songs will resonate with anyone who possesses a youthful spirit and enjoys pop-rock ideas.

Travels well with: Electric Blue Yonder- MicroPARTY; Little Coyotes- Songs To Howl & Sing

Ron Ledoux Quartet

Views, Visions & Destinations

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Views, Visions & Destinations

This 2nd release from the Ron Ledoux Quartet brings us 9 originals, where the dynamic landscape unfolds with precision and warmth.

A Stone’s Throw Away” opens the listen with Ledoux’s radiant guitar amid Rich Irwin’s crisp drumming in the timeless jazz climate, and “Heefen Heights” follows with cautiousness, as the intricate guitar interacts smoothly with Gilbert Joanis’ fluid bass.

“Turn Right, But Go Left” and “UFO 60’s” land in the middle. The former allows for Irwin’s thumping drums to shine alongside Ledoux’s mesmerizing guitar, while the latter carries an intimate tone thanks to the dreamy progressions.

Landing close to the end, the rhythmic “Drive It For Miles!” is the busiest and best tune, and “Stillness Of A Summer Evening” exits with a gentleness and stirring appeal that’s charming.

Ledoux’s last album was extraordinary and this one is just as great, where the quartet flesh out passionate, inimitable and detailed jazz that’s easy to enjoy and difficult to forget.

Travels well with: Ron Ledoux Quartet- A Stone’s Throw Away; Adam Glaser- Excursions

Planet D Nonet

Doctor Professor Leonard King: In Tribute To Joe Williams

Eastlawn, 2025

9/10

Listen to Doctor Professor Leonard King: In Tribute To Joe Williams

The always impressive Planet D Nonet are aligned with Leonard King’s inimitable vocals for these tracks that tip their hat to the legendary Joe Williams.

“Who She Do” begins with plenty of soulful energy, where James O’Donnell’s animated trumpet and Sean Perlmutter’s frisky drums make an impression, and “The Comeback” follows with Trevor Lamb’s precise double bass and Matt LoRusso’s radiant guitar complementing the grooves.

Halfway through, “Sad Song” benefits much from RJ Spangler’s playful congas, as King provides spoken word and singing, while “Night Time Is The Right Time” makes great use of a booming sax solo amid the powerful singing.

Landing near the end, the Big Band ideas of “Don’t Push, Don’t Pull” bops and shakes with an infectious energy that swings with much fun, and “Some Of This ‘N’ Some Of That” allows for Michael Zaporski’s frisky keys and King’s cowbell to finish the record as strong as it started.

The saxes are provided by Alex Colista (alto), Christopher Tabaczynski (tenor) and Tre Smith (bari). John ‘Tbone’ Paxton” adds trombone, and Charlie Miller also plays trumpet. Together, they mostly focus on the life of Williams after he left the Count Basie Orchestra (except 1 track), and they sure do justice to his timeless jazz legacy.

Travels well with: Planet D Nonet- Blues To Be There, A Salute To Duke Ellington; Planet D Nonet- Echoes Of Harlem: A Tribute To Duke Ellington Vol 2

Ozan Baysal

Tel ve Ten

Arc, 2025

8/10

Listen to Tel ve Ten

The inimitable musician Ozan Baysal showcases an ancient Anatolian baglama playing style across these 7 very intriguing and memorable songs.

“Makam Taksim” starts the listen with warm string interaction, as percussive ideas enter the intricate delivery, and “Haydar Haydar” follows with attention to atmosphere, where the quick playing highlights the worldly melodies.

“Çakal Çökerten Zeybeği” arrives in the middle and is full of Eastern influences that are firm and richly executed, while “Childhood Memories” emits a breezy, harmonic moment of beauty and warmth. “Beyond Dreams” exits, and allows for Baysal’s meticulous techniques to suit the dreamy singing that builds into a busy, lush exit.

An effort that tips it hat to the pastoral-nomadiccultures of the Middle East and Central Asia, Baysal’s expertise with parmak vurma (finger tapping), tel çekme (plucking), and pençe (strumming) is greatly appreciated.

Travels well with: ZRI- Café Danube; Alvorada- Faz Tempo

Duo Aya

Cycles

Neuma, 2025

9/10

Listen to Cycles

A Texas pair consisting of Rachel Woolf on flute and Makana Jimbu on marimba, as Duo Aya they treat us to 4 commissioned works by close collaborators of the duo, as well as 3 beloved classics.

Ney Rosauro’s “Reunion Dance” starts the listen with the playful marimba and colorful flute interacting with much melody and playfulness, and “Cycles”, by Evan Williams, follows with a cautious spirit that builds into an upbeat and animated delivery.

Gareth Farr’s “Kembang Suling” lands in the middle, and across 3 segments it radiates a swirling demeanor but can also retreat to minimalism, while “Wildflowers”, by Paul Millette, illustrates dreamy flute prowess and frisky mallet work.

“Wood Wide Web II” and “Water Planet” exit the listen. The former, by Miriama Young, is strong on ambience, before finding soft and emotive places to resides, and the latter finishes with a cinematic, nearly sci-fi appeal via the Fumihiro Ono tune.

A rich listening experience that uses extended techniques and detailed attention to sound, there’s a lot of personal stories and cultural significance present in these artistic songs.

Travels well with: Coalescent Quartet- The Wall Between Us (Is Where We Meet); Galan Trio- Embrace

Marina Rocks

S.O.S, Texas

Self-Released, 2025

8/10

Listen to S.O.S. Texas

The prolific Texas native Marina Rocks returns with another batch of country-rock tunes, where Lloyd Maines, Alex Rodriguez, Aden Buebeck, Pat Manske and Gary Weldon are in attendance.

“It’s All Messed Up” opens with Buebeck’s dense bass that suits the rugged rock and Rocks’ powerful pipes, and “S.O.S.” follows with Rocks handling bass alongside thumping drums and plenty of grit.

“I Don’t Know” and “One More Song” land in the middle. The former is a brighter moment of colorful songwriting that even hints at dreaminess, while the latter showcases Manske’s precise percussion amid emotive singing.

Nearing the end, “Mind’s Eye” flirts with reggae via the breezy harmonics, and “Starlight” is a cozy instrumental that’s thoughtful and poetic.

This is Rocks’ 3rd album, and it’s a textured, mature and eclectic effort that uses Americana, country, world music and bluegrass with timeless results.

Travels well with: Marina Rocks- Texcentric; Marina Rocks- Austin To Houston

Shiri Zorn/George Muscatello/Mauricio Zottarelli

Looking For The Light

Self-Released, 2025

8/10

Listen to Looking For The Light

The creative jazz vocalist Shiri Zorn is joined by George Muscatello’s guitar and Mauricio Zottarelli’s percussion for these timeless and cultured tracks.

The warm melodies and playful scatting of “Garota de Ipanema” opens with a distinct dreaminess, and “It’s Alright With Me” follows with the frisky drumming and cozy guitar emitting much warmth and eloquent singing.

“Nothing At All” and “Prayer” occupy the middle spots. The former allows for Zorn’s pretty voice to shine amid the frisky percussion, while the latter is a colorful album highlight that spotlights Muscatello’s meticulous guitar playing.

Close to the end, “Shadow Soul” is a mesmerizing moment of playful percussion and chunky guitar that suits the atmospheric vocals, and “Dancing In The Dark” exits with a soft and cozy mood that tugs on the heartstrings.

A distinct body of work that makes great use of harmonies, atypical time signatures and worldly ideas, the trio’s layering and Zorn’s scatting ensure a charming listening experience.

Travels well with: Ermelinda Cuellar- Under A Lavender Sky; CeCe Gable- Love On The Tyrrhenian

Tim Jago

Time Shift

Bespoke, 2025

8/10

Listen to Time Shift

The composer and guitarist Tim Jago brings his distinct jazz vision to these 8 tracks that welcome Mark Small, Martin Bejerano, Dion Kerr and David Chiverton.

The rhythmic and thumping title track opens with Chiverton’s firm drums alongside Jago’s detailed guitar playing, and “Calypso’ish” follows with Small’s soaring sax that adds much to the melodic modern jazz approach.

Landing in the middle, “Major” is an intimate moment that radiates beauty in its dreamy mood, while “Bernie’s Tune” showcases Bejerano’s animated keys alongside the playful rhythm section.

“Fine Line” and “Kind Minded” exit the listen. The former is the album highlight, where the meticulous guitar shines amid the frisky climate, and “Kind Minded” exits with Kerr’s precise bass adding much to the rich grooves.

A colorful and dynamic example of guitar fueled, contemporary jazz. Jago and his company makes for an exceptional first effort under his own name.

Travels well with: The Beveled Edges- I Guess We’re Not Alone; Jackson Potter- Small Things

The Reddish Fetish With The Jersey City All Stars

Llegue

F&F, 2025

8/10

Listen to Llegue

An eclectic listen that pays tribute to Bill Reddish and is spearheaded by his son, the drummer Jason T. Reddish, along with the Jersey City All Stars octet he delivers 11 fusion filled tracks.

“Journey Into Satchidananda” opens the listen with a soft mood, as cinematic strings and Ben Golder-Novick’s atmospheric clarinet surrounds the blurry climate, and “All The Things You Are” follows with Reddish’s playful drumming and Jason Green’s dreamy guitar adding much to the scrappy jazz dynamics.

In the middle, “Senior Blues” welcomes J Hacha De Zola’s soulful pipes to the indeed bluesy delivery, while “Naima’s Bossa” showcases Roy Suter’s graceful piano amid the playful wind via much elegance.

Landing close to the end, the booming “Confirmation” allows for Indofunk Satish’s trumpet to soar, and Jose Yogui Rosario’s congas make an impression, too, in the busy landscape, and “Shango Can Fly” exits with Reddish’s acrobatic drumming being complemented by Ian Kenselaar’s frisky bass and plenty of rowdy, animated gestures.

The younger Reddish keeps his dad’s vision of avant-garde ideas alive, where free jazz, diverse rock, and an abundance of influences makes every track here exceptional, creative and worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Unity Quartet- Samba Of Sorts; Daniel Garbin- Rising

Third Coast Percussion

Standard Stoppages

Cedille, 2025

9/10

Listen to Standard Stoppages

The inimitable outfit Third Coast Percussion celebrate their 20th anniversary with these 6 detailed pieces that illuminate the works of Jlin, Tigran Hamasyan, Zakir Hussain, Jessie Montgomery and Musekiwa Chingodza.

Jlin’s “Please Be Still” leads with rhythmic appeal, where the quartet’s unpredictable and cozy percussion is mesmerizing, and “Sonata For Percussion”, by Hamasyan, follows with 3 movements that embraces classical ideas and plenty of melody.

Hussain’s “Murmurs In Time” resides in the middle and has Hussain playing tabla amid vocalizations of drum sounds and strategic improvisation, while Montgomery’s “Study No. 1” unfolds with cinematic and sonically engaging bouts that seems sci-fi at times.

Chingodza’s “Dzoka Kumba” exits, and allows for Chingodza’s mbira and vocals to complement the bright climate of swirling percussion and playfulness.

Yet another inventive and top notch body of work from Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin and David Skidmore, Third Coast Percussion continues to impress, inspire and enthrall us.

Travels well with: Third Coast Percussion- Philip Glass: Aguas Da Amazonia; Third Coast Percussion- Between Breaths

The Beveled Edges

I Guess We’re Not Alone

Detrallas, 2025

9/10

Listen to I Guess We’re Not Alone

The debut album from an outfit whose original vision was a 3 song EP, a chance meeting by Shelly Bhushan and Anthony Lanni turned into a much larger project with plenty of other musicians on hand, as The Beveled Edges.

“Amarillo” starts the listen and spotlights Bhushan’s expressive voice alongside Lanni’s warm 7 string guitar and Arei Sekiguchi’s soft drumming, and the title track follows with Lanni’s well timed vibes that add much to the intimacy.

“At The End Of The Day” arrives in the middle and makes great use of Alejandro Berti Delgado’s cozy brass, while “Paris Isn’t Paris Without You” showcases Will Holshouser’s elegant accordion via the cultured climate and poetic singing.

Close to the end, the dreamy demeanor of “Fade Into The Sky” welcomes Jeremy Powell’s atmospheric saxophone amid the mysterious singing, and the breezy “Never Too Late” is a swing filled late album highlight that’s upbeat and romantic.

A soulful, groove filled and worldly first album, thought it’s deeply rooted in jazz, we’re also treated to blues, pop and rock, where Haruna Fukazawa’s flute, Tosh Sheridan’s piano, Brad Whitely’s organ, Garry Ianco’s strings and Ric Becker’s trombone are much appreciated, too.

Travels well with: Rick Roe- Tribute: The Music of Gregg Hill; Wayne Alpern- Gotham

Unity Quartet

Samba Of Sorts

Sunnyside, 2025

8/10

Listen to Samba Of Sorts

The Unity Quartet, i.e. Helio Alves, Guilherme Monteiro, Gili Lopes and Alex Kautz, bring us the lively energy of Brazilian music via these 8 tracks that embrace samba, forro and bossa nova.

“Viola Violar” starts the listen with Alves’ warm piano and Monteiro’s spirited guitar lines that emit much grace and melody, and “Lucena” follows with Kautz’s fluid drumming that suits the gentle rhythm.

“Frenzy” and “Pau de Arara” land in the middle. The former is indeed rowdy, where quick keys and shifting tempos emit a controlled chaos delivery, while the latter benefits from Lopes’ frisky bass amid the radiant guitar.

The title track lands close to the end and is a chunkier moment of rock gestures and world music dynamics, and “Paloma Plage” exits with the cautious rhythm section and agile keys that illustrate a breezy waltz finish.

A highly collaborative effort, the quartet flesh out modern jazz with cultured ideas that are unpredictable, harmonic and universally enjoyable.

Travels well with: Mitch Towne- Refuge; Daniel Garbin- Rising

Aakash Sridhar

Revived Emotions

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Revived Emotions

An esteemed pianist from Texas with a penchant for modern jazz, the 6 songs here from Aakash Sridhar recruit Andrew Getman, Adam Abrams and Joshua Ferrell.

Ferrell’s crisp drumming and Abram’s dense bass lines suit Sridhar’s bright keys in the opener, “Reflections Of Yesterday”, and “Sunsets” follows with playful bass plucking and radiant piano progressions that suit the rich climate.

“At Home” and “Stop Chasing” land in the middle. The former is a dreamy moment of sublime beauty, while the latter pays close attention to atmosphere via the firm bass, subtle drums and intimate keys.

Getman’s meticulous guitar appears on 2 tracks, and it’s particularly luminous on the more rock focused “A Spark”, and “Revival” exits with Sridhar’s graceful fingers weaving in and out of emotive, poetic songwriting.

Sridhar’s vision is full of eloquent storytelling, and the modern jazz presence draws the listener in from beginning to end.

Travels well with: Michael Waldrop- Triangularity; Domenic Cicchetti- Candy Apple

Coalescent Quartet

The Wall Between Us (Is Where We Meet)

Neuma, 2025

9/10

Listen to The Wall Between Us (Is Where We Meet)

A Wisconsin outfit who consist of 4 members who offer different artistic visions, Nathan Bogert, Michael Shults, Nick Zoulek, and Drew Whiting all bring their own distinct saxophone prowess to these 5 tracks.

Zack Browning’s “Unrelenting Universe” opens with strong attention to tonality, where Shults’ alto sax is particularly luminous amid the floating melodies, and “Quartet For Saxophones”, by Evan Williams, showcases a swirling and dynamic interaction between the winds that radiates much creativity and exploration.

The middle spot belongs to Chen Yi’s “Distance Can’t Keep Us Two Apart”, which is an intimate and soft moment of beauty, while Martin Bresnick’s “Mending Time” unfolds across 4 chapters of bright, playful and unpredictable patterns that allow for Zoulek’s tenor to shine.

The final piece, Emma O’Halloran’s “Night Music”, quivers with cinematic gestures, as Bogart’s soprano and Whiting’s baritone help illuminate the rich and animated exit.

An adventurous effort where grooves, post-minimalism, post-romanticism, chamber and contemporary classical bouts won’t go unnoticed, Coalescent Quartet flesh out a very distinct and fascinating listening experience.

Travels well with: Galan Trio- Embrace; Christopher Clarino- Parlando

Caitlin Cannon

Love Addict

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Love Addict

The Nashville artist Caitlin Cannon returns with her unique brand of ‘cosmicana”, where her bold lyrics are surrounded by plenty of diverse sounds.

The title track leads with some psychedelia amid the thumping drums and Cannon’s distinct voice that suits the alt-country nods, and “I Wouldn’t Say I Love You” follows with graceful strings and intimate singing that’s heartfelt.

Occupying the middle spot is the dreamy “Let It Hurt Some”, where soft instrumentation complements the eloquent vocals, while “Dr. Dealer” is a fuller moment of bright horns and a scrappy rhythm section that’s full of glorious melodies you could dance to.

Landing close to the end, “My Own Company” touches on classic country ideas and emits much beauty alongside subtle twang, and “Waiting” exits with just Cannon’s breathy pipes and gentle acoustic guitar, which showcases folk friendly songwriting via a stirring presence.

Cannon’s vision is both rowdy and delicate, and this live recording brings grit and grooves to relatable and really memorable stories.

Travels well with: Grey Desisle- The Grey Album; Stacy Antonel- Always The Outsider

Ellie Martin

Morning Glories

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Morning Glories

The singer and songwriter Ellie Martin pens an album about family and nature, where Peter Eldridge, Kurt Krahnke and Olman Piedra accompany her for the 13 melodic jazz tracks.

“Love And Light” opens the listen with Eldridge’s warm keys and Krahnke’s playful bass that suit Martin’s expressive voice, and “Spring’s Around The Corner” follows with Piedra’s frisky drumming amid the soaring pipes.

Closer to the middle, the animated rhythm section of “Asking Us To Change” allows for Martin’s rich vocals to soar, while “Pays De Desir” comes with some world music ideas that embrace rhythm and a distinct energy.

Landing close to the end, “Lonely In A Crowd” layers the voices in a harmonic and colorful fashion, where the meticulous keys won’t go unnoticed, and “Everything Must Come Down” exits with a mesmerizing intimacy via the hypnotic keys, ambient rhythm section and lush singing.

The songs are delivered from the viewpoint of a 39 year old mother and cancer survivor, where each tune is filled with hope, passion, discovery and love via the timeless vocal jazz presence.

Travels well with: Elaine Dame- Reminiscing; Jeffrey Gimble- Brand New Key

Domenic Cicchetti

Candy Apple

Nyack, 2025

8/10

Listen to Candy Apple

An artist with many talents, Domenic Cicchetti released his debut in 1979, and all these years later he’s still making timeless jazz music, as evidenced by the 7 detailed tracks here.

“Jump To It” opens with Cicchetti’s bright keys and Paul Adamy’s lively bass making for an infectious energy, and the title track follows with Jon Herington’s smooth guitar and Wes Little’s crisp drums that suit the playful keys and fluid melodies.

In the middle, Felipe Salles’ soaring sax and dreamy flute help make “Sunlight” an indeed bright moment, while “Intricate Journey” welcomes Dave Weckl’s agile drumming and Bill Hayes’ strategic percussion to the dynamic album highlight.

“Ode To A Friend” and “Night Time” exit the listen. The former is a lush tune where Cicchetti’s synth bass won’t go unnoticed, and the latter uses synthetic drumming and Dave Lavender’s warm guitar playing amid soulfulness and strong attention to atmosphere.

An effort of diverse and introspective jazz sounds, Cicchetti surrounds himself with an excellent cast, and the songs sure do resonate well via the balance of precision and timelessness.

Travels well with: Ric Harris And The Heat Merchants- Along The Avenue; Jackson Potter- Small Things

Kronos Quartet & Mary Kouyoumdjian

Witness

Phenotypic, 2025

9/10

Listen to Witness

A portrait record that spotlights the work of the Armenian-American composer and documentarian Mary Kouyoumdjian, the Kronos Quartet further solidify their unparalleled string interaction across these 4 selections.

“Groung (Crane)” starts the listen and is based on an Armenian folk song of the same name, where the heartfelt and intimate strings emit much beauty and mystery, and “Bombs Of Beirut” follows with spoken word from family and friends that discusses their experiences living in war amid the stirring and emotive string presence.

On the back half, “I Haven’t The Words” is a sonic journal that quivers with a darkness that touches on the isolation of the pandemic, while “Silent Cranes” exits with 4 involved chapters that reside in music documentary work and marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide with powerful singing that gives a voice to the voiceless.

A very complex and human peek at social and political conflict, the strings are executed with much care and expressiveness, as the Kronos Quartet, who are now 70+ recordings deep, continue their ambitious ways.

Travels well with: JACK Quartet- John Zorn: The Complete String Quartets; Third Coast Percussion- Philip Glass: Aguas Da Amazonia

Mirabai Ceiba

Agua De Luna

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Agua De Luna

The husband and wife duo of Markus Sieber and Angelika Baumbach, as Mirabai Ceiba their bi-lingual, nature-esque sounds where strings, horns and flutes are in attendance alongside Baumbach’s harp, keys and harmonium and Sieber’s vocals, harmonica and percussion, flow with much organic beauty on Agua De Luna.

The title track starts the listen with gorgeous singing and twinkling, intimate instrumentation, and “You Are A Song” follows with an equally expressive formula that finds a calm place to reside with classical, New Age and meditative ideas.

Moving along, “We Are The Mirror” unfolds with a sparse delivery of cultured, orchestral charm, while “Silence To Break” offers a dreamy setting of sublime melody.

Near the end, “El Rio” yields a full display of glowing piano work on a hypnotic highlight, and “Luz De La Manana” ends the album gentle and soothing, as keys and strings are intertwined with the dynamic musicianship from the players.

A band named after a tree and a poet and an album title that references water, when you add Baumbach’s Latin heritage to the equation you’re left with a superb record of world devotional music that’s both soul stirring and subtly inspirational.

Travels well with: Shantala- Living Waters; Krishna Das- Kirtan Wallah