Allen Sapp

Live Piano Works

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to Live Piano Works

The American composer Allen Sapp sees his legacy preserved with these 2 discs of exceptional live performances of major works for solo piano, thanks to his wife, Norma Bertolami Sapp’s agile fingers.

“Suite for Piano (1949)” starts the listen with Sapp’s dancing keys that are mesmerizing and complicated across the 5 diverse chapters, and “Piano Sonata II (1954-56, revised 1957)” follows with meticulous and flowing progressions that can radiate much beauty, too.

Disc 2 opens with the rumbling and dense “Piano Sonata V (1980)”, where firmness and colorful strategies unfold with intrigue, while “Piano Sonata III (1957)” exits with Allen’s delivery using both minimal and lush moments of timelessness.

The selections present were captured over a period spanning three decades at the Patricia Corbett Theatre at University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music, and they do a great job of illuminating Sapp’s artistic and classical vision that will inspire for centuries to come.

Travels well with: Trace Johnson- Works For Cello; Kyle Pederson- All Is Miracle

Allen Sapp

So Smooth, So Sweet

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to So Smooth, So Sweet

This first album from the soprano Chelsea Hart Melcher showcases her robust singing alongside Allen Sapp’s lyrical text via these 4 involved pieces.

“The Lady And The Lute” opens with Chelsea’s expressive and emotive soprano alongside Paul Melcher’s sophisticated piano across the 8 diverse chapters that can get animated, too.

In the middle, the frisky delivery of “Nursery Rhymes” offers 4 quick bouts of meticulous keys and rich vocals, while “Two Songs” enlists vivid storytelling and minimal moments of beauty and grace.

“Affliction” is the last selection, and spanning 11 chapters it allows for Chelsea’s powerful pipes to shine amid the warm and precise keys from Paul’s capable fingers.

An eloquent effort that embraces neoclassical ideas, English Renaissance poetry and whimsical, charming songwriting, Chelsea’s singing is stunning and the keys are equally enjoyable.

Travels well with: Allen Sapp- Live Piano Works; Paul Cohen- Nightfalls And Midnight Revels

Mika Stoltzman

Memories Of Tomorrow

Big Round, 2025

9/10

Listen to Memories Of Tomorrow

The marimba player Mika Stoltzman is in the company of Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Mike Mainieri and Geoffrey Keezer, plus others, for 9 playful jazz tunes.

The playful percussive ideas of “Memories Of Tomorrow” opens with a warm spirit that carries an infectious energy, and Eric Clapton’s “Layla” soon follows with rhythm and grooves thanks to Gadd’s light drums and Gomez’s lively bass.

“Ragtime Drummer” lands in the middle and uses the quick drumming and mesmerizing mallet fun, while “My Song” is an intimate moment of beauty, minimalism and poeticism that enlists a vibraphone solo thanks to Mainieri.

Deeper still, “Pixieland Rag” recruits Anders Wink’s subtle keys that suit the swift marimba and strategic drumming, and “Past Time Lullaby” exits with Keezer’s precise keys adding much to one of the fuller selections.

A highly diverse effort that touches on jazz, classical, and contemporary influences, Stoltzman and company flesh out a modern and creative outing.

Travels well with: Jordan Vanhemert Quintet- I Am Not A Virus; Elaine Freeman- La Speranza

Trace Johnson

Works For Cello

Albany, 2025

9/10

Listen to Works For Cello

The cellist Trace Johnson is in excellent company here, where Hsin-I Huang and Sahada Buckley are in attendance for the 6 old and new selections that are in solo and duo settings.

Samuel Barber’s “Cello Sonata, Op. 6” opens with the strings and keys interacting with tense bouts and graceful moments across the 3 chapters, and “All the Pretty Little Horses for Unaccompanied Cello”, by Laura Schwendinger, follows a solo cello delivery that’s emotive, poetic, but can also be exploratory.

Halfway through, Erwin Schulhoff’s “Duo for Violin and Cello” enlists Buckley’s violin for the first time in a very animated and unpredictable album highlight, while “Limbic Notes for Unaccompanied Cello” is the 2nd cello only selection, which has Johnson’s inimitable string gestures illuminating the Melinda Wagner piece.

The last track, Jonathan Harvey’s “Ricercare Una Melodia for Cello and Electronics”, pairs the atmospheric cello with adventurous electronics that make for an intriguing and creative finish.

An extremely attentive chamber effort, Johnson’s delivery is unparalleled and the balance of gentle versus firm dynamics makes every composition worthy of revisiting.

Travels well with: Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra- Convergence; David Owens- Sky Legends: The Music Of David Owens

Ambient Den

Ambient Den

Desert Comb, 2025

8/10

Listen to Ambient Den

An Australian trio who take inspiration from the ‘70s, Ben Craven, Tim Bennetts and Dean Povey, i.e. Ambient Den, pen a cinematic concept album with this debut.

“Future History Part 1” opens with a soft ambience of exploratory qualities and cozy guitar from Craven, and “For All Mankind” follows with Bennetts’ buzzing synth before Povey’s thumping drums enter the melodic prog-rock.

“Terraforming” occupies the middle spot and uses mature piano from Bennetts’ amid the heartfelt acoustic guitar as dense waves enter the sonically expressive rock, while “Future History Part 2” recruits playful funk fun and soulful singing that’s got grooves and will get you on the dance floor.

The last 4 tracks are bonus material and serve as ‘single edits’ of earlier songs. “Earthrise” offers pretty textures surrounding the lush and dynamic interaction between the trio, and “Terraforming” is more concise version that showcases Craven’s meticulous guitar, Povey’s agile drumming and Bennetts’ multi-faceted key prowess.

All 3 members sing, and their combined talents create an excellent first album of space rock that’s not short on atmosphere, storytelling and layering.

Travels well with: Mihrax- Rox; Nicolas de Renty- Retovr av Bercail

Bonnie J Jensen

Rise

MGM, 2025

8/10

Listen to Rise

This 5th studio album from the jazz vocalist Bonnie J Jensen brings us plenty of diversity as she interprets the works of Corea, Handcock and Sting, among others.

The warm spirit of “People Make The Word Go Round” opens with Jensen’s expressive pipes, Graham Jesse’s rich tenor sax and Brett Hirst’s cozy bass making an impression, and “Reminiscing” follows with Nicholas McBride’s playful drumming and Matt McMahon’s radiant keys complementing the soaring pipes.

Halfway through, “Cantaloupe Island” makes great use of the Big Band presence via the bright horns and especially Simon Ferenci’s soulful trumpet, while “Spain” places Jesse on flute amid Jensen’s intimate singing for the dreamy climate.

Near the end, “Spend A Little Time With Me” benefits much from Ray Cassar’s animated trumpet in a timeless Big Band environment, and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” exits with a romantic landscape thanks to Geoff Hughes’ heartfelt guitar and the mature piano that align with Jensen’s emotive presence.

An effort with a nice balance of balladry and swingin’ fun, Jensen’s storytelling is sincere and the 2 originals blend in well with the timeless covers of timeless vocal jazz that touches on Latin, soul and pop ideas.

Travels well with: Kathy Sanborn- Romantic Language; Deborah Silver- Basie Rocks!

Billy Lester Trio

High Standards

Ultra Sound, 2025

8/10

Listen to High Standards

The pianist Billy Lester is joined by Marcello Testa and Nicola Stranieri for these 8 interpretations and lone original that are never short on surprises.

Lester’s fluid keys open “There Will Never Be Another You”, as Stranieri’s frisky drums and Testa’s bouncy bass enter the classic tune, and “Somebody Loves Me” follows with the animated rhythm section alongside the dancing keys.

In the middle, the swift “I’ll Remember April” bops and shakes with an infectious energy across the 8+ minutes, while “You Go To My Head” allows for Lester’s meticulous keys to radiate warmth amid the reserved bass and drums.

Residing near the end, “Lover, Come Back To Me” illustrates a dynamic chemistry between the trio for the album’s best, and “Free Improvisation”, an original, showcases rumbling keys in a solo setting of fascinating and exploratory key progressions.

An exciting listen that puts a fresh coat of paint on time honored tracks, Lester and his company make for a swingin’ good time via the upbeat tempos, flowing melodies and dramatic bouts.

Travels well with: Ron Rieder- Día Precioso!; Mitch Towne- Refuge

Clarence Tilton

Queen Of The Brawl

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Queen Of The Brawl

The Omaha outfit Clarence Tilton collaborate with Marty Stuart and Presley Tucker for these 11 new songs that continue their authentic Americana vision.

“Fred’s Colt” opens with Stuart’s warm guitar and vocals alongside Jarron Wayne Storm’s frisky drums in the lively country rocker, and “Ray’s Stockyard Stomp” follows with a swift pace of driving guitars and Craig Meier’s bouncy bass that will get you on the dance floor.

Further along, Tucker’s pretty pipes enter the playful duet that uses Paul Novak’s meticulous keys, while “Sorrow And Sail” is an emotive and moody album highlight that blends in Corey Weber’s hazy pedal steel.

Landing near the end, “St. Joseph’s” offers a thumping, rural rocker that’s got plenty of grit, and “Our Love Rings True” exits with intimacy and soulfulness.

This is Clarence Tilton’s 3rd album, and the alt-country blasts, soothing harmonies and nods to legends like Son Volt and The Flying Burrito Brothers won’t be hard to appreciate.

Travels well with: Stephen Jacques- Pioneers And Fragrant Flowers; The Scarlet Goodbye- Speedway

From The Dirt

Colored Edge Of Memory

Self-Released, 2025

8/10

Listen to Colored Edge Of Memory

The Maryland Americana outfit From The Dirt are never short on harmonies and bluegrass ideas across these 10 lyrically substantial tracks.

“Afterwards, On The Greyhound” opens with Daniel Kenny’s emotive singing alongside Joe MacPhail’s reserved drumming and Jeff Karn’s playful mandolin, and “Angeline” follows with Eddie Dickerson’s upbeat fiddle amid the mountain-esque melodies that are heartfelt.

“White Mountains” occupies the middle spot and makes great use of Robbie Link’s elegant bass that suits Kenny’s expressive pipes, while “Luthier” benefits much from Joseph Terrell’s pretty guitar and Megan Leigh’s elegant vocal harmonies.

Residing near the end, “Edge Of The World Is A Rounding Error” offers a soft intimacy that’s dreamy and radiates much sincerity and poeticism, and “Trick Of The Dark” exits with well timed keys, aching fiddle and vivid storytelling.

The vocalists, fiddle and mandolin make up From The Dirt, and the rest of the players are from Team Rubber Room. Together, they blend Americana, Celtic, bluegrass and folk sounds into tunes that surround heartache, addiction, love and loss via their organic and authentic vision.

Travels well with: Alison Tucker- Where You Used To Be; Fox And Bones- Long Time Honey

The Funeral Portrait

Greeting From Suffocate City Beyond The Abyss: Deluxe Edition

Better Noise, 2025

9/10

Listen to Greeting From Suffocate City

The Atlanta rockers The Funeral Portrait returned in 2024 with this 2nd album, where 14 hard hitting songs welcome plenty of well known guests, and this deluxe edition treats us to 7 additional tracks.

The dense and thumping title track opens with Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills lending his melodic pipes to the buzzing climate, and “Blood Mother” follows with the dynamic rhythm section that showcases animated singing and soaring guitar.

Further along, “Dark Thoughts” benefits from Danny Warsnop’s gritty pipes that suit the tuneful versus raw bursts, while “You’re So Ugly When You Cry” enlists Bert McCracken (The Used) for the melodic backdrop that makes it unclear if you should seek out a dance floor or mosh pit.

Deeper still, “Voodoo Doll” recruits Eva Under Fire, who lends her expressive pipes to the anthemic bouts of abrasive yet tuneful sounds, and “Hearse For Two” exits the original album with intimate moments and heartfelt songwriting that’s strong on atmosphere, too.

On the bonus tracks, “Evergreen” is packed with firm melodies and sing-alongs, and “Friends Like These” finishes with buzzing synth, quick drums and even some traces of pop-punk under the heavy bouts.

A really well executed blend of punk, hardcore, emo and theatrical gestures, similarities to My Chemical Romance and Ghost won’t be hard to appreciate here.

Travels well with: Soen- Memorial; Dark Chapel- Spirit In The Glass

Kyle Pederson

All Is Miracle

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to All Is Miracle

The award-winning vocal ensemble Transept join the esteemed composer Kyle Pederson for these 17 songs that also use keys and strings strategically.

The title track opens with Paul Sanchez’s warm piano alongside Clara Osowski’s mezzo-soprano and Savannah Porter’s soprano that interact with much beauty, and “Awake, Arise!” follows with Bethany Battafarano’s expressive soprano complementing the choir in the harmonic climate.

Further along, “Stars” allows for Pederson’s lyrics to be illuminated by the rich delivery via Transept, while “Sanctus” enlists Jared Ostermann’s organ alongside Sanchez’s dreamy piano, which suits the pretty voices amid much elegance.

Deeper yet, “My King Is Comin’ Soon” allows for Matthew Goinz’s distinct baritone to radiate in the mesmerizing landscape, and “God Be With You Til We Meet Again” exits with Kayleen Sánchez’s stirring soprano joining Jared Waln’s dreamy guitar for the powerful and heartfelt finish.

A highly spiritual and awe inspiring body of work, Pederson’s vision yields us timeless hymns, freshly crafted genre-bending selections, 4 world premieres, a mix of ancient and new texts all with distinct instrumentation that we could never tire of.

Travels well with: Paul Cohen- Nightfalls And Midnight Revels; Jeff Sigfried- Shades

Christopher J. Greco/Po Sim Head

Baroque: For Soprano Saxophone And Piano

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to Baroque

The saxophonist Christopher J. Greco and pianist Po Sim Head come together for these 6 interpretations that span two different centuries with elegance and adeptness.

“Concerto in C minor”, by Alessandro Marcello, opens with the meticulous keys and soulful wind gliding across 3 chapters of agile ideas, and Bach’s “Flute Sonata in E-Flat Major BWV 1031” follows with the dancing keys interacting with Greco’s harmonic sax.

In the middle, “Oboe Sonata in A minor TWV 41:a3” displays plenty of harmonics amid the Georg Philipp Telemann piece that’s intimate and cozy, while “Flute Sonata in C Major BWV 1033”, by Bach moves quickly via the dynamic interplay between the pair.

The listen exits with “Rondeau - ‘Le Dodo, ou L'amour au Berceau’”, where the melodic keys and rich sax emit much beauty and wonder.

The Baroque sounds here are refined and elegant, where the duo’s inimitable strengths shine with thoughtfulness and a thrilling presence.

Travels well with: Paul Cohen- Nightfalls And Midnight Revels; Frederick Lawton- Cancioneta

Drew Pulliam

Back Of My Mind

Ride, 2025

8/10

Listen to Back Of My Mind

The Arkansas native Drew Pulliam pens an album of songs based on relationships, where plenty of southern spirit enters the indie-rock nods.

The title track leads with Pulliam’s falsetto and warm guitar, as dense bouts enter the soft versus firm gestures, and “Samson’s Song” follows with cozy acoustic guitar guiding the warm folk climate.

Landing in the middle, the fluid piano of “Pristine Girl” suits the expressive singing and relatable storytelling, while “Kickback Kind” is a harmonic album highlight that’s melodic and carries a slight jangle, too.

Close to the end, the meticulous guitar playing of “Lula” aligns with gentle singing that picks up steam near the end, and “Too Many” finishes with intimacy and heartfelt songwriting with just flowing guitar and sincere singing.

Pulliam is just 20 years old, but plays like an old soul. He spent his early years playing piano and guitar on a home stage, and the influence from artists like Leonard Cohen, The Lumineers, Ray LaMontagne and The Avett Brothers makes for a very universal appeal.

Travels well with: Arts Fishing Club- Human Part 1; Josh Lovelace- Shelters

Ryan Vigil

Vigil Vol. 1

New Focus Recordings, 2025

8/10

Listen to Vigil Vol. 1

The composer Ryan Vigil treats us to a pair of his expansive works, where Lilit Hartunian and John McDonald flesh out the lengthy pieces.

“untitled work for violin and piano (2009)” starts the listen with strong attention to tonality, as McDonald’s emotive keys align with Hartunian’s stirring strings. The 50+ minute tracks simmers softly, occasionally finding haunting ebbs via its minimalistic and sometimes cinematic exploration.

“untitled work for violin and piano (2019)” occupies the back half, and though it carries a much shorter duration, it’s no less involved. The keys can rumble a bit here, and the precise string mood emits wonder and mysteriousness.

The subtle use of color, rhythm and melody is greatly appreciated here, where pitch and timbral precision yield much thoughtfulness in a contemporary classical and chamber fashion.

Travels well with: Daniel Pesca- Walk With Me, My Joy; Susan Botti- River Spirits

Ryan Lee Crosby

At The Blue Front

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to At The Blue Front

The guitarist Ryan Lee Crosby traveled to Mississippi for these blues tracks that welcome Jimmy ‘Duck’ Holmes, Grant Smith and Jay Scheffler to the authentic occasion.

The soft and soothing “Going Away” opens with Crosby’s mesmerizing guitar and silky pipes alongside Smith’s light percussion and Scheffler’s warm harmonica, and “I’m Gonna Change” follows with a hypnotic presence of melody and breeziness.

Halfway through, “Mistreating People” has Crosby using a falsetto amid the intimate blues climate, while “Hard Times” welcomes Holmes’ meticulous guitar via the hushed moment of relatable wordplay and gentle songwriting.

“Slow Down (Part 2)” and “Tell Me” exit the listen. The former recruits Holmes’ distinct pipes to the meticulous songwriting, and the latter finishes with a genuine blues spirit that’s thoughtful and timeless.

Crosby’s fingerpicking prowess sure is memorable, and the influences from Africa, India and the Bentonia sound might be a far cry from his punk roots, but are certainly well done.

Travels well with: Jackson And The Janks- Write It Down; Jim Kweskin- Doing Things Right

The Haas Company Featuring Jerry Goodman

Thirteen

Psychiatric, 2025

9/10

Listen to Thirteen

The fusion wizards The Haas Company are back with Jerry Goodman for this 4th installment, where 6 tunes unfold with much exploration and precision.

The shimmering presence of “Incident At The Country Club” opens with dreaminess before warm keys from Pete Drungle and Kirwan Brown’s playful bass enters the prog-rock climate, and “Five Seven Loop” showcases Steve Haas’ cozy drums that align with Goodman’s animated electric violin.

In the middle, Sean Lennon makes an appearance on “Back Door Party”, where his frisky bass lends itself to jam band and rhythmic qualities for 9 minutes, while “Thirteen” creates ambience and mystery that erupts into the dynamic album highlight which benefits much from Samuel Hällkvist’s arena rock ready guitar licks.

Close to the end, “This Thing Ain’t Gonna Suck Itself” pays close attention to mood, as grooves unfold with meticulousness, and “Sleepwalker” exits with the driving rhythm section, detailed guitar and well timed keys and electric violin making for a very modern version of jazz rock.

Whether this is your first time or you’ve been following all along, you’re going to be impressed with the Haas Company’s inimitable brand of fusion, where Goodman and Lennon’s contributions make each original worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: The Haas Company/Samuel Hällkvist- Song For Mimi; The Haas Company- Celestial Latitude

Jason Kao Hwang

Myths Of Origin

True Sound, 2025

10/10

Listen to Myths Of Origin

The prolific and accomplished violinist and composer Jason Kao Hwang leads us through improvising for string orchestra and drumset, where 9 tracks were captured at the Vision Festival at Roulette in New York City on June 25, 2022.

“The Collapse Of Gravity” opens with Andrew Drury’s thumping drums and the many ambient strings that interact with tension, and “Spin Fast And Burn” follows with a rock template that benefits from the intricate guitars and busy strings.

In the middle, “Dust Gathers Around The Sleep” carries a distinct cinematic appeal of adventurousness and beauty, while “Landmarks Vanish” uses the cellos strategically amid Ken Filano’s skilled bass via the squealing sounds.

Residing close to the end, “Ancestors Of Light” radiates softness alongside the hazy mood, and “Never Forgotten” exits with the violins, violas and cellos working together with profound meticulousness for a stunning end.

The sound quality here is incredible, and rarely seems live, as Hwang’s vision embraces jazz, funk and world music into an orchestral, Big Band masterpiece.

Travels well with: Jason Kao Hwang- Uncharted; Jason Kao Hwang- Soliloquies, Unaccompanied Pizzicato Violin Improvisations

René Lussier/Robbie Kuster

Fiat Lux

Circum Disc, 2025

9/10

Listen to Fiat Lux

The multi-instrumentalist René Lussier is joined by the drummer Robbie Kuster for these both improvised and composed pieces that recruit many different sounds and ideas.

The warm and atypical spirit of “JUMEAUX” opens with emphasis on vocals for a quick intro, and the many grooves of “Troc” follows with Lussier’s melodic guitar and Kuster’s frisky drums entering rock territory.

Further along, “Bidou” brings an avant-garde mood to the dense guitar and thumping drums, while “Figure” recruits unconventional rhythm to the jagged, 54 second bout.

The title track lands deeper into the listen and is strong on atmosphere with dizzying percussion and a meticulous blend of space and tension, and “Biscuit- La Feuille D’erable” exits with wordless vocals, furious drumming and the sort of guitar shredding that could fill stadiums.

The subtle but effective use of daxophone, musical saw and nail organ add even more allure, as the duo explore rock from an iconoclastic viewpoint that’s nothing short of captivating.

Travels well with: Barbara Dang & Muzzix- Michael Pisaro-Liu- Tombstones II; Manoeuvres Sentimentales- Delightfully Deceitful

Kaze & Koichi Makigami

Shishiodoshi

Circum Disc/Libra, 2025

9/10

Listen to Shishiodoshi

The international quartet Kaze are aligned with the singer Koichi Makigami for these 3 unpredictable and adventurous jazz selections.

“Make A Change” starts with a dense spontaneity, where Natsuki’s bright trumpet and Peter Orins’ playful drumming add much intrigue to the 25 minutes. Makigami’s vocal acrobatics are quite fascinating, too.

The title track follows with some initial tinkering that takes many minutes to build into thick keys via Satoko Fujii and rich trumpet thanks to Christian Pruvost, but when the vocal layering enters the tune really draws us in.

The last track, “Inspiration 2”, might be the shortest at just 16+ minutes, but it’s equally atypical, where sci-fi like noises and vocal gestures enter and it exits with dense piano, wild brass and plenty of rumbling.

A really fun listen that’s quirky and full of creative improvisation, the quartet’s chemistry is fascinating, and Makigami’s vocal techniques are unparalleled.

Travels well with: Ize Trio- The Global Suites; Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio- Dream A Dream

Relic Kings

Blinded By The Sun

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Blinded By The Sun

A Canadian outfit who had a strong 2018 with some impressive awards, international touring and opening for high profile bands, this 3rd album from Relic Kings finds the quartet flourishing further with their eclectic and creative rock formula.

The title track starts the listen and wastes no time diving right into a warm, timeless meshing of soaring vocals, crisp instrumentation and pretty textures, and “Hypnotize” follows with muscular guitar riffs in a louder setting of tense rock.

Elsewhere, “Leading Me Astray” offers a charged and rhythmic affair of precise sounds, while “Stay Tonight” shifts gears into piano balladry with much elegance.

Deeper cuts bring us the thundering sounds of “Feeling Good”, that are hypnotic and crunchy in all the best ways, and “Push Me” recruits some metallic nods in a thicker, powerful atmosphere. “Are You Ready” ends the listen on a high note, with an ‘80s hard rock approach that puts the exclamation point on the strength of this record.

Canada has never been short on fantastic rock bands, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Relic Kings are one day spoken in the same sentence as The Tragically Hip or The Weakerthans, cause Blinded By The Sun is a superbly skilled listen that hints at even better things to come.

Travels well with: The Trews- Civilianaires; Arkells- Morning Report