Buttercup

Grand Marais

Bedlamb, 2023

8/10

Listen to Grand Marais

A collection of songs recorded over 3 days back in 2014, these raw tracks captured the depression that Erik Sanden (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Joe Reyes (guitar, vocals) sorted through after their father’s passed away, using just guitar and bass.

“Cry Sailor Cry” starts the listen with mesmerizing guitar and very emotive singing in the bare but impactful delivery, and “Opening Band” follows with a more firm approach of folk ideas amid some mysterious atmosphere for effect.

In the middle, the cleverly titled “Morrissey For Company” carries an intimate dreaminess thanks to the flowing vocal harmonies, while the firm and melodic “It’s A Laugh” is a fuzzy album highlight.

At the end, “I Love You” and “I Can’t” are both poetic, where the former is simultaneously gentle and loud, and the latter showcases charming bass lines alongside the careful acoustic guitar and calm singing.

Originally deemed unusable at the time, the songs seem more appropriate than ever following the pandemic, and the minimal instruments and bouts of psychedelic moments help cultivate an anti-folk formula that could somehow even apply to the punk crowd.

Travels well with: Julian Taylor- Beyond The Reservoir; Scott Clay- Let It All Lay Bare

Courtney Carey

I Wanna Be Ready

Navona, 2023

8/10

Listen to I Wanna Be Ready

The arranger, composer and vocalist Courtney Carey blurs the lines between the spiritual and divine with these 12 well crafted selections.

The title track opens the listen with Rodari Simpson’s tenor and The Concert Chorale making for a very vibrant and expressive lead off into the vocally strong listen, and “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Chile” follows with Jeryl Cunningham-Fleming’s stunning soprano and Joseph Joubert’s elegant piano working together with much beauty.

Deeper into the listen, “Oh, De Blin’ Man Stood On The Road An’ Cried” allows Justin Michael Austin’s baritone and Joubert’s keys to emit a stirring intimacy, while “Calvary” spotlights The Concert Chorale’s dynamic interaction with meticulous and fluid singing.

Near the end, The Concert Choral shines bright on the spiritual “Lord, I Want Two Wings”, where the range is explored in depth, and they continue that strategic harmonizing with “You Can Tell The World”.

Whether the setting is solo or with a group, each piece here is either bare and absorbing or layered and mesmerizing, and also includes Olanna Goudeau, Asha Lindsey, Mari-Yan Pringle, Jasmine Thomas, Jeanette Blakeney, Shyanne Clark, Patrice Eaton, Kaleb Hopkins, Taiwan Norris, Lonnie Reed, Charles Carter, Angelo Johnson, and Eliam Ramos’ talents.

Travels well with: Sirius Quartet- Playing On The Edge 3; Patterns- Chamber Works

Sgt. Splendor

Death Of The Hoochie Koo

Buena Vista, 2023

8/10

Listen to Death Of The Hoochie Koo

The New York duo of Kate Vargas and Eric McFadden, as Sgt. Splendor the pair bring plenty of power to this politically charged listen that welcomes Danny Eisenberg, Michael Urbano, Mike D and Paulo Baldi to the energetic 10 tracks.

“Heavy Be The Borrowed Crown” opens the listen with a dense bluesy appeal that showcases thumping drums and Mike D’s throbbing bass amid Vargas’ distinct pipes, and the title track follows with Eisenberg’s playful keys complementing McFadden’s gritty voice.

Halfway through, the shuffling pace of “It’s Alright (For Now)” might get you on the dance floor with its infectious energy and soaring vocal harmonies, while “Chelsea Hotel No. 2” finds an intimate place to reside, where Vargas’ poetic singing builds into an emotive mood.

Close to the end, “May I Be The Light” recruits plenty of grooves to the retro-rock flavor, and “Blue & Her Strawberry Balloon” exits with a psychedelic haze of mystery and warmth.

The majority of the tracks were penned in the studio, and the addressing of injustice is certainly important during these tumultuous times. The genre mashing is exceptional, too, where songwriting collaboration on 2 tracks from Vincent Gates and Claire Kelly helps accent the funk, rock, soul, psyche and country nods.

Travels well with: Object Heavy- Love & Gravity; True Loves- Sunday Afternoon

Bobby Falk Group

Coming To Fruition

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Coming To Fruition

The Dallas drummer Bobby Falk brings along Aaron Irwinsky (saxophones), Chris Borin (trumpet/flugelhorn), Craig Wagner (guitar), Bobby Falk (drums), Jeff Furgo and Wade Honey (piano/keys) and Jeff Plant (electric bass), plus guests, for these 12 modern jazz tunes that comprise a very memorable 4th album.

The listen begins with the warm “Bump Bump”, where Furgo’s atmospheric keys allow Irwinsky’s to shine in the cozy climate, and “The Streets Of Santa Teresa” follows with Plant’s agile bass and Falk’s frisky drums making for a melodic landscape.

Further on, Derek Siebert’s animated tenor sax makes an appearance in the vibrant “Interstate 35”, while Wade Honey takes over on piano for the intimate and heartfelt “Going Home”, which is as rich as it is memorable.

“Without Words” and “Effortless Spree” exit the listen, where the former uses Wagner’s cozy guitar amid the animated sax and gentle keys, and the latter spotlights Borin’s skilled flugelhorn for a dynamic and fluid finish.

Recorded in his hometown of Louisville, Falk and company make great use of influences from Pat Metheny, Rick Margitza, Michael Brecker and Steps Ahead for this lively and exciting body of work.

Travels well with: George Coleman Jr.- Resurgence!; Trio Profondo- Mosaic

Nicole Zuraitis

How Love Begins

Outside In, 2023

8/10

Listen to How Love Begins

The powerful jazz singer Nicole Zuraitis pens a romantic listen that utilizes the ‘opposites attract’ idea, where the originals are handled by an all-star cast of players plus some special guests.

“The Good Ways” opens the 10 tracks with Zuraitis’ twinkling keys and soulful voice alongside Gilad Hekselman’s spirited guitar and Dan Pugach’s frisky drums, and “Travel” follows with Christian McBride’s skilled bass and backing vocals from Sonica making for a dreamy presence of beauty.

The middle spot belongs to the playful bass and charming vocal acrobatics of “Burn”, while “Two Fish” welcomes David Cook on piano for the intimate and warm display of timeless jazz qualities.

Close to the end, “20 Seconds” has Zuraitis handling Rhodes for the rich and melodic album highlight, and “The Garden” exits with an emotive and eloquent finish that illustrates Zuraitis’ diverse pipes.

Zuraitis explores many facets to love here, both the joyous and the difficult, and it’s a universally relatable affair that allows her inimitable singing to keep us engaged from beginning to end.

Travels well with: The Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Kansas City; Alex Weitz- Rule Of Thirds

Doug Beavers

Luna

Circle 9, 2023

9/10

Listen to Luna

The 6th album from the producer, composer, trombonist and arranger Doug Beavers, the 11 tracks here host many talented players for a Latin jazz fueled affair that’s packed with plenty of rhythm.

After the brief intro, “Tidal” emits dense trombone from Beavers, as Ivan Renta’s well timed sax helps complement the busy jazz climate, and “Reflejo del Sol” follows with Jerry Madera’s mesmerizing bass and Luisito Quintero’s lively percussion giving the mood a very global feel.

Further along, “Multicolores” makes great use of Jeremy Bosch’s expressive singing and Max Seigel’s strategic bass trombone, while the title track places Carlos Cascante on vocals, which is complemented by Gabriel Chakarji on keys for the cultured intimacy.

Deeper into the listen, “Flor de Lis” makes great use of Paul Bollenback’s fluid guitar playing amid the elegant horns, and “Sands Of Time” exits with Bosch and Ada Dyer’s dreamy voices and Joe Locke’s charming vibraphone acrobatics.

Beavers is a Grammy Winner and also a member of the globally adored Spanish Harlem Orchestra. and this soothing, exploratory and infectious body of work will appeal to jazz fans at every spot of the planet.

Travels well with: Matt Ulery- Mannerist; Nick Finzer- Dreams, Visions, Illusions

Dara Starr Tucker

Dara Starr Tucker

Green Hill, 2023

8/10

Listen to Dara Starr Tucker

The esteemed vocalist and songwriter Dara Starr Tucker provides insightful commentary on this post-pandemic world, where her jazz and roots influences are present across 12 songs that surround healing, mental wellness and self-reflection.

“Scars” gets the listen off to a soulful start, where Tucker’s smooth voice is met with Greg Bryant’s playful bass and Mike King’s mature keys, and “Annie’s Song” follows with Aaron Parks’ dreamy piano and Vicente Archer’s warm bass complementing Tucker’s sublime pipes.

Further along, the bright trumpet from Giveton Gelin and Stacy Dillard’s glowing sax helps cultivate a timeless jazz climate, while “September Song” is a very intimate moment thanks to Tucker’s expressive singing and King’s pretty piano playing.

Landing near the end, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” places Marcus Finnie on drums and Dillard on sax for the rich and frisky album highlight, and “Scars-Freedom” exits with the soothing rhythm section, graceful keys, and, of course, Tucker’s absorbing voice front and center.

Tucker has amassed a large online presence and her work has been featured on HBO, FX and many other platforms. This genuine and diverse body of work will understandably bring her plenty of welcomed attention, too, as the Philadelphia resident makes the most of the 6 originals and 6 interpretations.

Travels well with: Laura Henderson- Conjuring; Danielle Wertz- Other Side

Isata Kanneh-Mason

Childhood Tales

Decca, 2023

8/10

Listen to Childhood Tales

The exceptional pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason returns with a 3rd album, where the spirit of childhood is fleshed out with the help of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra across the 4 expansive pieces.

Mozart’s “12 Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je Maman", K. 265” opens the listen with 13 swift and warm pieces that illustrates calculated and rich playing, and Dohnányi’s “Variations on a Nursery Song” recruits the orchestra for a booming and often cinematic presence of both busy bursts and calmer moments of beauty.

On the back half, Debussy's “Children’s Corner” emits fascinating progressions via Kanneh-Mason’s stunning finger acrobatics, while Schumann’s “Kinderszenen” displays both gentle moments of intimacy and flowing keys that are as memorable as they are timeless.

An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, the Dolby Atmos Technology captures Kanneh-Mason’s inimitable playing superbly, and the orchestra certainly helps illuminate the gripping nature of the compositions.

Travels well with: Eric Whitacre-Home; Jesseye Norman- The Unreleased Masters

Brandee Younger

Brand New Life

Impulse!, 2023

8/10

Listen to Brand New Life

The Grammy Nominated harpist and composer Brandee Younger delivers a Dorothy Ashby inspired listen, where both originals and interpretations comprise the 10 well thought out tracks.

“You’re A Girl For One Man Only” opens the listen with elegant harp and frisky drums making for a very mesmerizing landscape, and “Brand New Life” follows with the soulful vocals adding much to the playful bass lines and R&B fueled climate.

Further on, “Livin’ And Lovin’ My Own Way” recruits Pete Rock for the hip-hop influenced mood that uses the harp in a hypnotic fashion, while “Running Game” carries a stirring intimacy that pairs the bass with the strings for a poetic album highlight.

Arriving near the end, the stylish “The Windmills Of Your Mind” emits waves of crisp drumming and soothing beauty from the harp, and “If It’s Magic” exits with nearly therapeutic playing from Younger’s very agile fingers.

Younger is considered a premier harpist for her generation and was the first Black female solo artist to be Grammy nominated for Best Instrumental Composition. These careful yet exploratory tracks will certainly gain her more much deserved attention, as Younger uses her instrument in very interesting ways.

Travels well with: Lakecia Benjamin- Phoenix; Kendrick Scott Oracle- A Wall Becomes A Bridge

Will Bonness

Is This A Dream?

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Is This A Dream?

This 4th album from the pianist Will Bonness spans many emotions and mental states, where Virginia MacDonald, Jocelyn Gould, Allison Au, Daniel Fortin, Andrew Goodlett and Fabio Ragnelli are on hand for the 9 tracks.

“Round And Round”, an original, starts the listen with Bonness’ fluid keys amid Goodlett and Fortin’s precise bass for the mesmerizing and rich climate, and “I Get Along Without You Very Well” follows with Gould’s stunning voice guiding the reflective and intimate tone.

In the middle, “Dusk” spotlights Bonness’ graceful keys and Gould’s playful scatting alongside Ragnelli’s light drumming, while “Blood Count”, by Billy Strayhorn, makes great use of MacDonald’s clarinet for the moody and emotive album highlight.

“Odd Serenade” and “Don’t Fence Me In” exit the record, where the former shines with Gould’s light vocals alongside the meticulous keys and flowing clarinet, and the latter, a Cole Porter tune, benefits from Au’s soulful saxophone and Fortin’s strategic bass plucking for the poetic finish.

A body of work that allows the listeners to think of their own stories for each track, the Rorschach test cover art may be ambiguous, but the off kilter rhythms and no lack of melodies make it very clear that Bonness’ colorful vision is ideal for any jazz fan.

Travels well with: James McGowan Ensemble- Reaching In; The Artie Roth Quartet- Resonants

Katie Callahan

Extraordinary

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to Extraordinary

The thoughtful songstress Katie Callahan returns with a 2nd studio album, where themes of desire, loss, grief, anxiety and forgiveness and how it relates to feminine strength unfold with some excellent musicians on hand.

“The Undertaker’s Daughter” gets the listen off to a very warm start, where Callahan’s gorgeous voice is met with Daniel Sousa’s fluid drums and Charlie Lowell’s well timed keys for the dreamy climate, and “Once At A Wedding” follows with Lindsey Miller’s cozy guitars and Megan Coleman’s crisp drums complementing the expressive singing.

“Love Song For A Best Friend” arrives in the middle and uses Hannah Holbrook’s mature keys precisely for the rich delivery, while “Extraordinary” leads with a calm intimacy before building into a pop fueled, emotive album highlight. The final track, “There You Are”, makes great use of Luke Sullivant’s precise bass playing amid Callahan’s poetic singing.

A listen rooted in Americana and folk sounds, but that also involves synth, Callahan’s storytelling is as substantial as the music, and every track here is worth examining repeatedly.

Travels well with: Run Katie Run- Cowboy Boots With Fishnet Tights; Rachel McIntyre Smith- Glory Daze

Julia Werntz

Someone Who Loves You Throws Me At You

New Focus, 2023

8/10

Listen to Someone Who Loves You Throws Me At You

The Boston artist Julia Werntz has a particular ear for microtonality, and these chamber pieces that sometimes uses voices tweak language in a very personal manner that welcomes plenty of guests on strings, winds and keys, too.

“Five Vignettes From The Garden By The Sea” opens the listen with Gabriela Diaz’ violin and David Russell’s cello interacting with a tremendous emotional capacity that emits a very stirring presence, and “Tantrum” follows with John McDonald’s charming piano making for an unpredictable and warm 2+ minutes of bright and low registers.

“Songs Of Thumbelina” and “Flying, Nesting, And Calling” land in the middle, where the former spotlights Stephanie Lamprea’s powerful soprano amid Kevin Price’s moody clarinets and Anna Griffis’ aching viola, while the latter shines a light on the Ludovico Ensemble, McDonald’s atmospheric keys and Jeffrey Means’ conducting for the melodic yet mysterious album highlight that’s inspired by birds.

The final piece, “Kaspoleo Melea”, meshes Lamprea’s soprano, Rose Hegele’s soprano and Katherine Growdon’s mezzo-soprano for the harmonic and expressive exit.

Werntz seeks to make listeners feel animated by her art, and these very in depth pieces certainly achieve that, where the pitch, tonality and very particular tension is unparalleled.

Travels well with: Zohn Collective- John Liberatore: Catch Somewhere; Lee Weisert- Recesses

Bokanté

History

Real World, 2023

10/10

Listen to History

On this 3rd album, the New York City outfit Bokanté tap into blues ideas, where lineage from West Africa and the Arab are present for the both retro and modern 9 tracks.

“Bliss” starts the listen with warm singing from Malika Tirolien amid the spirited guitar and very animated percussive sounds that complements the grungy qualities, and “Adjoni” follows with both rock and folk ideas present for the soaring and busy climate.

Further along, “Iliminé” glows with 4 percussionists that suit Tirolien’s energetic pipes, while “Tandé” is packed with grooves and hand percussion that emits a soulful mood of beauty.

Landing near the end, “Mikrob” flows with waves of sublime intimacy in the poetic delivery, and “History” exits with Michael League Guimbre’s hypnotic bass populating the dense percussive nature of the album’s best track.

The lyrics are mostly sung in Guadeloupean Creole, and they surround black history, global unity, the nonsense of war and the importance of rest, feelings and love. League, who has spearheaded the band since their inception in 2016, along with the percussionists André Ferrari (Väsen), Haddad (Sting, Paul Simon), Keita Ogawa (Cecile McLorin Salvant) and new member Weedie Braimah (Christian Scott), pen a truly global listen that commands attention.

Travels well with: Clinton Fearon- Breaking News; Artikal Sound System- Welcome To Florida

David T. Little

Black Lodge

Cantaloupe, 2023

9/10

Listen to Black Lodge

The inimitable composer David T. Little brings us a modern opera, where both punk and metal ideas run alongside the mythological themes that are fleshed out by Timur and the Dime Museum and Isaura String Quartet, plus libretto thanks to Anne Waldman.

“Magic Pain” opens the listen with a dense, mysterious climate that’s heavy on atmosphere, which segues into the thick versus light qualities of “Electric Cerberus”, where an ominous but still pretty climate unfolds with soaring vocals.

Further on, the spoken word of “The Strange Light In The Lodge” brings a very eloquent part of the story via Waldman’s intriguing voice, while “Petrograd” buzzes with some sci-fi moments that showcases powerful, very expressive singing.

Close to the end, “Shaman On The Wheel” illustrates careful picking, strong attention to mood, poetic vocals and thundering bouts of metallic gestures, and “Coming At You Through Frames Of The Sleep” isn’t far after with its curious organ playing that complements the harmonic and dreamy voices.

An extremely innovative listen that somehow reminds us of System Of A Down and Mozart, Little’s vision is one of a dark, existential but pretty demeanor, and it’s a journey the listener won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: John Luther Adams- Sila: The Breath Of The World; Tom Nazziola- Distant Places

The Nimmons Tribute

Volume 2- Generational

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Volume 2- Generational

The 2nd installment of tunes that pay tribute to the Canadian jazz hero Phil Nimmons, these retro tracks are given new life thanks to Phil’s grandson, the pianist and arranger Sean, who brings along some of Canada’s finest with him.

“Arf” gets the listen off to a bright start with the lively brass and Ethan Ardelli’s drumming acrobatics, as Alex Dean’s bass clarinet solo really adds much to the formula, and “Islands (From The Atlantic Suite)” follows with a calmer pace of reflective, intimate song craft that welcomes Tara Davidson’s elegant sax prowess.

Halfway through, “Under A Tree” spotlights Mike Murley’s tenor sax skills for a cozy and melodic album highlight, while “Transformations (2nd Movement)” makes great use of an odd time signature for the frisky yet cautious, very modern sensibilities.

Residing near the end, “Carey Dance” bops and shakes with an infectious energy that utilizes Nimmons’ superb key progressions amid the youthful template, and “Night Night Smiley”, the only track with vocals, benefits from Heather Bambrick’s stunning pipes for a powerful and uniquely comforting finish.

A body of work that explores Phil’s immense range and eclectic nature, he turned 100 last year, and I bet it’s pretty exciting for him to see these old songs with a fresh coat of paint.

Travels well with: The Nimmons Tribute- Volume 1 To The Nth; Richard Whiteman- Very Well & Good

James McGowan Ensemble

Reaching In

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Reaching In

The first half of an extended story that’s relayed through music and spoken word from Jamaal Amir Akbari, the protagonist sorts through isolation, low self-worth, social anxiety, addiction and loss across this fusion jazz experience that’s guided by the pianist and composer James McGowan.

“Imagine (Part 1)” opens the listen with vivid storytelling alongside McGowan’s firm and diverse keys and Alex Moxon’s dreamy guitar, and “Thoughts And Prayers” follows with Cal McGowan’s stirring cello adding much to the rich climate.

Further on, “Uncertain Future” is quite pretty, and welcomes Jamie Holmes’ very fluid drumming to the timeless jazz appeal, while “Reaching In” makes the most of the poetic strings from the Despax String Quartet, where rock focused bursts enter the agile landscape.

Deeper still, the brief but impactful “Simple Reality” tugs on the heartstrings thanks to its sublime keys and emotive string interaction, and “Acceptance” exits the listen with no lack of melody and precision from the keys, strings, drums and guitars.

A highly poetic 16 movements, the music is constantly shifting in tone and the rest of the journey will released in 2024, which your heart, mind and soul will appreciate.

Travels well with: Duncan Hopkins- Who Are You? The Music Of Kenny Wheeler; The Artie Roth Quartet- Resonants

Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington

Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Six

OA2, 2023

9/10

Listen to Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Six

Paul Tynan brings his trumpet and flugelhorn skills to Aaron Lington’s baritone sax prowess for these 6 involved pieces that are quite diverse and welcome Trifon Dimitrov and Joe Abba to the formula.

“By Iron And Fire” opens the listen with frisky drums and bright brass populating the rhythmic and fluid landscape, and “Traveler From An Antique Land” follows with much attention to mood and softer dynamics that benefit from Abba’s gentle drums and Lington’s soulful sax.

The middle tracks belong to Arbitrary Rules” and “Angles”, where the former is textured richly and playfully thanks to Dimitrov and Abba’s interaction, while the latter is a frisky album highlight that pairs the glowing horns with lively bass work. The final track, “Surrounded”, is among the best, and uses stop and start methods for a very collaborative and memorable exit.

Tynan and Lington have an intimate familiarity with their instruments, and along with the New York rhythm section of Dimitrov and Abba, they capture an electronic and groove filled formula that few others could emulate.

Travels well with: Keigo Hirakawa- Pixel; Jeff Johnson- My Heart

Jeff Babko & David Piltch

The Libretto Show

Tudortone, 2023

8/10

Listen to The Libretto Show

The pianist Jeff Babko and bassist David Piltch fleshed out these 8 lively jazz pieces live at the budding Libretto Jazz Lounge in Paso Robles, California, and it represents a strong chemistry between the pair.

“Dorothy” opens the listen with complicated keys and much attention to mood in the diverse delivery, and “Fair Enough” follows with a reflective tone that uses Piltch’s bass sparingly but strategically.

In the middle, “Ligia”, by Jobim, displays a cautious rhythm that employs Songa Lee’s violin in a stirring fashion, while “Souvenirs Of Hollywood”, an original, spotlights Piltch’s playful plucking amid the sophisticated key progressions.

Approaching the end, “Blue And Red” finds itself in lower registers of restraint with emphasis on tone, and “A Rescue” exits the set with firm piano and timeless jazz spirit that the pair embrace in spades.

Babko has an impressive resume spanning 30 years that includes touring with James Taylor, Toto, Steve Gadd and Sheryl Crow, among others, and Piltch has experience playing with Blood, Sweat, Holly Cole and K.D. Lang to name a few. Together, they bring blues, soul, Latin ideas and plenty of spontaneity to this engaging listen.

Travels well with: Septology- The Black Forest Session; Scott Peptito- Many Worlds

Lorraine Jordan And Carolina Road

A Little Bit Of Bluegrass

Pinecastle, 2023

8/10

Listen to A Little Bit Of Bluegrass

The always exceptional Lorraine Jordan returns with more focus on lead guitar and a calmer tone, where Allen Dyer, Ben Greene, Kevin Lamm, Matt Hooper and Wayne Morris are in attendance for the 10 flowing bluegrass tunes.

The title track opens the listen with Hooper’s warm fiddle and Greene’s flowing banjo complementing the soaring vocal harmonies, and “Homesick For The Blueridge” follows with Jordan’s glowing mandolin suiting Dyer’s expressive pipes.

At the midpoint, the intimate “Heartbreak Mountain” showcases Greene and Lamm’s backing baritone pipes amid the melodic string interaction, while “Mama’s Cross” trims the pace back with a spiritual and emotive display of soft singing and sublime musicianship.

Close to the end, the playful and bright storytelling of “Melinda” is as sweet as it is memorable, and “Caroline Pig Pickin’ Time” exits with lovely group vocals alongside the swift and tuneful strings.

Jordan has just come off a couple really well received gospel albums, and these 10 well thought out tracks only add more greatness to her inestimable catalog of bluegrass music.

Travels well with: Daryl Mosley- A Life Well Lived; Lindley Creek- Whispers In The Wind

Jason McCue

Wasteland

Fluff & Gravy, 2019

10/10

Listen to Wasteland

Though Seattle’s Jason McCue might be a youngster, this rising troubadour has a very distinct set of pipes and a massive amount of songwriting skill that draw the listener in immediately on this stunning sophomore album that he recorded mostly in his bedroom.

“Ground” starts the listen with warm acoustic picking on an emotive and expressive display of restrained beauty, and “Even Though” follows with a louder presence, where a more forceful approach invades the lo-fi, indie-rock sensibilities.

Near the middle, “The Problem, Part 1” offers a quiet, almost lullaby approach, while “What A Shame” flows with an adventurous indie-folk spirit where melodies are never in short supply. One of the album’s best, “Shadows” resides here as well, and illustrates the skilled song craft amid sparse elegance.

Deeper cuts bring the campfire acoustic prowess of “Relativity”, the gospel influenced “Facts”, and the album closer, “Freedom (Outro)”, where a bare bedroom pop quality resonates with a quirky, timeless appeal.

McCue knows his way around loud, anthemic rock as well as intimate, subdued tunes, as he grapples with adulthood on this extremely adventurous and alluring album. Though he may be an obscure name now, it would not surprise me at all if McCue is a household name this time next year; this kid is ineffably talented.

Travels well with: Elliott Smith- XO; The Decemberists- The King Is Dead