Patti Cudd

Cyanotypes

Neuma, 2025

9/10

Listen to Cyanotypes

The percussionist Patti Cudd also handles electronics across 5 selections composed by women, where unparalleled attention to rhythm and texture is present.

The title track, by Elainie Lillios, opens with 5 movements of playful and fascinating vibraphone that take inspiration from the natural photographic process and pairs it with the snare drum’s articulations.

Kerry Hagan’s “This bottle has notions” follows with the sound of a bottle that’s manipulated with electronics to yield a haunting mood, and, later on, by plenty of soundbites, while “Chime”, by Tiffany Skidmore, recruits two snare drums and six crotales to populate the rhythmic template.

Close to the end, Heather Dea Jennings’ “The Meeting Place” enlists cross-cultural dialogue, Brazilian drum traditions, live electronics and inspiration from Yoruba proverbs that are composed in memory of Alvin Lucier, and “Tattoo of a Gesture” exits with 9 movements via the lone bendir drum and a carry-on case that yields much exploration and creativity.

All the selections are world premieres that illuminate Cudd’s dynamic and diverse abilities which embrace traditional and experimental abilities and are textured and colored with incredible detail.

Travels well with: Sara Paar/Marcia Eckert- Wisdom’s Harvest; Sarah Genevieve Burghart Rice- Yet

Nadia Labrie

With Flûte Passion- Hommage à Claude Bolling

ATMA, 2025

9/10

Listen to With Flûte Passion- Hommage à Claude Bolling

The flutist Nadia Labrie tips her hat to one of France’s most reverred jazz composers and pianists, where this 3 CD set fleshes out the complete works for flute and jazz piano trio by Claude Bolling.

Disc 1 belongs to “Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano Trio”, where Labrie’s animated wind is surrounded by Jonathan Turgeon’s rich and dynamic playing and Bernard Riche’s frisky drumming.

“Suite For Flute And Jazz Piano Trio No. 2” lands in the middle and offers quick keys and dreamy flute amid Dominic Girard’s bouncy bass lines that only enhance the infectious mood.

Disc 3 belongs to “Picnic Suite”, which allows for Hugo Larenas’ melodic and inviting guitar to shine alongside the firm and harmonic gestures that populate the colorful 7 chapters.

For nearly 30 years, Labrie has impressed us with her incredible adaptability and meticulous playing, and the performance across these selections further solidifies her as one of the best modern flutists, as she tackles a program that hasn’t been performed by the flute in 50 years.

Travels well with: Laura Lentz- Serendipity; Percussia- Murmuration

Wayne Alpern

Alchemy

Henri Elkan, 2025

9/10

Listen to Alchemy

The always unpredictable Wayne Alpern turns in a 12th album, and this time he creates a dozen pieces fleshed out by a woodwind quintet.

The animated climate of “Stomp” opens with Brandon Patrick George’s bright flute adding much color to the playful interaction, and “Gigue” follows with Monica Ellis’ rich bassoon helping complement the rich delivery.

In the middle, “Partita” trims the pace back initially before the melodic demeanor and Toyin Spellman-Diaz’s meticulous oboe enters, while “Elegy” moves intimately via the heartfelt appeal that’s soulful.

Residing close to the end, “Scherzo” showcases Mark Dover’s charming clarinet amid the intricate wind interaction, and “Capriccio” exits with Kevin Newton’s well timed horn injecting much allure into the detailed finish.

Yet another exciting installment in Alpern’s arsenal, every moment is creative, memorable and timeless thanks to his inimitable vision.

Travels well with: Wayne Alpern- Modern Music; Wayne Alpern- Gotham

JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra,

A Hero’s Life

Beau Fleuve, 2025

9/10

Listen to A Hero’s Life

The Grammy-Winning conductor JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic flesh out the world premiere recordings of Behzad Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra and Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, where the violinist Nikki Chooi provides solos across the entire effort.

The first half of the listen belongs to Strauss, where many strings and winds interact with much grace and beauty across the 45 minutes that, later on, use loud percussion and a booming spirit before retreating to a sublime beauty.

The back half is where Ranjbaran’s vision resides, and it allows for Chooi’s meticulous violin to shine amid the meticulous strings and soft gestures versus tense bouts that extend across 3 detailed movements.

As always, Falletta’s contributions are remarkable, where Eastern ideas, plenty of drama, and a tremendous orchestral is executed flawlessly.

Travels well with: JoAnn Falletta- The French In Spain; JoAnn Falletta- Contemporary Landscapes

Little Brown Jug Brass

Holiday Spirits

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Holiday Spirits

The Canadian ensemble, Little Brown Jug Brass, treat us to a festive effort, where some excellent guests are present for the timeless and diverse 8 tracks.

“Christmas In New Orleans” starts with Pat Belliveau’s warm voice alongside rich brass and cozy winds that enlists playful drumming, and “Blue Christmas” follows with an indeed bluesy spirit thanks to the emotive singing and scrappy drumming.

Halfway through, “My North Star Home” recruits Ashley Ghostkeeper’s intimate pipes that suit the soft horns, while “The Holly & They Ivy” comes with a dance floor energy that’s melodic and dynamic in its warm spirit where Richard Scholz and Belliveau sing fluidly.

“The Gift” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” exit the the listen. The former bounces with a lively atmosphere that’s infectious, and the latter finishes with a really infectious and heartwarming take on the classic with the many horns working together via much precision.

Little Brown Jug Brass breed a New Era Brass formula, where classical, jazz and country ideas are part of the formula, and they sure do flesh out an enjoyable holiday record that can be enjoyed all year round.

Travels well with: Caracol- Symbolism; Wave 21- Brace Yourself

Sara Paar/Marcia Eckert

Wisdom’s Harvest

Neuma, 2026

9/10

Listen to Wisdom’s Harvest

The soprano Sara Paar and pianist Marcia Eckert come together for these curated 20th-century art songs that display wisdom from life’s trials in love, war, and identity.

Jake Heggie’s “Natural Selection” starts the listen with Paar’s soaring pipes alongside Eckert’s graceful keys for the 5 movements that follows a young woman’s coming-of-age journey, and “Poèmes pour la paix”, by Ned Rorem, continues with powerful bouts to Norem’s pacifist beliefs and the despair of war amid emotive keys.

On the back half, Louise Talma’s “selections from Seven Songs for Voice and Piano” emits expressive poetry via the diverse singing and unpredictable keys, while “Six Chansons Françaises”, by Germaine Tailleferre, radiates much harmony across animated gestures, lively singing and bright keys.

A rich and articulate effort where Paar and Eckert’s talents seemingly know no bounds, anyone with an ear for classical, chamber, opera and piano music will find much to adore here.

Travels well with: Sarah Genevieve Burghart Rice- Yet; Stephanie Lamprea/Alistair MacDonald- Ecstatic Visions

Sarah Genevieve Burghart Rice

Yet

Neuma, 2026

9/10

Listen to Yet

The composer Sarah Genevieve Burghart Rice balances suffering and liberation across these 3 distinct pieces that are certainly experimental and touch on classical ideas in atypical ways.

“3 Songs” leads with the Duo Cortona’s distinct performance that blends mezzo-soprano and violin via a rare intimacy that utilizes texts penned by Burghart Rice which explore reclaiming voice and community.

The middle track, “The Hardscrabble”, showcases the talents of the Nittany Winds, whose busy interaction can be wild, is certainly animated but can also retreat to calm.

The final piece, “Murmurs From Limbo”, features Thea Lobo, Jordan Rutter-Covatto and a chamber ensemble, where the lengthy duration surrounds dying and consciousness amid Middle English texts by anonymous poets.

Also an educator, Burghart Rice brings a wealth of talent and experience to the affair, where she addresses trauma from an enlightening standpoint across a very a detailed, sometimes intense body of work.

Travels well with: Stephanie Lamprea/Alistair MacDonald- Ecstatic Visions; Christopher Shultis- Waldmusik

Zeelie Brown

the apocalypse is not the end but the unveiling

New Amsterdam, 2025

9/10

Listen to the apocalypse is not the end but the unveiling

The cellist and composer Zeelie Brown fleshes out an impressive debut that discusses the communities, environments, and people affected by the mechanics of colonialism via plenty of diverse and detailed songwriting across 9 tracks.

“let go, let god” opens with YATTA’s vocals for the talking and singing that unfolds with a warm ambience that’s inviting, and “gossamer” follows with a softness which is heartfelt amid the elegant singing.

In the middle, “interlude one” plucks slowly thanks to Brown’s moody cello that builds into a rich climate, while “maché (for nathou)” is strong on tonality and drones mysteriously thanks to the atmospheric album highlight.

Close to the end, “mbele” is percussively strong and blends the strings with wordless vocals, and “farewell (love you dre)” exits with gentle keys and intimate spoken word and gorgeous singing alongside the dreamy finish.

An enlightening effort that embraces African rhythm, eerie vocals and timeless blues, every moment here is eloquent, unpredictable and relevant.

Travels well with: Daniel Wohl- Artificial; Adam Tendler- Inheritances

Essvus

What Ails You

New Amsterdam, 2025

8/10

Listen to What Ails You

This debut album by the composer and producer Essvus (Gen Morigami) tackles struggles with mental health, familial estrangement, and becoming reacquainted with art, creation, and community, and it includes plenty of noisy, artistic sounds.

“Inner Violence” starts with plenty of beats populating the rhythmic, electronic ambience that could suit a late night at the club, where warm piano is present, and “To Not Think” follows with a strong drumming presence and ambient vocals that floats like an ominous dream.

“Never Here” and “Moldsporing” land in the middle. The former offers an infectious energy that’s glitchy and buzzing, while the latter is a busy and textured bout of techno influences, underlying melody and some sci-fi nods.

“Hell And High Water” lands near the end, and offers a brighter mood before the waves of atmosphere and droning enter, and “Counterfactuals” exits with voices used like an instrument amid the swirling energy and harmonic backdrop.

Somewhere between IDM, techno, industrial and avant-garde rock, Essvus is a cult survivor that is sorting through trauma via these fragmented, warped and pitch bending sounds that you’re not going to hear anywhere else.

Travels well with: Ruby Colley & EXAUDI- Hello Halo; Daniel Wohl- Artificial

Diane Coll

Strangely In Tune

Happy Go Fish, 2026

9/10

Listen to Strangely In Tune

The prolific Atlanta singer-songwriter Diane Coll continues her therapeutic songwriting, where these 13 new songs revolve around life and death and welcome Jonny Daly, Robin Vincent, John Speaks, Greg Wright and Erica Holloway.

“Better Fly Me Right” starts with Coll’s warm acoustic guitar and expressive voice alongside Daly’s cozy percussion, and “In And Out Of Time” follows with Vincent’s well timed harmonica that suits the cozy storytelling via the reflective mood.

Moving towards the middle, “Disappear” enlists Speaks’ drums and Wright’s bass to the more dense moment that’s strong on atmosphere, while “Porcupine” recruits Holloway’s graceful cello for the lush and thoughtful climate.

The title track arrives late and allows for Coll’s poetic singing to align with dream-pop nods, and “Dream Away” exits with mature piano and layered vocals that finish in a haze of beauty.

An often ethereal effort, the songs are quite personal, where Coll blends folk, pop, and rock into an introspective and healing energy that draws us in.

Travels well with: Diane Coll- Up From The Mud; Diane Coll- Old Ghosts

James O'Malley

Ivyland

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Ivyland

This 5th album from the Long Island folk artist James O’Malley recruits a large cast for 12 songs of vivid storytelling and meticulous fingerstyle guitar playing.

“Did You Ever Hear Her Sing Hallelujah” starts with O’Malley’s precise guitar playing alongside the light keys and dreamy mood that uses Gary Oleyar’s fiddle sublimely, and “Penny In My Pocket” follows with playful singing and Jim Salamone’s punchy drums that suits the upbeat climate.

“Laughter And Love” arrives in the middle and blends the mature piano and stirring strings amid emotive singing via the intimate delivery, while “My One And Only One” moves cautiously thanks to a romantic ambience that tugs on the heartstrings.

Getting close to the end, “When The Morning Comes” recruits a scrappy demeanor that enlists Joe Porcelli’s lap steel which adds much to the rich album highlight, and “Finally Free” exits with a harmonic bout that invites singing-along to the retro-folk ideas.

An introspective and relatable effort, O’Malley knows his way around a guitar like few others, and the many players on hand help flesh out a really timeless and memorable album.

Travels well with: Robin Batteau- Banned In Sparta; Marian Mastrorilli- Sea Salt And Sawdust

Brad Schrader

LateNights

Self-Released, 2025

8/10

Listen to LateNights

The vocalist Brad Schrader is joined by Jerry Vezza, Alex Claffy, Andrew Van Tassell and Khary Abdul-Shahid for these 7 songs that touch on the American Songbook and are fleshed out with a timeless mood.

The cozy spirit of “Time After Time” starts with Schrader’s smooth pipes alongside Vezza’s warm keys and Abdul-Shahid’s crisp drums in the gentle climate, and “I Wish I Knew” follows with a charming elegance thanks to the fluid vocals and Claffy’s animated bass lines.

Further along, “It Never Entered My Mind” offers a heartfelt delivery via the expressive singing and sophisticated keys, while “It’s All Right With Me” is an upbeat moment of lively vocals, scrappy drumming, frisky keys and bouncy bass.

“Skylark” exits with a sublime intimacy, where Van Tassell’s glowing sax prowess is much appreciated and complements the mature finish.

A veteran performer, Schrader’s got a voice that draws you in, and the songs aren’t ever short on grooves, melodies and timelessness.

Travels well with: Paul Litteral- The Litteral Truth; Pete Mills- For The Record

Rick Roe

Wake Up Call

Cold Plunge, 2025

8/10

Listen to Wake Up Call

Rick Roe brings his piano to these 10 tunes from Gregg Hill’s arsenal, where Nate Winn, Robert Hurst and Marcus Elliot are along for the timeless set.

The warm grooves of “Inside Straight” starts with Roe’s firm keys and Elliot’s bright sax that help create much melody, and “Sunspiration” follows with Winn’s frisky drums complementing the soulful sax and rich mood.

Halfway through, “The Return Of Mr. Pea” bops and shakes with an infectious energy via the lively rhythm section and animated keys, while “Modal Yodel #2” benefits much from Hurst’s meticulous bass amid the timeless jazz.

Close to the end, the dense “Hyperbarity” offers a busy and dynamic album highlight via the lively keys, swift drumming and animated bass lines, and “Double Play” exits with both gentle and full moments of precise song craft.

Roe does justice to Hill’s work, where waltzs, swingin’ fun, hooks and plenty of harmony are present across yet another installment of Hill’s vision that deserves plenty of attention.

Travels well with: Chris Rottmayer- Playing Favorites; Pete Mills- For The Record

Lettuce

Cook

Lettuce, 2025

9/10

Listen to Cook

The always exciting sextet, Lettuce, return with 16 more energetic tunes, where their retro-funk and hip-hop moments won’t go unnoticed.

“Grewt Up” starts the listen with Adam Deitch’s playful drums that suit the animated brass and wind with plenty of grooves, and “Clav It Your Own Way” follows Erick “Maverick” Coomes’ frisky bass lines that emit much color and complement the warm mood.

In the middle, “Gold Tooth” benefits from Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff’s meticulous guitar licks amid a dance floor spirit, while “Cook” showcases Eric Bloom’s animated trumpet via the album’s best that’s rich with energy and meticulousness.

Getting closer to the end, “The Mac” allows for Nigel Hall’s keyboards and Ryan Zoidis’ saxophone to shine alongside much melody and strong interaction, and “Ghosts Of Yests” exits with all the player’s inimitable talents unfolding with adventurousness, grace and timeless songwriting.

An organic outing that meshes funk, soul, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, Lettuce are always evolving with their sonic vision, and Cook is yet another stylish, memorable and exciting installment.

Travels well with: Lettuce- Crush; The Sweet Lillies- Equality

Zack Browning

Rock Galaxy

Neuma, 2026

9/10

Listen to Rock Galaxy

The veteran artist Zack Browning pairs the architecture of music with the immediacy of pop, where he plugs an atypical vision into these unique rock songs.

The warm piano from Alice Vieira and Rúben Lopes opens “Sol Prophecy”, as Francisco Ribeiro and Tiago Dias’ playful percussion enters the rhythmic climate, and “Cosmic Challenges” follows with Elisa Moles’ animated flute and Molly O’Roark’s swirling harp creating melody and warmth in a lush delivery.

The title track and “Upscale Jammer” land in the middle. The former enlists William Moersch’s glowing marimba amid the Jupiter String Quartet’s intricate chemistry that’s cinematic, while the latter spotlights dense keys from Ju-Ping Song that radiates a pounding, rumbling intensity.

The last 2 tracks don’t disappoint, either. “Jupiter LVB” recruits the Eastern Illinois University Faculty Woodwind Quintet for the animated and flowing interaction, and “Moon Venus” spotlights the Millikin University Percussion Ensemble’s animated and dynamic talents.

A record where each track brings something new to the equation, there’s no lack of melody, harmony and rhythm to enjoy across these otherworldly themed pieces.

Travels well with: Christopher Shultis- Waldmusik; Patti Cudd- Cyanotypes

Sean Noonan and the London Symphony Orchestra

The Drummer Of Tedworth

Neuma, 2025

9/10

Listen to The Drummer Of Tedworth

The drummer, composer and vocalist Sean Noonan turns in an adventurous double album, where the London Symphony Orchestra is in attendance for the diversity and oddities.

Part I: Pnoom starts with warm voices, playful percussive ideas and plenty of animated winds, where movements like “Chewing Pith” use spoken word alongside stirring strings and cinematic qualities, while later on “Elixar of Dian Cécht” offers a more tense bout that’s mysterious. This half exits with the dense and booming “Martian Refuge”, where other worldly voices and thick drumming instills wonder.

Disc 2, Part II: Hy Lies Ahead, opens with “Only Because She Said We Should”, which showcases dreamy winds amid the frisky percussion and waves of energy, and later on “The Tin Can Ritual” flirts with rock opera ideas amid a busy landscape. “Give The Drummer A Chance” exits with group vocals and firm horns that builds into soaring moments but does retreat to calm ebbs, too.

A daring effort that puts the drummer at center stage and with a voice, we’re treated to jazz, folk, classical and theatric ideas via this cosmic saga that features his alter ego, Olis, and it makes for an unusual experience you can’t not be fascinated by.

Travels well with: Patti Cudd- Cyanotypes; Sarah Genevieve Burghart Rice- Yet

Stephanie Lamprea/Alistair MacDonald

Ecstatic Visions

Neuma, 2026

9/10

Listen to Ecstatic Visions

Stephanie Lamprea’s stunning voice is met with Alistair MacDonald’s exciting electronics across these 5 pieces that pairs historical visionaries and modern technology via contemporary classical and experimental ideas.

Angélica Negrón’s “Letras para cantar” opens with Lamprea’s distinct vocal inflections that illuminate the poetry of the 17th century nun from New Spain, Juana Inés de la Cruz, amid swirling electronics.

The title track, by Alistair MacDonald, then follows and was commissioned for the Glasgow Cathedral Festival, which pairs Lamprea’s pipes with the cathedral’s great bell and Hildegard von Bingen’s writings on gemstones and visions, while Wende Bartley’s “Ellipsis” details the 3 phases of the moon (waxing, full, and waning), in association with 3 archetypes of woman (virgin, mother, and crone) via the strong attention to tonality.

Near the end, “The Fury of Beautiful Bones” from The Furies”, by Eric Chasalow, allows for Anne Sexton’s raw confessional poetry to be complemented by Macdonald’s unpredictable electronics that give off videogame-esque nods, and “Post-Singularity Songs” exits with a monodrama fueled by creation myth co-authored with ChatGPT, where poetry by Emily Dickinson and John Donne, and text from a specially created poetry-generating AI explores dust, death, and free will in a digital universe thanks to Robert Laidlow’s vision.

A highly creative effort that dissects the physicality of sound, Lamprea’s fascinating vocal technique’s and Macdonald’s live electronics meet at a very interesting and insightful intersection of modern-classical that makes every moment impactful.

Travels well with: Christopher Shultis- Waldmusik; Percussia- Murmuration

Valeria Stewart

Raíces Roots

Antidote, 2025

9/10

Listen to Raíces Roots

The guitarist, vocalist and singer-songwriter Valeria Stewart is well versed in many genres, and she brings plenty of culture and emotion to these 7 fusion songs.

“El Dia Más Oscuro” starts with the frisky drums and warm guitar that suits Stewart’s warm vocals, and “Ensuenos” follows with soft melodies and plenty of worldly beauty.

In the middle, “Por Qué” comes with rhythm and expressive singing via the frisky percussion and cozy guitar, while “No Eres Tú” offers a heartfelt and soulful quality thanks to the intimate singing and well timed backing vocals.

“Zamba de Usted” exits, and is a classic Cuban bolero that expresses sorrow and nostalgia with much care.

A very thoughtful debut album that embraces Latin, folk, jazz and Americana, Stewart is aligned with the producer/guitarist Kevin Dudley for songs that are rooted in her Buenos Aires heritage and are likely to stir the soul.

Travels well with: Margherita Fava- Murrina; Heather McKay- Life Got In The Way

Christopher Shultis

Waldmusik

Neuma, 2026

9/10

Listen to Waldmusik

A body of work that comprises 14 years of walking and listening, these pieces by Christopher Shultis were inspired by walks in the woodlands and mountains across the globe.

“Circlings” starts with a mesmerizing approach, where the Gyeonggi Gayageum Ensemble and Shultis’ glowing percussion emit strong attention to space, and “Wissahickon, Pulpit Rock, French Creek” follows with Ashley Oakley’s rumbling piano amid Douglas Nottingham’s well timed percussion.

”Devisadero” occupies the middle spot and relies on Curt Cacioppo’s lone piano that offers us chilling and cinematic bouts, while “World’s End Preludes” has Cacioppo’s keys radiating distinct sounds that are mesmerizing and bare qualities that draw us in via its distinct tonality.

“One Far Noise” is the last track, and it recruits Simone Mancuso’s tamtam for the 20+ minutes of percussive exploration.

Shultis turns the sounds of place like New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Korea and Germany into a highly artistic and experimental acoustic and electroacoustic effort that’s engaging from beginning to end.

Travels well with: Percussia- Murmuration; KC Vitas- When We Arrive At Home

Astral Doors

Worship Or Die

Metalville, 2019

8/10

Listen to Worship Or Die

The Swedish metal legends return with their 9th album, and this time around there’s plenty of melody weaved into their retro and modern ideas.

‘Night Of The Hunter” starts the listen off with cinematic sounds before charged riffs and snarling, almost theatric vocals invade the fiery opener, and “This Must Be Paradise” follows with a soaring, anthemic quality that points towards the early days of metal yet with a modern rock quality.

The band use tension and melody to their advantage often, as “Worship Or Die” pushes and pulls with power and restraint, while “Concrete Heart” recruits bright synth to the cautious and thundering rocker.

A consistently strong listen, some of the best tracks reside later in the disc, such as the ultra memorable “Ride The Clouds”, which rivals the best work by Iron Maiden or Dio, and the dramatic “St. Petersburg”, where a light and airy backdrop runs alongside a kinetic rhythm section. The album ends on the biting and turbulent “Forgive Me Father”, where guitar solos and dynamic interplay between the long running outfit reinforce just how much talent is present.

A record the encapsulates many different facets of heavier music, power metal, classic metal, hard rock and even traces of classic rock are alive here, and when you add fantastic guitar work and thoughtful subject matter, you get a listen that all fans of abrasive music should be paying attention to.

Travels well with: Rezet- Deal With It!‍ ‍Chris Caffery- The Jester’s Court