David Garland

The Spark

Tall Owl, 2025

9/10

Listen to The Spark

The New York multi-instrumentalist, David Garland, pens a personal album that surrounds grief and life’s possibilities, which arrives 6 years after his wife’s death from cancer.

“Feathered Stone” opens with Otto Hauser’s strategic drums that suit Garland’s gritty, soft voice and rich winds, and “Clean Up The Room” follows with gentle guitar and intimate singing that complements the touching climate.

In the middle, Garland uses prepared guitar for the light buzzing of the crisp “These Days” that benefits from Julian Lampert’s double bass, while “All With All” recruits Diane Cluck’s expressive voice and Kenji Garland’s skilled synth and guitar via the hazy delivery.

“My Tiny Life” and “You In Particular” exit the listen. The former carries a retro energy thanks to the colorful keys and Garland’s distinct storytelling, and the latter emits self-reflection in a calm, meditative finish.

Now in his 70’s, Garland turns loss into heartfelt poetry, where he plays modified 12-string guitar, guitar, prepared guitar, bass guitar, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, ocarinas, recorder, keyboard panpipe, piano, Hammond Piper II organ, Pro-One analog synthesizer, Star Island pump organ, harmonium, and percussion across a distinct, melancholic and atypical version of folk.

Travels well with: Charlie Bruber- Prized Burden; Joe Policastro Trio- Ceremony

Anthony Stanco

In The Groove: Live At The Alluvion

OA2, 2025

9/10

Listen to In The Groove: Live At The Alluvion

The trumpet wizard Anthony Stanco is joined by a first rate cast for this 3rd album that brings grit and soulfulness to the hard bop ideas.

“T. Sea” opens with Xavier Davis’ swift keys and Stanco’s radiant trumpet across the quick and dynamic climate, and “Say You’re Mine” follows with a distinct intimacy thanks to the rich horn and John Webber’s elegant bass lines.

“Pyramid Point” arrives in the middle and displays intimacy via the sophisticated keys and Randy Napoleon’s radiant guitar tone, while the animated title track commands our attention due to the lively brass and Joe Farnsworth’s scrappy drumming.

Further along, “Sonny Boy” uses group vocals to its advantage amid the cozy rhythm section and Stanco’s well timed trumpet, and “Just A Moment” exits with Farnsworth’s drumming acrobatics alongside the dizzying horn, meticulous guitar, playful bass and energetic keys for the album’s best.

The sound quality is excellent, as Stanco and company mesh bebop, hard bop and soul jazz with incredible detail and a timelessness that will always be relevant.

Travels well with: Affinity Trio- New Outlook; Ted Piltzecker- Peace Vibes

Affinity Trio

New Outlook

Origin, 2025

9/10

Listen to New Outlook

The Milwaukee outfit consisting of Eric Jacobson, Pamela York and Clay Schaub, as Affinity Trio they deliver 6 covers and 3 originals of swingin’ jazz fun.

The upbeat mood of “Onward” starts with Jacobson’s rich trumpet alongside Schaub’s bouncy bass and York’s fluid keys, and ‘On The Sunny Side Of The Street” follows with a soulful version of the classic that’s quite warm.

In the middle, the swift “Bittersweet”, by Sam Jones, allows for the frisky bass and animated horn to shine, while “Hymn To Freedom/A Child Is Born” injects intimacy and grace into the Oscar Peterson and Thad Jones selection.

Getting close to the end, “Lover” allows for the trio’s inimitable chemistry to shine via the gentle bouts and scrappy playing, and “Una Mas” follows with York’s lively keys that complement Jacobson’s playful horn and Schaub’s meticulous bass.

Affinity Trio have honed their craft from years of playing a weekly residency at Milwaukee’s historic Mason Street Grill, and this effort spotlights their sense of sound, touch and feel in a way that’s both mature and adventurous.

Travels well with: Ted Piltzecker- Peace Vibes; Kelsey Mines- Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious

Truman Harris

A Warm Day In Winter

Naxos, 2019

8/10

Listen to A Warm Day In Winter

A veteran composer and bassoonist, Truman Harris caters to wind instruments here, as he pens tunes for his long running colleagues on this superbly executed collection of chamber music.

“Rosemoor Suite” starts the listen with flute, oboe, bassoon, horn and clarinets on a playful, elegant tune with cascading beauty, and “Aulos Triptych” follows with 4 flutes and piano on an upbeat and adventurous exploration of timeless rhythm.

On the back half, “Flowers”, which uses the same instruments as “Rosemoor Suite”, delivers a cinematic quality to the sophisticated manipulation of light and dark textures, while “Sonata” recruits a mysterious angle of darker ideas in one of the album’s best that is also the most complicated, but far from esoteric.

With players on hand from the National Symphony Orchestra and the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, Harris is in great company here, and together they flesh out engaging, layered and graceful classical and chamber sounds that will satiate not only the ears but the mind the soul.

Travels well with: Bill Douglas- Deep Peace; Tony Overwater-Ellington Suites