Nicolas de Renty

Retovr av Bercail

Self-Released, 2025

8/10

Listen to Retovr av Bercail

Though he began as a drummer and studied classical composition, these days Nicolas de Renty is full versed in prog-rock ideas, as evidenced by these 6 diverse and very creative tracks.

“Leurre éternel” opens with firm drumming before de Renty’s soaring voice enters the operatic climate of powerful song craft, and “Autopsie d’une éclipse” follows with a pretty backdrop that suits the vivid storytelling.

Landing in the middle, “Métallifugue” pairs the crisp drums with warm keys that builds into a metallic undercurrent of abrasive gestures, while “Retovr av bercail” uses marching band style drumming and a carnival-esque delivery of Big Bang bouts with intrigue.

The last 2 tracks, “Traquenard” and “Sentence”, don’t disappoint either. The former is heavy on harmonic vocals and recruits Anthony Malaussena on guitar and bass as the tune expands into rock territory, and the latter offers an emotive landscape that showcases acrobatic drumming amid a chamber presence of rich songwriting.

De Renty is nothing if not eclectic, and his mashing of Gregorian chants, metal, jazz and prog-rock makes every moment unpredictable and exciting.

Travels well with: Castle Mountain Moon- Six Tales Of Perception; Past And Secrets- Another Day Another Time

Ned Rorem/Hans Gál/Dorothy Howell

Pas De Trois

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to Pas De Trois

A chamber effort that surrounds the possibilities of the oboe, violin, viola, and piano, thanks to the VentiCordi Chamber Music we are treated to the works of 3 composers.

The title track, by Ned Rorem, opens with Pamela Mia Paul’s delicate piano complementing the stirring strings that can be also be quite animated and playful across the 6 diverse chapters.

Hans Gál’s “Trio For Oboe, Violin and Viola, Op. 94” arrives in the middle and showcases Kathleen McNerney’s dreamy oboe amid the pretty strings via Dean Stein’s violin and Susan Dubois’, viola prowess.

“Air, Variations & Finale” exits, and allows for Stein’s flowing violin to complement the meticulous oboe from McNerney and Paul’s frisky keys that populate the Dorothy Howell track.

An effort of neo-romanticism, French influences and intimate chamber nods, each selection is fleshed out superbly.

Travels well with: Toivo Tulev- Dawn, Almost Dawn; Marcus Eley- That’s A Different Groove

Toivo Tulev

Dawn, Almost Dawn

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to Dawn, Almost Dawn

The Estonian composer Toivo Tulev surrounds themes of imagination and transcendence here, where each of the 4 different selections radiates a very distinct personality.

“And I Loved You Like A Branch Breaking Under the Snow” opens with Mari Targo’s solo violin making for 15+ minutes of intimate and unpredictable gestures via the precise progressions and strong attention to mood, and the title track follows with Ayça Arın’s mansur ney emitting much richness thanks to the wind’s lower octaves and breath control that mesmerizes us.

On the back half, “Black Mirror” welcomes the Hoca Nasreddin Trio, where Nikolai Galen’s expressive voice, Serkan Sener’s distinct kaval and Robert Reigle’s well timed baritone saxophone mingle with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra for a mysterious and theatric album highlight.

“Fana” exits the listen and is populated by Iris Oja’s mezzo-soprano and Kristjan Kannuke’s viola, which has the pair interacting with beauty and emotion in minimal but impactful ways.

An exciting and atypical effort that is focused on tonality and ethereal dissonance, the chamber and orchestral ideas are manipulated superbly via Tulev’s idiosyncratic approach.

Travels well with: Marcus Eley- That’s A Different Groove; Scott Brickman- Baltic Sketches

Marcus Eley

That’s A Different Groove

Navona, 2025

9/10

Listen to That’s A Different Groove

The clarinet extraordinaire Marcus Eley brings along Lucerne DeSa and the Music Alive Ensemble for these 4 selections from the jazz legends Alvin Batiste, David N. Baker, Yusef Lateef, and Oliver Nelson.

“Tune Suite no. 1”, by Batiste, opens with Jason Williams’ strategic drums and Karl Vincent Wickliff’s skilled bass complementing Eley’s animated wind and the meticulous strings, and Baker’s “Sonata For Clarinet And Piano” follows with DeSa’s playful piano alongside the unpredictable clarinet.

On the back half, “Sonata For Clarinet And Piano” has the keys and clarinet interacting with a cinematic and charming demeanor of adventurousness in the Lateef piece, while “Sonata For Alto Saxophone And Piano”, by Nelson, exits with strong attention to mood and dynamics thanks to DeSa’s finger acrobatics and Eley’s unparalleled clarinet prowess.

An effort that’s not short on grooves, there’s plenty of rhythm to go around via these, swingin’ tunes that embrace chambers ideas, too.

Travels well with: Scott Brickman- Baltic Sketches; Frank Horvat- More Rivers

Sopa Boba

That Moment

Sub Rosa, 2025

8/10

Listen to That Moment

A Belgian-Dutch project that features G.W. Sok, Jean Vangeebergen and Pavel Tchikov, as Sopa Boba the trio bring electro and neo-classical ideas into a highly creative and adventurous debut album.

The mysterious and atmospheric “That Sweet Moment” opens with Stéphane Diskus’ modular synth adding much color to the density and spoken word that uses strings stragetically, and “That Beautiful Moment” continues with a glitchy and spacey exploration which pairs Sok’s storytelling with sci-fi qualities.

“That Epic Moment” and “That Glee Moment” land in the middle. The former showcases the stirring violins, cello and viola solo courtesy of Timba Harris amid the emotive storytelling, while the latter leads with strategic minimalism before the modular synth and ambient strings capture a distinct mood.

“That Magical Moment” exits, and buzzes with intrigue via the hypnotic strings and ominous backdrop that manipulates synthetic versus organic ideas which suits Sok’s eloquent talking.

A very artistic and experimental project, all 3 players showcase their inimitable talents in spades, and the guests do a great job of blending noise with melody like few others could.

Travels well with: Staraya Derevnya- Boulder Blues; Coddiwomple- The WALK And Other Stories

HuDost

The Monkey In The Crown

Open Sesame, 2025

9/10

Listen to The Monkey In The Crown

HuDost are now 20 years into their existence, and their mashing of folk, world music and soul sounds better than ever across these 11 eclectic tracks.

“Fire Of Eden” opens, and uses Anit Ghosh’s elegant violin and Chris Powell’s strategic drumming for the distinct, rootsy flavor, and “Circle Back Again” follows with Moksha Sommer’s rich and flowing voice alongside Matthew Nelson’s well timed cello via the pop and folk nods.

In the middle, the energetic “Broken Down In America” makes great use of Dan Walter’s precise bass for the anthemic rock ideas, while “Take It Back” places Richy Stano on guitar amid the soothing backing vocals of intimacy and grace.

Residing close to the end, “Shine On (Knick Of Time)” offers a dreamy moment, where Jemal Wade Hines’ hazy guitar complements Sommer’s expressive pipes, and “Mercy (Murshid)” is strong on harmony and recruits Melissa Hyman’s sophisticated cello and Bryan Brock’s unpredictable percussion that suits the heartfelt finish.

A truly unique body of work from an unclassifiable band, HuDost pen a complicated but easily accessible peak at identity, transformation and choice, and it makes for a raw and authentic experience.

Travels well with: Dan & Faith- Who We Are; Amy Speace- The American Dream

Jake Hertzog

Ozark Concerto

Zoho, 2025

9/10

Listen to Ozark Concerto

The inimitable guitarist Jake Hertzog is aligned with the Ozark Jazz Philharmonic for these 7 selections that showcase an orchestral side to his jazz vision.

“Part I” opens with a mesmerizing quality, where Hertzog’s hypnotic guitar is met with busy strings and flowing keys that are rich and dynamic, and “Part II” follows with a soulfulness via the radiant guitar and textured brass.

Halfway through, “Part IV” comes with a dreamy spirit thanks to Hertzog’s meticulous guitar and the stirring strings, while “Part V” is an intimate moment of sublime beauty courtesy of the mature keys, light guitar and crisp drumming.

The album exits with “Part VII”, where a string quartet leads the track into dense and powerful songwriting that might bring to mind Chick Corea or Al Di Meola.

Hertzog has already proved to be a heavy hitter in the area of jazz-rock, and this step into large ensemble territory proves just how multi-faceted his talents can be.

Travels well with: Jake Hertzog- Longing To Meet You; Alan Chaubert- Just The Three Of Us

Nikki O'Neill

Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Blackbird, 2025

9/10

Listen to Stories I Only Tell My Friends

The Chicago singer-songwriter and guitarist Nikki O’Neill is well versed in blues, rock, gospel, Americana and R&B, and she brings along some friends for these thoughtful tracks that surround a cross country move.

The upbeat and playful “Drive” opens with warm guitar and O’Neill’s bright voice alongside Rich Lackowski’s frisky drumming, and “Rainbow In The Cloud” follows with Chris Stanford’s cozy bass amid the soulful storytelling that comes with flowing melodies.

Arriving in the middle, the quick strumming of “I Wish The Sun Could Shine On Me” welcomes well timed backing vocals in a gospel climate, while “If I Got The Upper Hand” is bluesy moment of emotion and Chris Corsale’s meticulous guitar solo.

Residing close to the end, “Candy Apple Morning” comes with a charming, rootsy flavor thanks to John Abbey’s skilled bass, Teddy Myers’ strategic keys and O’Neill’s flowing voice, and “Newcomer Blues” exits with just O’Neill’s pipes and guitar that carries plenty of timeless folk qualities.

O’Neill is making her own kind of Americana, and it sure is memorable, delivered with much relatability, and showcases her talents with rhythm and acoustic guitar and glockenspiel superbly.

Travels well with: Jenn Howard- Valiant Woman; Lara Price- Half & Half

University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1

Let The Good Times Roll

Vegas, 2025

8/10

Listen to Let The Good Times Roll

A massive ensemble that collects the many efforts of the students, faculty and guest artists throughout the 2023-2024 school year, the winds, brass, and rhythm section of the University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble come together for 12 very involved selections.

The booming title track opens with Clint Holmes’ soulful and smooth pipes alongside the frisky drums and bright trumpets, and “Chinoserie” follows with the animated saxes amid the swift keys and a whole lot of melody.

Moving into the middle, “Check Up” is full of lively vibes courtesy of Amy Crosley that suit the spirited sax and thoughtful climate, while “The Night Has A Thousand Eyes” is textured playfully thanks to the softer moments and busier bouts of horns.

Landing close to the end, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” allows for the trombones to shine via the timeless Big Bang ideas, and “Finale (For Katie Charlotte)” exits with a mesmerizing and dizzying quality thanks to the many players and rock fueled moments of first rate jazz.

There’s plenty of exceptional guests artists in attendance, i.e. Kenny Rampton, Naomi Mauro and Isrea Butler, plus others, and it helps make for an exceptional performance and an aptly titled listen.

Travels well with: Pony Boy All-Star Big Band- This Is Now; Doug Ferony- Alright Ok You Win

Chris Walz

All I Got And Gone

Self-Released, 2025

8/10

Listen to All I Got And Gone

The meticulous guitar player Chris Walz finally brings us a debut record, where influence from Tony Rice, Woody Guthrie and Etta Baker are present across these 11 timeless tracks.

“Alabama Bound” opens with a fluid blues presence, where the precise fingerpicking is met with Walz’s expressive pipes, and “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues” follows with a quick delivery of flatpicking fun that is quite warm in Walz’s interpretation of the 1924 song.

Landing in the middle, “Been Around This World” comes with vivid storytelling and no lack of melody via the detailed guitar and bright singing, while “Diamond Joe” is a highly intimate moment of beauty and grace thanks to the track penned by an inmate in Mississippi in 1937.

Further still, “The Coo Coo” is a hard driving flat picking album highlight that emits fluid, up tempo guitar, and “Spanish Fandango” exits with a pretty and poetic finish that parallels the beauty that Norman Blake played it with.

A lifelong educator of music, Walz knows his way around a guitar, and his ability to pull from folk, bluegrass, old time and roots ideas puts a fresh coat of paint on time honored songs.

Travels well with: Evan Boyer- The Devil In Me; John McCutcheon- Field Of Stars

Chris Varga

Breathe

Calligram, 2025

9/10

Listen to Breathe

The vibraphonist Chris Varga cut his teeth in the Chicago jazz scene before heading to Seoul where he’s spent 2+ decades buried in their jazz community. A trip back to the US in 2024 sparked this project, where Geof Bradfield, Dave Miller, Clark Sommers and Neil Hemphill are in attendance.

Sommers’ frisky bass open the listen, where “Durantula” showcases Varga’s animated vibes amid Miller’s meticulous guitar playing, and “Breathe” follows with a calmer mood, as a distinct dreaminess unfolds with cautiousness.

Some of the best tracks arrive in the middle. “Framing The Dragon” is an elegant moment that benefits from Bradfield’s soulful sax, while “Passing Remark” allows for Varga’s animated skills to shine alongside Hemphill’s unpredictable drumming.

Landing near the end, “TMI” offers no lack of melody, where the lively rhythm section and bright sax complement the radiant vibes, and “Gentle Vicissitudes” exits with a busier, free jazz approach that carries an infectious energy.

The talent that Varga surrounds himself with is unparalleled, and the songs reflect that. The mallet work is exceptional, and the range of ideas, from haunting to balladry to plenty of upbeat harmonics, is very much appreciated.

Travels well with: Jarod Bufe- Brighter Days; Ben Waltzer- The Point

Jarod Bufe

Brighter Days

Calligram, 2025

9/10

Listen to Brighter Days

The tenor sax extraordinaire Jarod Bufe is in the company of Tim Stine, Matt Ulery and Jon Deitemyer for these timeless and articulate jazz selections.

The elegant mood of “Midnight” opens with Bufe’s fluid sax alongside Deitemyer’s cozy drums and Ulery’s playful bass, and “The Forgotten Before” follows with a distinct intimacy via Stine’s warm guitar and the soulful sax prowess.

In the middle, “Goodnight, My Brooklyn Prince” offers a calm climate of heartfelt song craft thanks to the soft wind and radiant guitar tone, while “Eclipse” emits a frisky demeanor, where the lively drumming helps illuminate the colorful album highlight.

Deeper still, “Goodbye, Marlene” focuses much on Bufe’s meticulous sax prowess with a gentle spirit, and “Window Well” exits with rhythmic and stylish grooves that you won’t soon forget.

An album of all originals, Bufe is quite comfortable in ballad settings just as he is in upbeat, blues influenced areas, as he continues to impress us with his impressive musical vision.

Travels well with: Ben Waltzer- The Point; Andy Baker- From Here, From There

Petr Bakla

Cello & Piano

Octopus, 2024

8/10

Listen to Cello & Piano

The inimitable composer Petr Bakla presents 3 selections for cello and piano, where Matthias Lorenz and Miroslav Beinhauer flesh out the sounds that span almost two decades of his output.

The strong interaction of “Two Instances” opens, and it pairs the Beinhauer’s precise and emotive keys with the cautious strings from Lorenz that radiate much intimacy.

In the middle, the cinematic keys of “For Eduard Herzog” allows for the subtle cello to inject much beauty and sophistication into the minimalism.

“Eight Notes” exits, and showcases the mesmerizing keys and bowed strings emitting mystery and introspection in a very hypnotic fashion.

A collection of world premiere studio recordings, the package comes with a 20-page bilingual booklet, which further adds to the allure of this contemporary classical and avant-garde vision that Bakla is known for.

Travels well with: Petr Bakla- Late Night Show; Petr Bakla- Usableness Of The List Portfolio

Lea Love

Way I Am

Mensch House, 2019

8/10

Listen to Way I Am

A California born and raised songstress, Lea Love brings her Japanese, Hawaiian, and Samoan heritage into some very thoughtful and eclectic tunes that are shaped by her life experiences.

The title track starts with Love’s expressive vocals, where cultured soul and pop ideas come into the melodic and breezy formula, and “One Too Many” follows with hints of reggae in the island smooth track.

Further along, “No Good At Love” has the songstress entering romantic territory with finger snappin’, cautious fun, while “No Feels” brings us a percussive heavy, upbeat and bouncy excursion into her universal pop prowess.

Near the end, “Set The Mood”, with Jemere Morgan, punctuates the mood with a graceful duet of stylish, club friendly sounds, and “Murdera” ends the EP with more traces of reggae in Love’s calculated and flawless delivery.

An artist who has been writing songs since the age of 10, Love’s strategic use of R&B, reggae, soul and pop comes together for an extremely enjoyable and memorable listen here.

Travels well with: Kelly Hafner-If It’s Love; Amy Winehouse- Frank