Doug MacDonald

Tribute To South Central

DMac, 2026

9/10

Listen to Tribute To South Central

The prolific jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald guides a quintet and sextet through 3 standards and 5 originals of his always creative vision.

The frisky mood of “Blues In The Desert”, an original, opens with MacDonald’s animated guitar alongside Eric McKain’s playful percussion and Wayne Cobham’s rich horn, and “Mr. Walker” follows with Richard Turner’s bright keys amid the colorful guitar progressions.

In the middle, “Self Portrait of the Bean” recruits Ronnie Kaufman’s strategic drumming alongside a cozy mood of elegance, while “GG”, another original, blends Cobham’s trumpet with Del Atkins’ upbeat bass and plenty of melody.

“Luces Azules” and “Sam-or-Eye” exit the listen. The former carries an infectious energy with no lack of rhythm, and the latter is textured superbly with sophistication and harmonics that you can’t not admire.

Now 30+ albums deep, MacDonald continues to play the sort of timeless guitar jazz that’s uplifting and memorable from beginning to end.

Travels well with: Doug MacDonald Trio- Live In Beverly Hills; Doug MacDonald Trio- Sextet Session

Satoko Fujii/Myra Melford

Katarahi

Rogue Art, 2026

9/10

Listen to Katarahi

The pianists Satoko Fujii and Myra Melford turn in a live record, where the 7 tracks see the pair complementing each other in playful, intimate and exciting ways via their distinct brand of jazz.

“Interlude I” opens with the pair emitting turbulent but also gentle piano playing amid the dynamic start, and “Signpost” follows with their rare chemistry making for percussive ideas, frisky gestures and both cohesive and seemingly distanced approaches with much awe.

“Chalk” and “Kaiwa” occupy the middle spots. The former carries a melodic undertone of dreaminess, while the latter captivates us for 10+ minutes with its explosive bouts, colorful patterns and sonic allure.

“From Sometime” exits, and embraces abstract, raw and a contolled chaos sort of approach that you’re not likely to hear anywhere else.

The title of the album means a heart-to-heart conversation between intimate friends, and Fujii and Melford seemingly have a lot more to discuss across this fascinating, avant-garde journey into piano fueled jazz.

Travels well with: Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio- Dream A Dream; Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio- Jet Black

Maisy Owen

Dark On A Sunny Day

Tompkins Square, 2026

9/10

Listen to Dark On A Sunny Day

The 23 year old Nashville native Maisey Owen makes an impression with this debut album, where some goth tendencies enter her distinct version of folk.

The bare finger picking of “My Youth Is All For You” opens with a Celtic feel amid the mesmerizing and intimate mood, and “Letters” follows with Robin Eaton’s gentle bass that suits the ominous yet melodic approach to desperate wordplay.

“The Rest Of Me” and “On My Way Down” arrive in the middle. The former is a warm moment that enlists Dan Seymour’s upright bass to complement the nostalgic climate, while the latter is a charming, folk strummer that benefits from Roger Mutano’s well timed lap steel.

“It All Ends The Same” exits the listen with James Russell’s piano present for a dreamy, somewhat haunting finish that’s a bit mysterious in its distinct beauty.

A youngster with an incredible amount of talent, Owen plays guitar, viola, bass and piano here, and pens songs that bare her soul in a dark sort of way that’s harmonic, melancholic and nothing short of captivating.

Travels well with: The Heart Collectors- Twilight Tales; Jamie Anderson- The Curves Are Still There

ES Pearl

Ed Snodderly Baggage Flies Free

Need To Know, 2026

9/10

Listen to Baggage Flies Free

ES Pearl, AKA Ed Snodderly, brings us 13 original, folk fueled songs that feature a handful of esteemed players and occasionally surround a conversation between a squirrel and a rabbit.

“Coming Down This Road” opens the listen with animated fingerpicking and Snodderly’s warm voice alongside Tim O’Brien’s colorful mandolin playing, and “Willow Green” follows with a lush mood via the warm guitar playing and heartfelt singing that reminds us of the first signs of spring.

Halfway through, “For Another” recruits Kenny Vaughn’s fluid guitar amid the talking and singing that pays tribute to Malcolm Holcombe, while “See You In The Morning” is heartfelt moment of poetic storytelling thanks to the cozy guitar and romantic singing of the album’s best.

Residing late in the listen, “The Grandest Tail” showcases rhythm and grooves via the bluegrass tinted energy that’s infectious, and “It’s Christmas Again” exits with a holiday tune of a different kind that's soulful and intimate.

The vocalists include Amythyst Kiah, O’Brien, Verlon Thompson and Eugene Wolf, who help illustrate Snodderly’s country, roots and folky ways with much charm and memorableness.

Travels well with: Dave Gunning- Field Notes; Tom Chapin- Songs Of Hope

Kathy Ingraham

Jazz Dreams

Peirdon, 2026

8/10

Listen Jazz Dreams

The jazz vocalist Kathy Ingram is in some excellent company for these 7 covers and originals that take inspiration from the 1944 Oscar winning best short film, Heavenly Music.

“Dream On” starts with Ingraham’s inviting voice alongside Pete Levin’s mature keys and Randy Brecker’s cozy flugelhorn for the warm climate, and “House Of The Rising Sun” follows with Evan Christopher’s rich clarinet adding much grace amid the expressive singing.

In the middle “Melusina”, an original, benefits from Elliot Randall’s flowing guitar in the layered and pretty album highlight, while “Ruby Tuesday” offers a heartfelt and harmonic moment thanks to Joel Rosenblatt’s strategic drums and Lily Del Rosso’s well timed backing vocals.

“Stairway To Heaven” exits, and it puts a charming jazz spin on the classic thanks to William Galison’s skilled harmonica that complements Ingraham’s engaging pipes.

A timeless body of work that turns classic rock tunes into thoughtful jazz and the originals blend in quite well with the rich, imaginative and melodic setting.

Travels well with: Marie-Paule Franke- Through The Cracks The Light Is Born; Bonnie J Jensen- Rise

Yiddish Glory

The Silenced Songs Of World War II

Six Degrees, 2026

9/10

Listen to The Silenced Songs Of World War II

The Grammy-nominated ensemble Yiddish Glory return with a sophomore album, where their folk and Yiddish ways surround abandoned songs of Jewish life under Nazi occupation that were penned by Jewish Red Army soldiers, ghetto survivors, and refugees across Ukraine, Moldova, and beyond.

The animated strings of “Obodivke Camp” opens with playful keys and expressive singing fueling the upbeat delivery, and “The Sad Camp” follows with mature piano and soulful singing for the graceful climate.

Moving along, “At The Jewish Cemetery” radiates a soft beauty via the stirring strings and poetic singing, while “Song Of Pechera Camp” enlists the moody cello and heartfelt singing amid much emotion.

Close to the end, “A Massacre In Zhabokrych” showcases vivid storytelling to complement the rich strings, and “Yom Kippur Without Fascists” pairs the cello and violin with powerful and relevant wordplay.

Although at its core this is a very despondent subject matter, the ensemble inject Yiddish wit while still focusing on the unimaginable experiences of the survivors with the Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, and Roma folk traditions intact.

Travels well with: The Klezmatics- We Were Made For These Times; Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird- The Butcher’s Share

Ezra

Whippersnap

Adhyâropa, 2026

9/10

Listen to Whippersnap

This 4th release in 2 years from the acoustic supergroup Ezra brings us more of their harmonic and rhythmic exploration across 11 authentic tracks.

“Milk On Tap” opens with Jacob Jolliff’s animated mandolin amid much warmth, and “Kting Ktang” follows with Craig Butterfield’s frisky, plucked bass that suits Max Allard’s meticulous and rich banjo playing in a calm climate.

Halfway through, “Taxiway Tossup” is a speedy moment of swirling strings and plenty of bluegrass fun, while the title track benefits from Jesse Jones’ flowing guitar and Xak Bjerken’s sophisticated piano playing via the textured album highlight.

Later on, “The Selsun Blues” pays close attention to mood thanks to the precise strings and cautious demeanor, and “Addatif” exits with all the members showcasing their inimitable talents in shifting tempos, evolving progressions and plenty of unpredictable songwriting.

An album with a youthful energy at its core, there’s also avant-garde and baroque hints present, as Ezra flesh out another unconventional and memorable newgrass effort.

Travels well with: Rafael Chamone- Sonoluminescence; Jeremy Bass - Cabin Songs

Devil's Cut

Roadkill

MNRK, 2026

8/10

Listen to Roadkill

This debut album from Louisville’s Devil’s Cut see the quartet’s ‘country metalcore’ formula across 10 very unique tracks with excellent production.

“Drink With The Devil” opens with a thundering presence, where Trevor Tressler’s hard hitting drums and William Landrum’s diverse vocals make it unclear if you should bang your head or dust off your cowboy boots, and “Drop Dead (End)” follows with Zach McConnell’s chugging guitar amid the busy versus calm bouts.

The title track arrives at the halfway point and enlists manipulated voices alongside the melodic and thick rhythm section and harmonic singing, while “Worth A Shot” benefits from Bailey Jones’ skilled bass for the raging mood that invites singing-along.

Closer to the end, “F U Anyway” leads gently before tense bursts enter the anthemic appeal and growling vocals, and “Bluegrass Burnin’” exits with rhythm and grooves leading into the searing metalcore pummeling.

You’ve got to hand it to these guys, cause this is truly a creative approach to rock. If you’re a little bit country and a little bit more metal and enjoy leaping into the most pit with your Tim McGraw shirt on, we’ll, this will likely be your new favorite band.

Travels well with: Soen- Reliance; Nuclear Messiah- Black Flame

Doug MacDonald

Califournia Quartet

DMac, 2019

8/10

Listen to Califournia Quartet

Some of the best of the best in Los Angeles come together on this accomplished listen as Harvey Newmark, Paul Kreibich, Kim Richmond and, of course, Doug MacDonald combine their respective talents on 6 originals and 4 covers where many forms of jazz are covered.

“A Beautiful Friend” gets the album right into tumbling percussion, soothing alto sax and winding melodies, and “Malapropisms” follows with a stylish, warm, blues spirit. Further along, “San Rafael” offers us a classic, waltz jazz feel with sweeping rhythm, while “Lakeside Drive” makes the most out of calming guitar lines and agile percussion.

The backside of the album offers us the playful, soulful “E Spot”, the brief, introspective “The Things We Did Last Summer”, and the swift and dynamic “Tenderly”. The album closes on the bop fun and brushed percussion of “I Want It”,

An enthralling journey of lovely solos, swinging sounds and proficient interplay, all players here have done fine work on their own and in other ensembles, but this debut together brings them into unparalleled chemistry that will hopefully continue.

Travels well with: Charlie Parker- The Charlie Parker Story; Jim Hall- Textures