In the interconnected universe of contemporary ambient and new age music, Grammy®-nominated composer, producer and sonic architect Tom Eaton has long been one of the genre’s quiet but profoundly influential figures. For decades he has shaped the sound of countless recordings as an engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist while steadily building his own catalog of deeply evocative solo works. Guitarist Vin Downes, meanwhile, has carved out a respected path of his own throu

Dutch-American vocalist, songwriter and cancer research scientist Louise Alexandra explores love, memory, hope and heartbreak from multiple fascinating angles on Crazy World of Love, an engaging collection that balances thoughtful, soulful originals with fresh takes on standards and wildly inventive vocalese. Working with Dutch piano master Rob van Bavel and an excellent ensemble featuring bassist Frans van Geest, guitarist Vincent Koning, drummer Marcel Serierse and saxophon

In an era where “global music” is often reduced to trendy rhythmic fusions and superficial stylistic blends, Norwegian soprano/songwriter Kristin Amarie and Greek-Cypriot superstar Konstantinos Christoforou create something far more meaningful, impactful and emotionally immersive on “Maybe (Mipos)”—a soaring, deeply impassioned English/Greek duet that transforms longing, uncertainty and romantic hope into a sweeping cross-cultural musical journey. Opening with graceful acoust

The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra’s Ellington Masterworks is much more than a repertory project. Drawn from Duke Ellington compositions spanning 1940-1968 and rooted in the Smithsonian’s vast Ellington archives, the recording reflects the mission that has defined the orchestra since its founding in 1990: preserving jazz history while keeping it vibrantly alive in performance. Under the direction of conductor and artistic director Charlie Young and informed by the dee

With Best Laid Plans, composer, arranger and bandleader Jon Schapiro delivers the third recording by Schapiro17, the large ensemble he founded more than a decade ago after participating in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop. Since its earliest performances in 2014, the band has developed a distinctive identity built on sophisticated writing, adventurous improvisation and a willingness to blur stylistic boundaries. On this latest release, Schapiro combines three compelling origin

Solo piano albums often tempt artists toward technical exhibitionism, but on Both Sides Now, Cuban-born pianist Kemuel Roig takes the opposite path. Throughout this thoughtful collection of pop, jazz and Latin standards, he favors emotional depth, spacious reflection and lyrical storytelling, inviting listeners to linger inside melodies they thought they already knew. Roig opens with a hypnotic waltz interpretation of Paul McCartney’s “Junk” before reimagining The Young Rasca