December - 2019

Dec 30, 2019

SCOTT COSSU, Memories of Water and Light

A seminal force in and influential and enduring treasure of new age music, pianist/composer Scott Cossu - one of the first artists on Will Ackerman’s groundbreaking Windham Hill label - was a creative force and guiding light when the genre was in its infancy. During his incredible 19 years there, he built a dynamic foundational discography of 12 albums, earned numerous accolades, performed all over the world and toured with his equally celebrated labelmates George Winston, Al

Jonathan Widran

Dec 15, 2019

THE PERSIAN LEAPS, Electrical Living

In 2018, The Persian Leaps, the raucous and quirky St. Paul based indie rock/power pop band with the playfully inscrutable name, unleashed the pleasurable collection Pop That Goes Crunch as a grand summary of their five popular, super brief EPs released annually like clockwork from 2013-2017. Band frontman, founder and mastermind Drew Forsberg then shifted gears, stopped touring the group and joined forces with his longtime graphic designer Jon Hunt (who also happens to be a

Jonathan Widran

Dec 15, 2019

NEILL MACLEAN, "Invite Me Over"

“Invite Me Over,” the infectious, wildly synthy retro 60’s pop/folk meets 80’s new wave/light punk influenced new single from emerging indie singer-songwriter Neill Maclean, is that rare track that can make an ongoing lament about alienation and being shut out also seem like rapturous fun. The second single released in the wake of his early 2019 full length debut 320 Vaughn St., the track balances the artist’s dark, sultry voice with dreamy and lighthearted female harmonies –

PAUL ADAMS & ELIZABETH GEYER, Deeper Imaginings

Jonathan Widran

Dec 14, 2019

PAUL ADAMS & ELIZABETH GEYER, Deeper Imaginings

Because composer/musicians and their fans tend to compartmentalize their passions into strict genre trappings, it’s rare to find artists bold enough to transcend commercial considerations and expectations and present all of their passions on a single project. You won’t find too many jazz heads at a new age meditation concert, just as you won’t find those seeking stress reduction in their music at a show featuring swing and improvisation. As a longtime fan of both genres, I’ve

MICHAEL KOLLWITZ & WALTON MENDELSON, The Stick EWI Project: In the Moonlight

Jonathan Widran

Dec 13, 2019

MICHAEL KOLLWITZ & WALTON MENDELSON, The Stick EWI Project: In the Moonlight

In my enthusiastic write-up review of Michael Kollwitz’s Billboard charting early 2019 release Serenity III: More Peaceful Music on the Chapman Stick® – the third in a successful annual series of relaxation collections that began in 2017 – I used terms like “mystically melodic,” “soul transporting” and “cool and calm euphoria” to describe the vibe and his approach to his unique stringed instrument. I urged fans not simply to listen and enjoy but to research its creator, Emm

Jonathan Widran

Dec 12, 2019

TELEMONSTER, Introspecter, Vol. 1

Though they are rife with dreamy pop elements and delightfully fuzzy guitars, You can’t exactly call Chattanooga based Telemonster’s vibe pure “shoegaze.” Yet led by the visionary sonic fusion of founders and cousins Ben VanderHart (guitar/vocals) and Josh Barrett (drums), they’re the only band I’ve heard in years that cleverly addresses that concept in one of their songs, “For Someone Not So Old,” the moody, mystical and ultimately rockin’ and emotionally intense focal track

CHRIS STANDRING & KATHRIN SHORR’S XMAS EXTRAVAGANZA AT FEINSTEIN’S AT VITELLO’S

Jonathan Widran

Dec 6, 2019

CHRIS STANDRING & KATHRIN SHORR’S XMAS EXTRAVAGANZA AT FEINSTEIN’S AT VITELLO’S

Back in 2011, Billboard chart-topping contemporary jazz guitarist Chris Standring and award-winning pop/folk singer/songwriter Kathrin Shorr pulled off a remarkable musical coup for the holidays. Collaborating on a recording for the first time, the L.A. based artists created Send Me Some Snow, a compelling, playful and witty, purely secular Christmas album of all original material. No “Jingle Bells.” No Chestnuts. No “Silent Night.” Just fantastic, warm and inviting, mostly l

Jonathan Widran

Dec 4, 2019

ROZINA PATKAI, Taladim

If the only way you’ve ever experienced legendary poet T.S. Elliot’s verses set to music is “Cats,” allow the beautiful, Astrud Gilberto styled Hungarian jazz singer Rozina Patkai take you into the darker, haunting realms with her ambient and hypnotic musical adaptation of his poem “Song.” A fascinating emerging singer who has been leading jazz groups in her home country since 2011, Patkai’s latest album Taladim finds her exploring her multi-cultural artistry (Eastern Europe

Jonathan Widran

Dec 4, 2019

JOHN BASILE, Silent Night

It’s probably a good bet that master jazz guitarist and all-around Renaissance Man John Basile played his share of Christmas music while touring throughout his lengthy career with everyone from Count Basie and Peggy Lee to Rosemary Clooney and Michael Brecker. And surely he heard it wafting from on high while also serving as a radiology administrator, pro boxing judge and music educator and clinician. All that would give him plenty of time to absorb the classics and find a ne

Jonathan Widran

Dec 4, 2019

CAROL ALBERT, Stronger Now

From the get go on her latest, perfectly titled album Stronger Now, pianist/composer Carol Albert takes us on a soaring, optimistic journey reflective of the own spiritual/emotional breakthroughs she has made in the wake of great personal loss. She sets the gorgeous, sweeping piano melody aflight on the wings of lush orchestration on “Stronger Now,” then seals the deal with our hearts by introducing beautiful wordless vocals on the likewise infectious “Love Again.” Most artis

Jonathan Widran

Dec 4, 2019

FRANK COLON, Latin Lounge

Throughout his illustrious career as a sideman, veteran percussionist amped up the grooves behind everyone from The Manhattan Transfer and Aretha Franklin to Tania Maria. Yet the release of his multi-dimensional musical experience Latin Lounge – much too rhythmically eclectic and melodically fascinating a journey to simply call a “new album” – proves that he’s clearly been holding back. Don’t let the project’s use of the name “lounge” in the title lull you into thinking this

Jonathan Widran

Dec 4, 2019

REBECCA ANGEL, "Santa Baby"

Four years after making her recording debut with an original holiday track, NYC jazz singer, songwriter and performer puts an exclamation point (this time with a bow!) on another groundbreaking year with her sensual and stylish, hip yet retro twist on the Eartha Kitt originated classic “Santa Baby.” Opening with a playful scat intro, Angel weaves her dreamy, inviting spell over the supple grooves and tasty retro vibes of arranger, producer, keyboardist Jason Miles and a handf

THE JW VIBE

Music That Sticks To My Soul

SCOTT COSSU, Memories of Water and Light

THE PERSIAN LEAPS, Electrical Living

NEILL MACLEAN, "Invite Me Over"

PAUL ADAMS & ELIZABETH GEYER, Deeper Imaginings

MICHAEL KOLLWITZ & WALTON MENDELSON, The Stick EWI Project: In the Moonlight

TELEMONSTER, Introspecter, Vol. 1

CHRIS STANDRING & KATHRIN SHORR’S XMAS EXTRAVAGANZA AT FEINSTEIN’S AT VITELLO’S

ROZINA PATKAI, Taladim

JOHN BASILE, Silent Night

CAROL ALBERT, Stronger Now

FRANK COLON, Latin Lounge

REBECCA ANGEL, "Santa Baby"