True to the diversity of Tony Saunders’ legendary resume, the bassist/composer – while remaining in the melodic, groove-intensive pocket - is always full of stylistic and thematic surprises from project to project. Four years after taking us straight to the heart of his memories of the NYC club scene growing up with Uptown Jazz, he’s delivered bit time on his promise to make the best, most pleasurable and sensually satisfying album yet with the perfectly titled Sexy Somethin.

Since it has been over a year since I last shared my admiration for the multi-faceted, deeply thematic works of ambient music maestro Scott Lawlor, a brief recap is in order before I tackle his expansion from personal emotional therapeutic expressions to the deep social consciousness he showcases on Bad Seed, a searing, soul-shaking seven track meditation on one child’s journey through the traumatic memories of earlier abuse. One earlier quote still sums it up for me: “If you

Titles make for ironic distractions, sometimes. “Play Dead” and “Tender Exit” are the first two hypnotic, ethereal and dreamily ambient synth and vocal tracks from Kodacrome’s new EP The Banff Sessions, and yet the Brooklyn based duo of Elissa LeCoque (vocals/arrangements) and Ryan Casey (synth/production) have been in nonstop, travel-happy, manic expressive mode since they first met touring solo projects for the Belgian based label Marathon of Dope in 2009. Knowing the detai

Wrapping up with a wildly eclectic, off-kilter bow ten impactful years of helping to revitalize the Bay Area’s dynamic psychedelic rock scene, the crazy fun, high energy five-piece Whiskerman creates with Kingdom Illusion in more ways than one. If we judged their latest opus just from its first two lead singles, the playful, hard chugging cockeyed romance “Belly of the Beast” and synthy-trippy defiant survival tale “Fuck Yeah,” we might get the idea that frontman Graham Patzn

Throughout our lives, we have all been blessed with deep and multi-faceted friendships that make us feel more alive on a human level and connected so deep on a soul level that it defies our ability to find words to describe it. These are the kinds of intimate relationships that are so powerful and profound that they can even defy the physical passing of our loved one. On one level, we know they’re gone, but in another sense, if we’re so inclined to see beyond our five senses

What is it about the wisdom and innocence of a child’s words that can penetrate our deepest fears and hard-won pessimism to break our hearts through to enduring sunlight and shards of hope? Despite her and her family’s ordeal, Anne Frank famously said, “It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideas, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” What does this have to do with contempor

A 2018 winner of the Bay Area Jazz and Blues Artist Lifetime Achievement Award, San Francisco based internationally renowned jazz and R&B driven singer Clairdee grew up admiring not only the musical genius of Lena Horne, but also the legendary performer’s commitment to civil rights and dignity for all people. Yet in creating her exquisite, deeply heartfelt, sensual and rhythmically energizing and soul empowering homage A Love Letter to Lena, Clairdee does more than pay homage

A true socially conscious Renaissance man for our time, Darrell Kelley has been an unstoppable creative and grooving force of nature since getting back to his first love of music and dropping his debut album Unity in 2018. Fusing his passions for gospel, pop, dance and R&B with a deep-seated voice for social justice, the ultimate multi-tasker - singer, songwriter, spiritual leader, author, entrepreneur and activist – has created a powerful platform for a unique array of messa

In the six years since Daytona Beach, FL progressive Americana rockers Greye released their debut album Providence, they’ve captivated thousands via their high octane shows up and down the Atlantic Coast and throughout the Midwest. With a vibe driven by powerhouse classic rock styled vocalist Hannah Summer and her high octane, multi-generational band of badasses, they’ve heard it often from fans: “Gosh, you guys are so lucky to do what you do.” On their latest single, the gro

Connected in so many fascinating ways to rock and roll greatness that his official and off the record resume defies easy categorizations, Stephen Wrench is a living embodiment of the proverbial Renaissance Man and jack of all musical trades who, over the past 45+ years, has jammed with, managed, booked and produced shows and done radio promotions for legends and indie greats alike. Though he’s worked with some of the most groundbreaking artists on the planet and performed al

Versatile pianist J.C. Hopkins and his soaring, explosive Biggish Band has been holding court for several years at their Saturday Night residency at Milton’s Playhouse, updating a tradition and carrying on a legacy that began at the historic club in the 1940s, when Dizzy, Monk and others headlined there and essentially invented bebop. Hopkins and Co. first shared their powerhouse, multi-faceted sound and freewheeling spirit of showcasing vocalists on their 2017 debut recordin

Veteran drummer Paul Shaw brings a fascinating history to his debut as a leader, which, considering its expansive array of moods and melodic, harmonic and rhythmic scope, should rightfully been titled, “Moments of Clarity,” plural. After years of playing with jazz orchestras in the Marines and Air Force, he built a resume keeping time and groove behind everyone from Nnenna Freelon and Lizz Wright to Steve Nelson, Johnny O’Neal and Bill Watrous. He also co-leads Inside Out and