Musicians often wax hyperbolic when it comes to praising their compatriots, Alan Pasqua touts Jeff Ellwood as “one of my favorite tenor saxophonists on the planet,” he speaks from a place of heartfelt experience – Ellwood was part of the legendary pianist’s band for seven prolific years. Their built in, seamless and dynamic saxophone-piano chemistry is the driving force behind Ellwood’s long anticipated debut album The Sounds Around the House – a multi-faceted ensemble date a

As with any musical project so boldly tackling the slow ebbing of life and the ultimate loss of a loved one, Nathaniel Bellows’ raw, gritty and soulful masterpiece eight song masterpiece Three is a tough, painful listen. But that’s as it’s intended, because as the brilliant contemporary folk singer/songwriter shares his wildly cathartic, poetic and metaphor rich reflections on his dad’s long illness and his ultimate passing, we have to go through the hell of hurt and loss to

It happens every year when Christmas rolls around. As exquisite as so much holiday music is – especially in the new age solo piano realm – sometimes we hear so much of it, and the same old tried and true versions so often, that our ears can get fatigued and songs we once embraced grow so familiar we tune out the uplifting messages. With secular seasonal fare, it’s perhaps not so much of a loss. Tunes like “Silver Bells” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” may make us feel warm a