Aline Homzy

Éclipse

Elastic, 2023

8/10

Listen to Éclipse

A debut a long time in the making, the Canadian-American violinist Aline Homzy bring plenty of worldly ideas into her jazz formula that enlists in an all star cast for the adventurous 11 tracks.

“Caraway” opens the listen with Homzy’s animated strings alongside Marito Marques’ cultured drums and percussion for the rhythmic, cultured delivery, and “Cosmos” follows with Michael Davidson’s flowing vibes complementing the dreamy landscape of warmth.

In the middle, “Circa Herself” emits a very playful tone from the violin amid the rich percussive sounds, while “Aliens Are Pieces Of Wind” is a more intimate moment thanks to the cautious strings and well placed bass from Dan Fortin.

Arriving near the end, “Segment” uses picking techniques in a cinematic sort of way that embraces a sci-fi backdrop, and “Bientot, we will collide” spotlights Felicity Williams’ stunning and delicate voice across the dreamy ambience of the lush finish.

Also in attendance are Thom Gill (guitars) and João Frade (accordion), who help make for a very interesting version of jazz that flirts with folk, chamber and hazy bouts that shine a light on a highly creative first album.

Travels well with: Kaze & Ikue Mori- Crustal Movement; Pixie Ninja- Colours Out Of Space

BlankFor.ms/Jason Moran/Marcus Gilmore

Refract

Red Hook, 2023

9/10

Listen to Refract

A listen that bridges digital and analog ideas, BlankFor.ms (Tyler Gilmore), Jason Moran and Marcus Gilmore come together for this jazz meets electronica hybrid that uses looping and sonic effects to its advantage.

“Onset I” opens the listen with a very cinematic approach of mystery and Moran’s dancing keys that provide the organic element of playfulness, and it isn’t long until “Affectionate, Painful” finds itself in much beauty thanks to the graceful piano and dreamy backdrop.

Further along, the beat friendly “Eight Pose” spotlights Gilmore’s very proficient drumming amid the electronic manipulation, while “Release” is a quick peek at the cautious electronics and mesmerizing piano that builds into a very active climate.

Residing close to the end, the 3 chapters of “Tape Loop C” illuminates the artistic qualities of BlankFor.ms’ ambient and exploratory nature, and “Tape Loop D” exits with a cozy jazz demeanor that’s both bright and atmospheric, and eventually fades out with a minimal whisper.

A listen that’s as unpredictable as it is creative, the trio mesh spontaneously nabbed loops with very engaging and gripping piano and drums which cultivates a rare, distinct energy.

Travels well with: Alex Hamburger- What If?; Danielle Wertz- Other Side

Anthony Fung

Fo(u)rth

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Fo(u)rth

The veteran Canadian drummer Anthony Fung returns with a 3rd LP that pays tribute to his mentor, Ralph Peterson, and his mantra of ‘onward and upward' with these 8 dynamic songs that recruit Mark Turner, Michael Ragonese and Luca Alemanno.

“The Valley” gets the listen off to a frisky start, where Fung’s precise drums and Turner’s soulful sax make for a warm climate, and “A Second Chance” follows with the bright sax complementing Ragonese’s playful key progressions.

“UTOPIA” arrives in the middle, and carries a charming intimacy thanks to the glowing brass and meticulous drums, while “The Upside Down” benefits much from the emotive interaction between the quartet’s cautious approach.

Close to the end, the energetic “Boo Boo’s Birthday” finds a festive place to reside with its animated demeanor, and “Hero Song” exits with strong attention to mood and Alemanno’s cozy bass making for a dreamy finish.

A listen that balances written moments and improvisation, Fung and company flesh out skilled balladry and adventurous sounds that will be relevant in the jazz world for decades to come.

Travels well with: Hery Paz- Jardineros; Max Gerl- Max Gerl

Jonathan Suazo

Ricano

Ropeadope, 2023

8/10

Listen to Ricano

The first formal album from the saxophonist, singer and composer Jonathan Suazo, the 10 rich tracks here welcome a large cast of players for the playful Afro-Caribbean listening experience.

“Somos más que tú” opens the listen with Josean Jacobo’s rowdy drumming and Eduardo Zayaz’s warm piano populating the cultured climate, and “Héroes” follows with Suazo’s fluid singing amid Otoniel Nicholás’ frisky percussion that emits plenty of melody.

The middle spot belongs to the soulful alto sax from Miguel Zenón and Giovanni Ortiz’s spirited bass as the setting builds into a swift delivery, while “Don’t Take Kindly” enters a more rock focused area that benefits from Kike Serrano’s Afro Puerto Rican percussion amid the soaring wordless vocals.

“Dharma” arrives near the end and is quite intimate thanks to Génesis Dávila’s expressive voice and Rafael Rosa’s swirling guitar prowess, and “Amapola” exits with a distinct dreaminess that uses Suazo’s elegant alto sax superbly alongside the cozy atmosphere.

An adventurous listen that’s rhythmically appealing and possesses the ability to shift in tone from track to track, Ricano makes for an exciting and worldly listen.

Travels well with: Hery Paz- Jardineros; Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra- Kemet (The Black Island)

Geof Bradfield/Richard D. Johnson/John Tate/Samuel Jewel

Our Heroes

AFAR, 2023

8/10

Listen to Our Heroes

The quartet of Geof Bradfield, Richard D. Johnson, John Tate and Samuel Jewel come together for these harmonic and creative 9 tracks that tip their hat to Corea, Ellington and Green, among others.

The swift keys from Johnson opens up the cozy and flowing “Corea”, where Bradfield’s animated sax takes much focus, and “Loved Ones” follows with Jewell’s frisky drums and the soulful brass making for plenty of graceful melody.

Halfway through, “Caution” offers a swift and dynamic meshing of animated clarinet from Bradfield alongside the energetic drumming, while “High & Low” pays close attention to mood via Tate’s playful bass and Bradfield’s reed prowess.

Moving closer to the end, “Aspartame”, the album’s best, benefits much from the agile rhythm section amid the eloquent sax, and “The Cruelest Month” exits with a dance floor energy that shakes and bounces with an infectious personality.

The quartet pay tribute to their heroes with these well thought out songs, and the heartfelt and soulful songwriting sure sounds great and likely will for decades to come.

Travels well with: Anthony Fung- Fo(u)rth; Max Gerl- Max Gerl

Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah

The Falcon Ate The Flower

Clean Livin’, 2023

9/10

Listen to The Falcon Ate The Flower

The always impressive singer-songwriter and guitarist Lee Gallagher brings his diverse vision and inimitable voice to these 10 timeless tracks that welcome Will Scott, Steve Mertens, Jonny Niemann and Scarlet Rivera to the listen.

“Planes” begins the listen with a distinct dreaminess, where a nostalgic appeal is paired with Gallagher’s warm voice, and “Peregrine Fly” follows with Rivera’s stirring violin complementing the raw, emotive singing of the intimate landscape.

Further along, “Haymaker” uses the soft acoustic guitar and Scott’s agile drumming amid the classic rock spirit, while “The Mission” is a bit more firm and jangly thanks to the breezy meldodies.

Close to the end, “Can Anyone See Me?” uses crisp drums and Mertens’ well timed bass for a hint of psychedelia, and “Remember When” employs Niemann’s flowing keys that add much atmosphere to the cautious, mesmerizing finish.

Gallagher is well versed in blues, roots, Americana and psyche-rock ideas, and it’s all presented here via the creative and passionate artistry we’ve come to expect from him.

Travels well with: Aaron Skiles- Whistle Past The Grave; Nick Justice- Stranger In My Town

Chris Pierce

Let All Who Will

Friends At Work, 2023

8/10

Listen to Let All Who Will

The Los Angeles singer-songwriter Chris Pierce brings a large cast to these powerful songs that touch on pain, sorrow, frustration, joy and hope with his unique brand of Americana.

“Batten Down The Hatches” starts the listen with Ginger Murphy’s graceful cello and Michael Jerome’s proficient drumming complementing Pierce’s expressive voice and fluid acoustic guitar, and “45 Jukebox” follows with plenty of rhythm thanks to Deron Johnson’s playful keys and playful bass that suits the lively, soulful climate.

Further along, “Tulsa Town” uses Dave Palmer’s strategic piano amid Doug Pettibone and Kelvin Holly’s cautious guitars for the intimate moment, while “Time Bomb” places Charles Jones behind Hammond B3 and Sunny War on lead vocals and acoustic guitar for the melodic and folk influenced album highlight.

“We Can Always Come Back To This” arrives near the end, and benefits much from Kaveh Rastegar’s precise bass, as Pierce gets poetic and dreamy, and “Ain’t No Better” exits with an initially bare presence that builds into a soaring, passionate, gospel finish that uses Charlie Jones, Jessica Childress and Maiya Sykes’ emotive backing vocals.

Somewhat of a protest album at its core, Pierce meshes folk, soul and blues for a listen that’s all substance and touches on the unjust realities of being Black in America.

Travels well with: Cinder Well- Cadence; Sunny War- Anarchist Gospel

Jefferson Berry & The UAC

Prairie Fire

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to Prairie Fire

These Philadelphians are as prolific as they are exceptional, and this 3rd album in 4 years continues Jefferson Berry & The UAC’s version of Americana and roots with plenty of jam and folk ideas, too.

“That Was Me” opens the listen with Emily Drinker’s flowing vocals and Bud Burroughs’ warm mandolin complementing Berry’s smooth vocals and cozy acoustic guitar, and “You Could Do Anything” follows with a soulful quality thanks to Ken Ulansey’s eloquent sax and Dave Brown’s spirited electric guitar.

Halfway through, “Long Way From Home” emits a breezy quality due to Fred Berman’s agile drums and Marky B! Berkowitz’s playful harmonica, while “Long Way From Home” is full of rootsy songwriting that benefits from Uncle Mike Damora’s meticulous bass lines.

Close to the end, the lively banjo from Mike Brown populates the thicker presence of “Someone To Blame”, and the title track exits with thumping drums and Matt Muir’s high harmonies making for a dreamy demeanor of the folk rock finish.

There’s certainly no bad place to start in Berry’s catalog if you’re new to the songs, but Prairie Fire might be the best yet thanks to the bluesy moments and dance friendly bouts.

Travels well with: Jefferson Berry & The UAC- Prairie Fire; Jay Carlis- Alive In The Radio Age

Scott Clark

Dawn & Dusk

Out Of Your Head, 2023

8/10

Listen to Dawn & Dusk

The drummer, composer, improviser and Richmond resident Scott Clark is surrounded by some exceptional musicians across these 8 tracks, where an avant garde jazz approach is much appreciated.

The softness and warmth of “The Wind” opens the listen with Michael McNeill’s graceful keys alongside J.C. Kuhl’s soulful sax, before the frisky drums give the tune a bit of power, and the title track follows with Laura Ann Singh’s distinct and emotive singing guiding Clark’s acrobatic drumming in the dreamy climate.

The album highlight, “Above The Grey”, occupies the middle spot, and balances the frisky drums, subdued brass and mesmerizing keys with a bit of mysteriousness amid the timeless jazz gestures.

The remaining tracks are live, where “Silent Singing” moves with a stirring intimacy that’s heavy on mood thanks to Kuhl’s meticulous clarinet, and “Above The Gray” exits with unpredictable trumpet from Bob Miller and Adam Hopkins’ dynamic bass lines.

An extremely accomplished body of work in the area of spontaneous and experimental jazz sounds, Clark and company make each moment here exciting and thought provoking.

Travels well with: Jessica Pavone- Clamor; Mali Obomsawin- Sweet Tooth

Masumi Ormandy

Beyond The Sea

Miles High, 2023

8/10

Listen to Beyond The Sea

The Japanese vocalist Masumi Ormandy has been quite busy since her debut in 2016, which includes touring the globe and releasing 3 CDs in her home country. These 11 new tracks bring in a small army of musicians from New York for the 11 timeless, vocal jazz tracks.

The intimate mood of the title track opens the listen with Allen Farnham’s pretty keys and Sara Caswell’s elegant violin complementing Ormandy’s poetic and soft voice, and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby” follows with a frisky demeanor thanks to Bria Skonberg’s bright trumpet and Danny Bacher’s animated soprano sax.

Deeper into the listen, “Here’s To Life” emits much dreaminess via Jody Redhage Ferber’s stirring cello amid Ormandy’s poetic pipes, while “Sentimental Journey” is a playful album highlight that enlists John Allred’s lively trumpet that suits the frisky singing.

Landing close to the end, “It’s Only A Paper Moon” spotlights Mino Cinelu’s skilled percussion and Houston Person’s tenor sax for the cautious yet charming landscape, and “Ring No Uta (Apple Song)” exits with much emotion courtesy of Anders Bostrom’s airy flute and Roseanna Vitro’s absorbing guest vocals.

Ormandy’s trio features Farnham, Dean Johnson (upright bass) and Tim Horner (drums), and they, along with the many other players, illuminates the 84 year old’s pipes that realized her singing dream late in life, but are quickly making up for lost time.

Travels well with: Hannah Gill- Everybody Loves A Lover; Angie Wells- Truth Be Told

Mike Davis & The New Wonders

The New Wonders

Turtle Bay, 2023

8/10

Listen to The New Wonders

An active member of the New York jazz movement, the cornetist, arranger and vocalist Mike Davis makes an impression with this debut album that employs The New Wonders band, i.e. Joe McDonough, Ricky Alexander, Jared Engel, Dalton Ridenhour, Jay Rattman and Jay Lepley.

“Flamin’ Mamie” opens the listen with an animated old time feel that uses Ridenhour’s swift keys and McDonough’s lively trumpet superbly, and “Reaching For Someone (And Not Finding Anyone There)” follows with Davis’ expressive singing guiding the soulful cornet and Lepley’s agile drumming.

Deeper into the listen, “Persian Rug” is populated by a retro spirit that seems like it should soundtrack a night at a speakeasy, while “I Need Lovin’” is a loud and dance floor ready album highlight thanks to the animated brass, rattling drums and rhythmic interplay.

Nearing the end, “Jungle Crawl” moves a bit more cautiously amid the dense horns and warm keys, and “The Baltimore” exits with an upbeat and contagious energy of timeless, nostalgic jazz.

Davis and company put a fresh coat of paint on these traditional jazz tunes with strong attention to detail and plenty of adventurousness that will always be enjoyable.

Travels well with: Grant Geissman- Blooz; John Allee- Past Imperfect

Alyssa Giammaria

In Time

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to In Time

The Toronto vocalist Alyssa Giammaria is aligned with Steven Noronha, Josh Sparks, PT Sandberg and Aidan McConnell for this first album of original songs, where old and new tracks come together for a timeless jazz presence.

The thumping drums from McConnell opens the dreamy “The Only Part”, where Giammaria’s pretty pipes make for a very charming appeal, and “Dream Life” follows with Sparks’ cozy guitar and Sandberg’s warm bass complementing the impressive range from Giammaria.

In the middle, “In Time” uses Noronha’s graceful piano superbly in the intimate climate, while “What Are The Words” uses Giammaria’s vocal acrobatics amid the emotive keys and atmospheric guitar. The last track, “For Now”, features Aoife Louise-Doyle and Stephanie Sloss’ strategic backing vocals alongside the playfully plucked bass for a both cautious and adventurous album highlight.

Recorded live off the floor, Giammaria’s vision is one of a thoughtful and creative endeavor, where her excellent company helps make for a particularly luminous debut.

Travels well with: Marc Copland- Someday; Bellbird- Root In Tandem

The Ocean Blue

Davy Jones’ Locker

Korda, 2023

9/10

Listen to Davy Jones’ Locker

A re-release from the Pennsylvania legends The Ocean Blue, this 5th album arrived in 1999, and sure has aged well with its swirling pop melodies and strong attention to detail from David Schelzel (vocals, guitar), Oed Ronne (guitar), Bobby Mittan (bass) and Peter Anderson (drums).

“Ayn” opens the listen with a jangly, acoustic strummer that’s quite cozy in an ‘80s sort of way, and “Garden Song” follows with flowing melodies amid the firm guitars and playful drumming that emits some New Wave tendencies.

Deeper into the listen, the lush “Been Down A Lot Lately” sounds ready for the FM dial between The Sundays and Catherine Wheel, while “Cake” is quite soft and dreamy in away that might remind you of The Smiths.

Approaching the end, the thicker and buzzing “So Many Reasons” is a bit more rugged via the charming college rock climate, and “It Never, Just Might” exits with a hint of psychedelia alongside the syrupy sweet song craft.

A band that actually had a multi-record deal while still in high school, The Ocean Blue made quite a name for themselves in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, and though they abandoned major label life decades ago, they prove they’re still capable of shimmering guitars, dreamy pop nods and subtle post-punk stabs that parallels the greatness of New Order, Beach House or the LAs.

Travels well with: The Pretty Flowers- A Company Sleeve; We Are Scientists- Huffy

The Bix Centennial All Stars

Celebrating Bix!

Turtle Bay, 2023

9/10

Listen to Celebrating Bix!

This 20th Anniversary Edition of Celebrating Bix! brings us an entire CD of tracks that didn’t fit on the original, where an indeed all star cast helps celebrate the short existence of the jazz luminary, Bix Beiderbecke.

“At The Jazz Band Ball” opens the listen with Randy Reinhart’s lead cornet guiding the flowing brass, as Joe Ascione’s agile drumming helps cultivate the playful mood, and “Proud (Of A Baby Like You)” follows with Jack Stuckey handling lead alto sax, where Mark Shane’s lively piano helps add a frisky flavor to the retro qualities.

Deeper into the first half, “Blue River” benefits much from Howard Alden’s warm guitar and Vince Giordano’s skilled bass for the calmer moment, while “Clementine (From New Orleans)” exits this portion with Dick Hyman’s inimitable piano playing populating the cozy finish to Disc 1.

Disc 2 opens with the precise interaction of Dan Levinson’s saxophone and Dan Barrett’s trombone on “Trumbology”, and it isn’t long until the swift “China Boy” recruits a festive spirit thanks to Randy Reinhart and Randy Sandke’s cornet solos.

“San” and “Deep Down South” exit the listen, where the former is populated by The Manhattan Rhythm Kings on vocals for the nostalgic fun, and the latter allows James Langton’s smooth pipes to shine in the memorable finish.

The three part harmonies for the cornets, wealth of winds and brass and infectious rhythm section make this version the best yet, and it sure does pay homage to the movers and shakers from the project who are no longer around, and, of course, Beiderbecke, who was one of the most revered jazz soloists of the ‘20s.

Travels well with: Sweet Megg- Santa Baby; Hannah Gill- Everybody Loves A Lover

Danny Jonokuchi Big Band

Voices

Outside In, 2023

8/10

Listen to Voices

The trumpeter and composer Danny Jonokuchi makes his label debut as bandleader here, where a large cast is along for the 11 standards that welcome a 17 piece band plus 11 different vocalists.

The frisky “The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)” opens the listen with Alexa Barchini’s soulful and bright voice alongside Kevin Congleton’s lively drums and plenty of glowing brass, and “All Of Me” follows with Tahira Clayton’s distinct pipes populating the fluid melodies and the playful reed section.

Deeper into the listen, Shenel Jones brings her soaring vocals to the warm and agile “You Turned The Tables On Me”, while “Blame It On My Youth” gets intimate and dreamy thanks to the reflective horns, Jeb Patton’s graceful keys and Charles Turner’s expressive baritone.

Residing near the end, “All Or Nothing At All” spotlights Martina DaSilva’s stirring singing amid Samuel Harris’ well timed upright bass, and “I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So” allows Hannah Gill’s alluring voice to draw us in to the rich interaction between the players.

Though you may have heard these songs by Gershwin, Tormé, Ellington and others before, they’ve never sounded quite like this, as Jonokuchi and company use the meticulous rhythm section and a wealth of reeds and brass in exciting, timeless ways

Travels well with: Danielle Wertz- Other Side; Nick Finzer- Dreams, Visions, Illusions

Margo Cilker

Valley Of The Heart’s Delight

Fluff & Gravy, 2023

10/10

Listen to Valley Of The Heart’s Delight

This sophomore album from the guitarist and singer-songwriter Margo Cilker contains themes of family and nature, where plenty of excellent help is present for the 11 folk influenced tracks.

‘Lowland Trail” opens the listen with warm strumming and Cilker’s bright voice alongside Jenny Conlee-Drizos’ melodic keys, and “Keep It On A Burner” follows with soulful horns thanks to Kelly Pratt, as Sera Cahoone’s well timed drums complement the expressive singing.

Further along, “Mother Told Her Mother Told Me” makes great use of Paul Brainard’s moody pedal steel for the dreamy album highlight, while the pretty “Santa Rosa” is full of vivid storytelling that uses Cilker’s gripping voice against graceful keys, frisky drums and Ben Walden’s spirited harmonica.

“Sound & Fury” and “All Tied Together” exit the listen, where the former contains a soothing breeziness that employs Caleb Klauder’s agile mandolin, and the latter is an acoustic guitar fueled finish that embraces the power and emotion of Cilker’s stunning vocals.

Sure, there’s plenty of artists meshing folk, Americana and country these days, but few are doing it like Cilker, whose mesmerizing voice, descriptive imagery and strong attention to detail makes each track here worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Laith- Lightning; Jim White- Misfit’s Jubilee

Richard Baratta

Off The Charts

Savant, 2023

8/10

Listen to Off The Charts

The drummer extraordinaire Richard Baratta interprets the lesser known work of Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, Chick Corea and others across these 9 exciting tracks that welcome Jerry Bergonzi, David Kikoski, John Patitucci and Paul Rossman.

“Herzog” gets the listen off to a swift start, where Bergonzi’s lively tenor sax and Kikoski’s finger acrobatics on piano complement the frisky drums, and “Molten Glass” follows with a calmer pace that makes great use of Rossman’s eloquent percussion amid Baratta’s meticulous drumming.

In the middle, “Afro-Centric” is populated by Patitucci’s bouncy electric bass lines and Kikoski’s playful electric piano for the cultured melodies, while “Lost” is quite dreamy thanks to the warm keys, agile drumming and radiant tone.

Close to the end, “Sombrero Sam” emits soulful brass from Bergonzi’s sax and creative percussion thanks to Rossman, and “Out Of This World” exits with the soaring sax, firm keys and dynamic drumming courtesy of Baratta’s inimitable skills.

Baratta makes the most of these pieces that focus on the ‘60s and ‘70s and are certainly part of his own artistic path, and they sure sound great with the A-list musicians on hand for the occasion.

Travels well with: Septology- The Black Forest Session; Hery Paz- Jardineros

John Wojciechowski

Swing Of The Pendulum

AFAR, 2023

8/10

Listen to Swing Of The Pendulum

The tenor sax player, woodwinds expert, composer, bandleader and educator John Wojciechowski wears many hats, and here he’s aligned with Xavier Davis, Clark Sommers and Dana Hall for 8 energetic and exciting tracks.

“The Leaves Fall To The Ground” opens the listen with Wojciechowski’s animated sax alongside Halls’ acrobatic drumming for the adventurous jazz climate, and the title track follows with Davis’ hypnotic keys alongside the rhythmic brass that makes for an infectious delivery.

The middle tracks belong to “Peripheral Vision” and “Minds Eye”, where the former showcases Sommers’ playful bass plucking as Wojciechowski creates intimacy with his sax, while the latter leads with the meticulous bass before erupting into crashing drums and soaring brass for the album’s best.

Near the end, “The Greater The Distance” allows for the elegant keys to match the introspective sax playing, and “Lexicon” exits with a distinct dreaminess that builds into a dynamic and frisky jazz rocker.

A listen that indeed does swing with much fun and timelessness, Wojciechowski and company flesh out songs that will appeal to any fan of jazz, past or present.

Travels well with: Doug Beavers- Luna; Matt Ulery- Mannerist

Pól Brennan

The Irish Revolution

ARC, 2023

8/10

Listen to The Irish Revolution

The esteemed Irish composer and founding member of Clannad, Pól Brennan, fleshed out these songs as an RTÉ documentary series of the same name, where themes of conflict, suffering, and sadness populate the aptly titled listen.

The eloquent strings of “Réabhóid” opens the listen with an ominous and tense backdrop, before “The Revolt” follows with thumping drums and a very cinematic mood that’s quite mesmerizing.

Further along, the soft keys and firm drums of “IRA Goes To War” allows the strings to make for a more dense climate, while “A General Election” is full of emotive string manipulation and dreamy winds that complement the marching band style drumming of the stirring album highlight.

Close to the end, the poetic flutes of “Time To Call A Halt” cultivates a more melodic landscape, and “Atlas Of The Revolution” exits with a lush, chamber appeal that illustrates much diversity from Brennan’s creative mind.

A listen that soundtracks the Irish revolutionary period and its War of Independence, the music here is often as turbulent as the events they surround, and the symphonic strings and cultured bouts certainly illuminate the darkness with much intrigue.

Travels well with: Tri Nguyen- Duos-Alone; Joann Falletta- Elfman-Hailstork Concertos

Little Wise

Want It All

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Want It All

The moniker of Australian songstress Sophie Klein, on this sophomore album she’s accompanied by Rosie Burgess on bass and Pam Zaharias holding down drums as Little Wise steps into more pop-rock friendly territory with Want It All.

“Devil Off My Back” wastes no time drawing us in with Klein’s soft and elegant vocals, as the music resonates with warm timeless folk tendencies, and “If It Doesn’t Work Like That” follows with a more rugged approach that flows with cautiousness and a touch of alt-rock.

Elsewhere, “Maybe Coming Back For More” finds the songstress getting fuzzy and soulful with a bit of blues thrown in, while “Marrying Kind” brings the pace down to calm, with soft balladry that’s emotive and introspective.

Near the end, “Johanna” glides with a jangly, upbeat tune of melody and power-pop fun, and “Devil’s Reprise” is a quick track of vocal-less ambience. “Mamma” ends the listen acoustic and memorable, with gorgeous folky song craft that’s delivered with much authenticity.

An artist with a really unique approach, Want It All is never short on hooks, and influences as wide as PJ Harvey and Lou Reed are present, as Little Wise hit a career high on this very playful yet thoughtful listen.

Travels well with: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals- Cold Roses; Emmylou Harris- Wrecking Ball