For listeners who have followed Ellen Johnson’s multifaceted career as a jazz vocalist, educator, author, journalist and advocate for the transformative power of music, Elemental Essence: A Neurosonic Journey may initially seem like a dramatic left turn. Yet the deeper one immerses in this ambitious five-part exploration of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether, the more apparent it becomes that Ellen has not departed from her life’s work and musical/spiritual mission at all. Rat

On Stomp Your Stuff, the rousing, energetically arranged and performed debut album by the Oliver-Smith Incomparables, co-leaders Andrew Oliver (piano) and Hal Smith (drums) draw on the classic arranging concepts from Jelly Roll Morton’s timeless Red Hot Peppers recordings as a springboard for something fresh, fiery and intricately original. Mining colorful obscurities from the Melrose Brothers catalog, the ensemble creates a vibrant, imaginative and speedy swinging set that f

Few vocalists could convincingly unite Charlie Parker, McCoy Tyner, Noel Coward, Rodgers & Hammerstein and the Great American Songbook on a single eight-track program. Yet on her eclectic fourth album All This Is Possible, Kay Kostopoulos moves through this remarkably diverse repertoire with such assurance that the stylistic leaps never feel forced. That versatility seems a natural extension of a life spent crossing artistic boundaries—as an internationally touring belly da

When Jun Iida released his debut album Evergreen in 2024, the Japanese-American trumpeter introduced himself as a gifted improviser, thoughtful composer and musical storyteller whose influences stretched across geography, culture and genres. Two years later, his sophomore collection, Bellflower builds naturally on that foundation while revealing a deeper and more expansive sense of artistic purpose. Rich in melody, reflection and emotional nuance, the album finds Iida explori

While some emerging singer-songwriters draw inspiration from books, relationships or colorful hometown memories, Brennan Gilmore arrives at his remarkable debut solo album My Name Is Daniel Leek carrying stories gathered across continents and conflict zones. A former U.S. diplomat whose fifteen-year Foreign Service career took him through Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, the multi-faceted visionary artist has spe

Before diving into the cosmic mysteries, fractured love stories and Gnostic mythology that animate LANDROID’s ambitious sophomore release Constellation, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the remarkable journey of the High Desert duo itself. Formed by veteran musicians Cooper Gillespie and Greg Gordon after decades in the Los Angeles rock trenches, Landroid emerged from the vast isolation of Landers, California, where the endless Mojave horizon inspired a sound that is

One of the most magnanimous gifts of veteran Americana troubadour Todd Adelman is his deeply lived authenticity. Throughout his two-decade plus discography, it’s always felt like his songwriting is rooted in stories he needs to tell, based on hard won wisdom and a deep well of intensely tapestried life experiences. It’s an ongoing vibe that courses through every track of Todd Adelson and The Woodsmen, a self-titled debut that marks the launch of the veteran singer/songwriter