Streamnotes: October 31, 2026

Most of these are short notes/reviews based on streaming records from Napster (formerly Rhapsody; other sources are noted in brackets). They are snap judgments, usually based on one or two plays, accumulated since my last post along these lines, back on September 25. Past reviews and more information are available here (26500+ records).

New Music

1-800-Mikey: In Yun (2026, Goner): Australian lo-fi bedroom pop group, principally Michael Barker, fourth album since 2022. B+(*) [bc]

300SkullsAndCounting/Jenny Sparks: This Is Spa Town! (2026, XL, EP): British artist, maybe Hal Hewetson, has a self-released 2025 album, some more stuff on Bandcamp. Discogs lists the album style as "screamo, chiptune." Sparks seems to be a bassline producer, not evident in their video. 9 songs, 22:23. Normally I hate glitch pop, but this at least has a pretty good beat. B+(***) [sp]

Adéla: Prima (2026, Capitol): Pop singer-songwriter, from Slovakia, last name Jergová, studied ballet in Moscow, danced in Vienna and London, moved to Los Angeles, all by age 19, when she got drummed out of HYBE's Dream Academy talent context (the winners became Katseye). First album after an EP, starts hot, goes through the various moves, most working well enough, few spectacular. B+(**) [sp]

Jocelyn Balu: Borumba (2026, Vu Prod): Congolese vocalist, member of Bakolo Music International, first solo album. Touted as a future rumba star, hits the sweet spot, or as the Bandcamp page puts it, "fidèle à ce qui constitue la signature du genre et aux canons définis . . . de Nico à Luambo." A− [sp]

Rahsaan Barber: Eternal (2025 [2026], Jazz City Music): Saxophonist, teaches at UNC, several albums since 2011, postbop quintet with guitar, piano, bass, and drums. B+(**) [cd]

Matt Berninger: Type It Up (2026, Concord, EP): Vocalist-lyricist for the National since their founding in 1999, has two solo albums since 2020, plus this 5 song, 21:36 EP, including covers of New Order's "Blue Monday" and Lou Reed's "Who Loves the Sun." B+(*) [sp]

David Binney: History:Memory (2026, Mythology): Alto saxophonist, has several dozen albums since 1990, Discogs counts 195 performance credits. This one is solo, using pedals for synth overtones. B [sp]

Nat Birchall Quartet: Live at Low Four Studio, Manchester (2026, Ancient Archive of Sound): British tenor saxophonist, plays "spiritual jazz," which is heavily indebted to Coltrane. Long-running quartet, with Adam Fairhall (piano), Michael Bardon (bass), and Paul Hession (drums). B+(***) [bc]

Michael Blake: Halloween Tales (2026, Baby Tank): Canadian tenor/soprano saxophonist, debut 1997, quartet with Gary Versace (piano), Ben Allison (bass), and Michael Sarin (drums). Mostly movie themes here, leading off with the theme from Halloween, adding "Witchcraft" and "The Creep." B+(**) [sp]

Sam Blakeslee Large Group: New Blood (2023 [2026], Brooklyn Jazz Underground): Trombonist, debut album 2017, a quintet, but has mostly worked in big bands since then. Conventional big band, approximately, with guitar (Pete McCann), and a couple of guest spots. Alan Farber produced, with Erica Seguine conducting. B+(*) [sp]

Curly Castro: Yaphet (2026, Backwoodz Studioz): Underground rapper, from Philadelphia, part of the duo Shrapknel, solo debut 2013, last heard from in 2021, with Locust producing the beats, and many features, notably Margel the Sophant. A− [sp]

RJ Chesney: A Southern Man (2026, Man of Straw): Singer-songwriter born in Macon, raised in Biloxi, figures he knows better than others what makes a Southern Man, among which he counts Johnny Cash, Jimmy Carter, and MLK. B+(**) [sp]

Alexis Cole: Taking My Seat: A Musical Inheritance (2026, Tiger Turn): Standards singer and pianist, a dozen-plus albums since 1999, sings familiar tunes quite credibly, backed by bass (David Finck) and drums (Kenny Hassler). B+(**) [cd] [11-09]

Amalie Dahl's Dafnie & Lisa Ullén: Live at Kafé Hærverk (2025 [2026], Trost): Danish alto saxophonist, group named for a 2022 album, freebop with trumpet, trombone, bass, and drums, adding the Swedish pianist here. B+(**) [sp]

Mike Dana Jazz Orchestra: Farther (Still) (2025 [2026], Origin): Guitarist, studied at Berklee, taught at Fresno City College (1990-2018), since 2015 has been involved with Jazz Education Abroad, teaching in Lebanon and elsewhere. Has some reputation as a composer, but this appears to be his first album as leader. Big band, a bit short on brass, with two (of five) sax slots given to oboe and bassoon, but "special guests" added for solos: trumpeters Aaron Janik and Ingrid Jensen; saxophonists Eric Marienthal, Bob Mintzer and Tim Ries. B+(*) [cd]

Defcee & Steel Tipped Dove: We Will Be Brief (2026, Fused Arrow): Chicago rapper Adam Levin, several albums since 2018, with producer Joseph Fusaro. Brief indeed: 12 songs, 28:24. But packed with ideas, quips, and deft beats. A− [bc]

Daniel DeLorenzo: Can You Not (2026, self-released): Guitarist, has several albums on Bandcamp and Spotify since 2017, but I can't find a Discogs listing. Trio with bass (Theous Jones) and drums (Casey Toll). Seven songs, originals plus a noise-laced Schumann, 27:57. B+(**) [cd]

Dinner Party: Watchu Bringing? (2026, Empire): Third group album (short: 9 songs, 25:12), jazzy soul-pop with Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder (Patrick Douthit), and Kamasi Washington, with singer Phoelix (Michael Edward Neil) featured on most songs. [sp]

Dinosaur Jr.: Near There (2026, Jagjaguwar): Indie rock band, appeared on SST in the 1980s, this their 13th studio album, I was never much impressed by them, although I did like one J. Mascis solo album (Several Shades of Why), and one of Lou Barlow's Sebadoh albums (Barksdale). B+(*) [sp]

Marty Ehrlich: Open Air: The Complete Saxophone Quartet Compositions of Julius Hemphill (2025 [2026], Out of Your Head): Hemphill was an alto saxophonist (1940-95), from St. Louis, who recorded some important albums in the 1970s, but by 1977 was putting most of his effort into the World Saxophone Quartet, which has survived but never really replaced him. In recent years, there have been several attempts to revive his compositions, as well as releasing archival tapes. This is one of the most ambitious, with Allan Chase, Rob DeBellis, Brian Landrus, Andy Laster, Jeff Lederer, Lisa Parrott, and Jason Robinson joining Ehrlich. (There is also one "forgotten" track from 1997.) My problem is the one that I've long had with WSQ and its ilk: monophonic horns, focusing on harmony, sound slow and stodgy. I was inclined to write this off, but the CD showed up and got extra time, at which point the sheer beauty, especially on disc 2, swept me away. [Spotify, which I listened to initially, seems to be incomplete. Bandcamp only offers 5/42 tracks.] A− [cd]

Julieta Eugenio: Mi Boathouse (2026, Dox): Tenor saxophonist, from Argentina, based in New York, third album, with Glenn Zaleski (piano), Matt Dwonszyk (bass), and Jonathan Barber (drums). B+(**) [sp]

Event Horizon Jazz Quartet: Consternation (2026, self-released): Chicago area group, second album after a 2020 debut, led by Jim Kaczmarek (reeds) and Scott Mertens (keys), with Donn DeSanto (bass) and Rick Vitek (drums). B+(**) [sp]

FaithNYC: Love Is a Wish Away (2024, Creation Youth): Singer-songwriter Felice Rosser, from Detroit, old enough to recall the 1967 riots, not sure when she moved to New York, but she released an album as Faith in 1997. Plays bass and sings, with Fin Hunt (drums) and Justin Adams (guitar/percussion/keyboards). With notions of funk and punk and dub for context, something that is not like anything else. B+(**) [sp]

Enzo Favata: Ritornare (2026, ECM): Italian saxophonist (soprano here, with clarinet and bass clarinet), from Sardinia, has a fair number of albums (18 per Discogs) since 1992, this a group sometimes known as his Atlantico Quintet: Daniele de Bonaventura (bandoneon), Marcello Peghin (10-string guitar), Salvatore Maltana (bass), and U.T. Gandhi (drums). Folk-based, intricate, and generally lovely. B+(**) [sp]

Diego Figuerido: Horse Blues (2026, Arbors): Brazilian guitarist, quite a few albums since 2005, first appeared on this retro-swing label in a 2019 duo with Ken Peplowski, and has been a regular since then. With his brother Tacio Figueiredo on bass, plus keyboards (Gi Reis), harmonica (Uira Cabral), and drums (Anderson Matos). Sophisticated easy listening. B+(*) [sp]

Firelife Trio: The Space Around the Sound Resounds (2025 [2026], Sonic Transmissions): Houston-based saxophonist Danny Kamins (soprano and alto here), has several albums since 2017, here backed by Dennis Gonzalez's sons Aaron (bass) and Stefan (drums). B+(***) [bc]

Chad Fowler/Eri Yamamoto: Polkadots & Moonbeams (2024 [2026], Mahakala Music): Duets, alto sax/flute and piano, improv pieces, aside from a start with one Fowler wrote, and the title song at the end. B+(**) [bc]

Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya: Kore Kara (2026, Libra): Fourth installment in this year's avant big band series, with one more still to come. Doesn't take off very fast, nor soar very far, although it does have some moments. B+(**) [cd]

Yosef Gutman: Perfect Traveler (2026, Soul Song): Bassist, born in South Africa, studied at Berklee, based in Jerusalem, has several albums. Started as duets with pianist Yonathan Avishai, adding in woodwinds (Gilad Ronen) and drums (Daniel Dor), with some spoken word narration I didn't catch. Nice melodies, with airs from Morocco to Yemen. B+(**) [sp]

The Hanged One: Limbo (2026, Relative Pitch): Tenor saxophonist Camila Nebbia, from Argentina, based in Berlin, leads a sextet, which opens very loud. With cello (Julia Bilat), guitar (Arne Braun), electronics (Andres Marino), bass (Vinicius Cajado), and drums (Lukas Akintaya). Varies a bit after the first piece. B+(**) [bc]

Nathan Hanson/Steve Hirsh: Memory Is Subjective (2025 [2026], Mahakala Music): Saxophone (tenor/soprano) and drums duo. Hanson has several albums and more credits going back to 1995. Hirsh is a more recent regular on the label. B+(**) [bc]

Phil Haynes 2 Horns & What?: Avant Modern/Jazz Now (2026, Corner Store Jazz, 2CD): Drummer, from Oregon, debut 1984, early on was closely associated with Paul Smoker. Two trios with two horns each: one with Nate Wooley (trumpet) and Peyton Pleninger (saxes), the second with Pleninger and Jonathan Ragonese (saxes). B+(***) [cd]

Marina Herlop: Dja Dja (2026, self-released): Catalan pianist, sings some, her music tends to be classified as electronic, fifth album since 2018. Some interesting bits. B+(*) [sp]

Shelley Hirsch/Christian Weber/Alfred Vogel: Vanish (2024 [2026], Boomslang): Composer/vocalist/performance artist (b. 1952), a dozen albums and many side-credits since 1985, backed here by bass and drums. B+(**) [sp]

Brian Jackson: Now More Than Ever (2026, BBE): Composer, keyboardist, sings some (but delegates most vocals), best known for his co-credits with Gil Scott-Heron (1974-80), has a few solo albums since 2000. Recycles several well known Scott-Heron pieces, including an updated "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," while adding more of his most agreeable funk. I don't remember the 1970s as being as glum as "Winter in America," but 45 years after Reagan's false springtime, this serves as a wake up. A− [sp]

Shai Jaschek: Portrait (2026, Jazz Bird): Israeli-born guitarist, based in New York, second album, trio with bass (Joe Martin) and drums (Kush Abadey). B+(**) [sp]

Katseye: Wild (2026, HYBE/Geffen, EP): "Global girl group," originally six singer-dancers from four countries but based in Los Angeles, modeled on K-pop — where HYBE is a big label, accounting for their initial sales advantage in South Korea. Third EP, down to five on the cover, but just four performed on their recent SNL feature. Five songs, 13:37, three released as singles so far ("Animal" the best). B+(**) [sp]

Kiefer: Memory Bomb (2026, Blue Note): Pianist, mostly electric, last name Shackleford, from Los Angeles, sixth album since 2017, first on Blue Note, in what seems to be a return to the label's Mizell Brothers era (if you've forgotten, and why shouldn't you?, there's a 1972-76 compilation that the label released in 2005). I can't really hate the rinky-dink keys, the synth ambiance, or even the slick guest vocals and raps, at least until this slows to stall speed. B− [sp]

Kirk Knuffke/Marilyn Crispell/Thommy Andersson: Paintbrush (2024 [2026], Sunnyside): Cornet, piano, and bass, recorded near Crispell's home base in Woodstock (actually, the late Karl Berger's studio, an influence and inspiration for all). Perhaps worthy of closer study. B+(**) [sp]

Kwn: And All Pride Aside (2026, RCA): British singer-rapper Khyra Wilson, born in London, father Nigerian, mother Irish, second album (Wikipedia has it as 3 EPs, but this one is 11 songs, 38:47). B+(**) [sp]

Miranda Lambert: Crisco (2026, Vanner): Tenth solo album since 2005, probably the best track record of any singer-songwriter in country music in that period, but this seems like a major slip up, and not entirely for embracing the concept of "country disco," whatever that is supposed to be. "Sunset Marquis" is clearly disco, but not very good. "Crisco" is more country, but also not very good. By the way, while my mother used to fry chicken in Crisco, she gave that up long ago, for schmaltz with a bare minimum of vegetable oil. I keep Crisco, but these days only use it for chicken and dumplings. B [sp]

Matt Lavelle & the 12 Houses: Hymn to the Universe (2022 [2026], Mahakala Music): Leader, who had developed distinctive styles on trumpet and bass clarinet, opts for pocket trumpet and E-flat piccolo clarinet here. Group is a big band built around Zodiac Sax Quartet (including the late Clare Daly), with the brass giving way for flutes and a bassoon, and viola instead of bass. "No More Hate" breaks out into a chant. B+(***) [bc]

Azar Lawrence: Turn the Music Up (2026, Trazar): Tenor saxophonist (also soprano), 1974 debut was an especially strong album, faded away in the 1980s but came back strong in 2007. Returns to his early songs here, pushing the "spiritual jazz" dimensions, even including "The Creator Has a Master Plan." B+(**) [cd]

Gregory Lewis: Organ Monk Sings: Introducing Ms Raina (2026, Sunnyside): Organ player, released Organ Monk in 2010, and has stuck with that concept, here with album seven, a trio with Jerry Weldon (tenor sax) and Nasheet Waits (drums), adding singer Raina Welch this time. B+(*) [sp]

Carla Marciano: Daydreaming: My Beloved Father Giovanni (2025 [2026], Challenge): Italian alto/sopranino saxophonist, from Salerno, several albums since Trane's Groove in 2002, an influence, backed by piano-bass-drums, supplemented by string orchestra on several tracks. B+(**) [cd]

Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves: Dedicated to You (2026, Blue Note): Presented as a John Coltrane tribute, the idea is to have Reeves sing the six songs from 1963's ballad album, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, backed by the saxophonist and his quartet: Joey Calderazzo (piano), Eric Revis (bass), and Justin Faulkner (drums), who add instrumentals, three as bonus tracks. The Coltrane/Hartman album has long struck me as one that should be great but isn't — although Coltrane's Ballads, from the same year, is so sublime you have to blame Hartman. Reeves is a superb singer, but that doesn't seem to help much here. Most modern saxophonists are indebted to Coltrane, and few more so than Marsalis. But why aim for his most anodyne gestures? B+(*) [sp]

Buddy Miller: Buddy Miller (2026, New West): Alt-country singer-songwriter, from Ohio, has recorded on his own or with friends since 1995, most significantly four albums (2001-23) with wife Julie, who wrote or co-wrote five (of 12) songs here. Buddy's songwriting is limited to three co-credits with Julie. This is one of his "and friends" albums, with many guest features. B+(**) [sp]

Billy Mohler: Live in Europe (2025 [2026], Dox): Bassist-composer, started in rock bands, studied at Berklee, eight or so albums since 2019, this recorded at Bimhuis (Amsterdam) and Carambolage (Bolzano, Italy), with Hermon Mehari (trumpet), Francesco Bigoni (tenor sax), and Nate Wood (drums). B+(***) [bc]

Tommy Muellner: Solitary Moon (2026, Calligram): Pianist, first album, postbop quintet with label regulars Geoff Bradfield (reeds/flute), Art Davis (trumpet), Clark Summers (bass), and Phil Gratteau (drums). Three originals, many standards. Runs 79 minutes. B+(**) [sp]

Ekep Nkwelle: Caged Bird (2026, Mack Avenue): Singer, born and raised in/near DC, cites "musical worlds that shaped her — jazz tradition, gospel reverence, contemporary eclecticism and her Cameroonian heritage." First album, after side-credits with David Murray, Kenny Barron, Joel Ross, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. She could develop into Aretha Franklin, but (like her) needs better songs and arrangements. B+(*) [sp]

William Parker: Waltz for Gregory (2023 [2026], AUM Fidelity): The bassist, but just composer/producer here (Ken Filiano fills in on bass) needs no introduction, but Gregory is Hines (actor, singer, but most notably here tap dancer). Title cut (14:27) has Melissa Almaguer tapping. Andrea Wolper sings Parker's lyrics, which mean well but don't always sit easy on the music, no matter how skilled her contortions. With Bruce Barth (piano), Jim Ferraiuolo (oboe), Steve Swell (trombone, terrific), and Kevin Murray (drums). B+(***) [cd]

Gretechen Parlato: The Wise Ones (2026, Edition): Jazz singer, from Los Angeles, father is a well-known bassist, and grandfather was a trumpet player; eighth album since 2005, writes some and also draws originals from Alan Hampton (bass) and Josh Mease (guitar), so the closest thing to a standard is a Stevie Wonder song arranged by Robert Glasper (one of three pianists). Rather pretty. B+(*) [sp]

Houston Person: From the Heart (2026, Arbors): Mainstream tenor saxophonist, started with Prestige in 1966, where he also did A&R, continuing with Joe Fields through the Muse and HighNote labels, so it's a surprise to see him show up on a different label (especially one that's been relatively quiet of late). With Eddie Allen (trumpet), John Di Martino (piano), James Chirillo (guitar), Sean Smith (bass), Vincent Ector (drums). Standards, nicely done, easy. B+(***) [sp]

Polyfillas: An Assortment of Punk Originals (2026, Dangerous): Punk band from Sunderland, in far northeast England (just southeast of Newcastle), principally Ava and Jamie Dangerous. First album, an EP (whence "Rude Boys of England") and several singles. Title suggests a formal exercise, more a love letter to history than the upswell of primal rage that drove punk in the 1970s. But now I'm old enough I not only don't mind, I applaud. A− [cd]

Marek Pospieszalski Octet: Ever (2025 [2026], self-released): Polish tenor saxophonist, several albums since 2014, including three on Clean Feed. Octet includes a second tenor sax, trumpet, viola, guitar, piano, bass, and drums. B+(**) [bc]

Enrico Rava Fearless Five With Joe Lovano: Corners (2025 [2026], ECM): Italian trumpet player, many albums since 1972, group here with trombone, guitar, bass, and drums (Evita Polidoro, who also gets a vocal credit), joined by the tenor saxophonist. B+(*) [sp]

Julian Davis Reid and Circle of Trust: Mercy We Need (2026, Too Lost): Pianist from Chicago, also a theologian, has a previous album with this group, side projects like the JuJu Exchange, side credits with Isaiah Collier and Jamila Woods. Five songs feature Tramaine Parker (vocals), four Lenard Simpson (alto sax, one both). My appetite for the gospel vocals is pretty limited. B+(*) [cd]

Jason Robinson: Blue Salience: For Yusef Lateef (2025 [2026], Circumvention Music, 2CD): Saxophonist, albums since 1998, some quite ambitious, including this big band he calls his Janus Orchestra. He plays some tenor sax and alto flute here, but his main credit is percussion, followed by a long list including cuica, clavinet, and synthesizer. This doesn't particularly work for me, perhaps because I've never had a real sense of Lateef, or maybe it just takes too much concentration to sort out what's going on. Whatever it is, there's sure a lot of it. B+(*) [cd] [10-29]

Jamie Safir: Momentum (2026, Chill Tone): British pianist, first album as leader, several side credits back to 2017, mostly trio with bass (Conor Chaplin) and drums (Luke Tomlinson) playing originals, with Iain Ballamy (tenor sax) joining in on about half of the tracks, staying uncharacteristically mellow. B+(**) [cd]

Brandon Seabrook: Utility Modern (2026, Out of Your Head): Guitarist, also plays banjo, many side credits back to 2002, mostly free jazz but can veer into noise-rock. With Bill Frisell (guitar), Rahsaan Carter (bass), and Marcus Gilmore (drums). Bits of interest here when the banjo comes out, or when they risk some noise. B+(***) [cd]

Sha Ray and DJ Haram: Critical Thot (2026, Backwoodz Studioz): Bay area rapper, first album (9 songs, 24:37; Bandcamp adds three remixes), with Philadelphia producer Zubeyda Muzeyyen. Dense, seems close to breaking through but rarely does. B+(*) [sp]

Andy Sheppard: Salt Catchers (2025 [2026], ECM): Tenor saxophonist (also soprano), albums since 1987, especially with Carla Bley. Trio with Rita Marcotulli (piano) and Michel Benita (bass). B+(*) [sp]

Judi Silvano's Garden Winds: First Flight (2024 [2026], JSL): Singer, has a dozen albums since 1992, way too operatic for my taste, especially in this company: Haruma Fukazawa (flutes), Claire De Brunner (bassoon). B− [cd]

Bria Skonberg: Indigo (2025 [2026], Cellar): Canadian trumpet player and singer, ninth album since 2009. One original, the rest standards, from "Mood Indigo" through Sting, the most striking a Jacques Brel-Rod McKuen song, "If You Go Away." B+(***) [sp]

Skyzoo & Apollo Brown: Luxury Tax (2026, First Generation Rich/Escapism): Underground rapper Gregory Skyler Taylor, from New York, couple dozen albums since 2006, including a previous with Detroit producer Brown. B+(**) [sp]

Wadada Leo Smith: Constellations and Hemispheres (2017-22 [2025], Burning Ambulance Music): Trumpet player, five pieces (59:10) recorded over several years, the first track with piano (Sylvie Courvoisier) and drums (Marcus Gilmore), the others with more players, peaking out at 10 for the 22:05 centerpiece. B+(***) [sp]

Nirosta Steel: My Skyscraper (2026, Ulyssa): Stevan Hall, from Scotland (b. 1957), worked with Arthur Russell in New York in the 1980s, his own discography only appearing after 2012, with this his third album, a panorama of off-kilter disco-funk artifacts. B+(*) [sp]

Kevin Sun: Kevin Sun, II (2024 [2026], Endectomorph Music): Tenor saxophonist, immediately impressed with his 2018 Trio, demonstrating considerable chops as well as a command of history. By my reckoning, he followed that up with four more A− albums, then slipped into the range of very honorable mentions; meanwhile running a record label that regularly produces interesting releases by others. This year he's come up with two simultaneous quartet albums, both recorded on the same day, so the numbering is rather arbitrary. This one I found more engaging, perhaps because Christian Li's piano adds dimensions I didn't find in the first volume, or maybe just because the saxophonist seemed more engaged from the start. With Walter Stinson (bass) and Kayvon Gordon (drums). B+(***) [cd]

Kevin Sun: Kevin Sun, I (2024 [2026], Endectomorph Music): Quartet with Max Light (guitar), Walter Stinson (bass), and Jon Starks (drums), recorded the same day as II, presumably first, as it feels more tentative early on. B+(**) [cd]

Tinashe: Popstar (2026, Atlantic/Nice Life/Tinashe Music): Pop singer-songwriter, last name Kachingwe, father from Zimbabwe, born in Kentucky, grew up in Los Angeles, eighth album since 2014. B+(***) [sp]

Fumi Tomita: Yokai: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural (2025 [2026], OA2): Japanese bassist, teaches in Massachusetts, has several albums since 2011, original pieces here, with Carl Clements (saxes/flute), Jason Ennis (guitar), and Gary Fieldman (drums). B+(**) [cd] [10-16]

Tres Hongos: More Chips (2024 [2026], Relative Pitch): Trio of Jacob Wick (trumpet), Marc Riordan (piano), and Frank Rosaly (drums), third album, widely spaced since 2012. B+(**) [sp]

Trio Imagination: Creative Inspirations (2025 [2026], Pi): Last names on the spine: David Virelles (piano), Reggie Workman (bass), and Andrew Cyrille (drums). The pianist has often impressed me in the past, and one couldn't ask for a more storied rhythm section, but 4-5 plays in I still have to force myself to listen closely, and then it's just maybe. B+(*) [cd]

Lex Walton: Ultimate Love Forever (2026, Sub Pop, EP): Singer-songwriter, some kind of noise-pop, cites Les Rallizes Dénudés as inspiration, Wikipedia cites a discography going back to 2018 but this is probably the first one with any real distribution, a short one at that (7 songs, 19:50), but gets your attention. B+(**) [sp]

Chris Whiteman/John Toomey Quartet: Live at Révéler (2025 [2026], self-released): Guitar and piano, backed by bass and drums. I'm only finding side-credits for both — more for Toomey, who goes back to 1982, and has a Quartet but second-billed to a singer (Laura Martier, in 2001). He's second here, nice accompaniment to a very pleasant guitarist, who also slipped a couple of originals in with eight standards. B+(***) [cd]

Wild Up: Julius Eastman, Vol. 5: Gay Guerilla (2026, New Amsterdam): Self-described "band," a 20-piece orchestra by my count, led and conducted by Christopher Rountree, which I figure as 8 strings, 8 horns (trumpet and french horn for brass), 2 pianos, 2 percussion. They did various projects starting in 2014, but latched onto Eastman (1940-90) in 2021 with Femenine, and return again with one of the composer's more famous works (8 parts, 28:49). An exceptional piece of music. A− [sp]

Jess Williamson: A Mile South of Heaven (2026, New West): Country singer-songwriter, sixth solo album since 2014 plus a group album with Katie Crutchfield as Plains. B+(*) [sp]

Wishy: Nature's Pill (2026, Winspear): Indie rock group from Indiana. Second album, Noted the VU quote. Guitar jangle, seems possible that their name is a tribute to Wussy, not that I care. B [sp]

Jerry Z: Break Allegro (2026, Drawbar): Hammond B3 organ player, last name Zaslavsky, possibly his first leader album, but side credits go back to 2002, including with guitarist Oz Noy and drummers Mike Clark and Lenny White — all noted on the cover here, as is Chad LB (tenor sax). B+(**) [cd] [10-09]

Recent Reissues, Compilations, Vault Discoveries

Roland Brival: Créole Gypsy (1980 [2026], Soundway): Singer-songwriter from Martinique (b. 1950), first album, also has a reputation as a novelist and painter. B+(*) [sp]

Cameron Brown and Dannie's Calypso: Remembrance (2011 [2026], Sunnyside): Bassist, b. 1945 in Detroit, first albums in his Discogs list were: Massimo Urbani, Beaver Harris, and George Adams/Don Pullen Quartet; although his first side credits were with George Russell, and one quickly notices Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron, Dewey Redman, Dannie Richmond, and Sheila Jordan. The band name here is a tribute to Richmond, and song titles name Russell, Jordan, and Don Cherry, and the songs include material by Richmond, Redman, Cherry, and Jobim. Quintet: Lisa Parrott (alto/soprano/baritone sax), Jason Rigby (tenor/soprano sax), Russ Johnson (trumpet), and Tony Jefferson (drums). That roster suggests serious postbop, but the reality is raucous freebop, with a nod toward calypso. A− [sp]

Can: Live in Arles 1975 (1975 [2026], Mute): German experimental rock group, released 10 studio albums 1969-79, mostly a quartet of Irmin Schmidt (keyboards), Jaki Liebezeit (drums), Michael Karoli (guitar), and Holger Czukay (bass), some vocals early and late, but not much here. They had several reunions, but only Schmidt is still alive. During this period they had evolved into a something of a fusion-jazz band, like Soft Machine, and this set, the 7th in a series of restored live tapes, moves along deftly, its pieces merely numbered. B+(***) [sp]

Stanley Cowell Trio: Illusion Suite (1972 [2026], ECM): Pianist (1941-2020), debut album was memorably titled Blues for the Viet Cong (1969, the first of two on Freedom), co-founded the Strata-East label in 1973, but recorded this one album for ECM, a trio with Stanley Clarke (bass) and Jimmy Hopps (drums), playing his own compositions. B+(***) [sp]

The Go-Betweens: Fountains of Youth: Live at the Town and Country Club, London, 10th May 1987 (1987 [2026], Beggars Banquet): Australian band, two major singer-songwriters, Grant McLennan (1958-2006) and Robert Forster (b. 1957), both with notable solo careers after 1990, although there were more group albums 2000-05. The group's early work is definitively compiled in 1978-1990, but this live set, which previews a bit of their penultimate Tallulah, works nearly as well. B+(***) [sp]

Sir Roland Hanna: Songs of Hope, Inspiration and Joy (1990s-2002 [2026], IPO): Pianist (1932-2002), from Detroit, started in big bands in the 1950s, was a regular with Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, faded in the 1980s, but late in life recorded several albums for IPO, from which this largely undated solo work is drawn. B+(**) [sp]

Coleman Hawkins and Göran Lindbergs Trio: Bean and the Swedish Boys (1963 [2026], Vax): The legendary saxophonist, with a local rhythm section at the Golden Circle in Stockholm: Göran Lindberg (piano), Kurt Lindgren (bass), and Rune Carlsson (drums). B+(***) [sp]

Jon Waine: Second Skin (1975-1983) (1975-83 [2026], Corbett vs. Dempsey): New Jersey experimental/post-punk band, principally Brian McCormack (guitar) and William Pope (vocals, aka Pope.L, who "went on to have an illustrious career as a conceptual visual artist"). They produced one single in 1982 (per Discogs, "Do the Tic/Boogie Down the Congo," now "impossibly rare"). This gathers up 30 recordings, putting the more mature 1980-83 material on the first CD, with home recordings from 1975-81 filling out a second CD. Interesting sound here, some novel kind of fractured no wave funk, the closest analogue Pere Ubu (with nothing quite like David Thomas or Peter Laughner). This could have been edited down, but history is inevitably messy. B+(***) [bc]

John Larkin: Before Scatman: Early Sessions (1978 [2026], Iceberg, EP): Jazz pianist/singer (1942-99), grew up with a stuttering problem, which he overcame first by playing piano, then by scatting. He recorded five albums 1986-99, most as Scatman John. These four songs (23:13) came earlier. Surprisingly intense. B+(*) [sp]

Peace Anthems (2026, Red Hook): A compilation of 13 new pieces, featuring: Qasim Naqvi, Taylor Deupree, Kalia Vandever, Thomas Morgan, BlankFor.ms, Moor Mother, Sungjae Son, Martha Deribe, Simone Maggio, Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Andrew Cyrille, and Kit Downes. Intent is to "approach peace as both subject and sonic practice." In practice, that leans toward ambient, notably with the Smith-Myers "Reflections on Palestine." B+(**) [sp]

John Prine: Found Dogs (1995 [2026], Oh Boy): Folkie singer-songwriter (1946-2020), from Illinois, recorded four 1971-75 albums long regarded as classics, then three more for Asylum little remembered, then he started his own label. It took another decade before he released one of his all-time albums (The Missing Years, in 1991), followed up by the even-better Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings (1995). Then he got cancer, wrecked his voice, and struggled, sometimes brilliantly, until Covid cut him down in the early days of the pandemic. His widow still runs his record company, and they've cultivated some fine talents (most famously Todd Snider and Kelsey Waldon), but the meal ticket is still his back catalog. The first five songs here are alternate versions of songs from the album, each interesting in its own right. The other five songs, including a Johnny Horton cover, are lesser affairs, at this point more endearing for the singer than for the songs. B+(***) [sp]

Old Music

Lola Beltrán: Voz E Inspiracion (1975, Peerless): Mexican singer and actress (1932-96), specialized in ranchera and huapango music, many albums from 1954 on. Not hard to identify this is specifically (dramatically, even operatically) Mexican. B+(**) [yt]

Daniel DeLorenzo: Trio (2017, self-released): Guitarist, from North Carolina, first album, with Theous Jones (drums) and Able Jones (organ), plus extra guitar on two tracks (Doug Sours). Seven jazz standards, from "Work Song" to "Straight No Chaser," 38:02. B+(**) [bc]

Fine Young Cannibals: The Finest (1985-89 [1996], MCA): British ska-pop band, founded by David Steele and Andy Cox from the Beat, with Roland Gift as the singer (who also had a star turn in the Stephen Frears/Hanif Kureishi movie Sammy & Rosie Get Laid). They released two albums, reduced to 10 songs here, plus a soundtrack cut and three previously unreleaseds for bait. A− [sp]

Fine Young Cannibals: The Finest: The Rare and the Remixed (1985-89 [1996], MCA): Second disc adds three extra songs and five remixes, total 43:07, nothing essential or important or unlistenable. Just the extras, without trying to factor in the best-of: B+(*) [sp]

F.S.K.: International (1995 [1996], Sub-Up): German group, founded 1980 as Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle ("voluntary self-control"), went with initials around 1989. Kind of a folk-rock grounding, but more eclectic, perhaps even whimsical (not that it's easy to tell). B+(**) [sp]

Coleman Hawkins: Coleman Hawkins and Confrères (1958 [1960], Verve): Original LP ran 5 tracks, 34:58: one track with Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, and Oscar Peterson's Trio, plus four more with Roy Eldridge, Hank Jones, George Duvivier and Mickey Sheen. [1988 CD reissue adds two bonus tracks, not on current stream.] B+(*) [sp]

Freddie Jackson: Rock Me Tonight (1985, Capitol): Soul singer (1956-2026), first album, first four topped the R&B charts, their pop chart success declining from 10 to 59. "Mellow groove, mellow sound. Just lie back and enjoy it." B+(*) [sp]

The Modern Lovers: Precise Modern Lovers Order: Live in Berkeley and Boston (1971-73 [1994], Rounder): Jonathan Richman's group, from Boston, had recorded an album produced by John Cale in 1972, but unreleased until 1976, at which point it sounded prophetic. Live tapes from the period, very lo-fi, includes a cover of the Velvet Underground's "Foggy Notion" among their originals, some I haven't heard elsewhere. B+(*) [sp]

New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble: Collection 1995-2004 (1995-2004 [2005], Megalith): Long-running group (latest LP 2022), concept is to take jazz standards (like "Harlem Nocturne" and "Haitian Fight Song") and play ska tricks on them. Starts with four tracks from their 1995 debut, then two more from 1996, after which I have trouble tracking the sources. Some live tracks. Some vocals (including "Teardrops From My Eyes"). B+(**) [sp]

Violeta Parra: Las Últimas Composiciones De Violeta Parra (1966, RCA): Chilean folk singer-songwriter (1917-67), collected songs from all over, but also wrote these, recorded simply with her guitar and percussion. B+(***) [sp]

Astor Piazzolla: Sinfonia De Tango (1955, Disques Vogue, EP): Argentinian tango composer, first album, 10-inches, 8 songs, 23:04, further credited to "su bandoneon y sus cuerdas" (strings, from Orchestre National De L'Opéra De Paris, along with Lalo Schifrin on piano. B+(**) [sp]

Scatman John: Scatman's World (1995, RCA): John Larkin, recorded a couple of previous albums under his own name, turned his stutter habit into a unique mix of rap, scat, and jaunty pop schtick. This album turned into a novelty hit, especially in Japan (where it sold 1.5 million). Features a utopian anthem, "World of Scatland." B+(*) [sp]

Idrissa Soumaoro & L'Eclipse De L'I.J.A.: Le Tioko-Tioko (1978, Eterna): From Mali, seems prototypical. B+(**) [sp]

Zuhura Swaleh/Matano Juma & Orchestra Morning Star: Karama Zijiri (1973, Pwani): Originally a cassette, split between the two singers, ladies first. While the band could be backing both, Juma's singles credit it, and my rough impression is that he gets the more polished support. Swaleh was born in 1947 in Nairobi, later moved to Mombasa, on the coast with a long history of Arab trade, where the local style is called taarab, and the influence is decidedly Arabic. (The Zanzibara series includes a volume subtitled L'âge d'or du taarab de Mombasa, with several recordings each — Swaleh's are credited to Zuhura & Party or Zuhura & Zein Musical Party; they also appear on Zanzibara 10: First Modern, Taarab Vibes From Mombasa & Tanga.) I know less about Juma, but he is also associated with taarab. B+(**) [yt]

Caetano Veloso: Bicho (1977, Philips): Brazilian singer-songwriter (b. 1942), one of the founders of the Tropicália movement in the late 1960s, and a major figure ever since, but someone I've sampled very lightly over the years. B+(***) [sp]

Wild Up: Julius Eastman, Vol. 4: The Holy Presence (2024, New Amsterdam): "Digs ever deeper into Eastman's oeuvre, performing lesser-known works that represent a mystically charged and spiritually reflective vein of his dynamic catalog." Opens with a vocal piece, "Our Father," sung by Davone Tines, followed by a piano piece with Richard Valitutto, then on to the main event, "The Holy Presence of Joan d'Arc" (20:09, following a 10:07 "Prelude" featuring Tines, too much of a "classical singer" for me). Featured on the longer work is cellist Seth Parker Woods. B+(*) [sp]

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Yellow Magic Orchestra (1978, Alfa): Japanese synthpop group, originally a one-shot project of bassist Haruomi Hosono, but developed into a band with drummer Yukihiro Takahashi and keyboard player Ryuichi Sakamoto. Nice beats album, but vocals eventually seep in, and clutter increases. B+(*) [sp]

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Solid State Survivor (1979, Alfa): Japanese electropop group, debut 1978, second album, continued until 1984, then reformed briefly in 1992, 2002, and 2007: Haruomi Hosono (bass/keyboards), Yukihiro Takahashi (vocals/drums), and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards), the best known for his solo career (d. 2023). Opens with instrumentals, lighter and quirkier than Kraftwerk or even Can, then breaks the vocal ice with an amusing "Day Tripper." B+(**) [sp]

Limited Sampling

Records I played parts of, but not enough to grade: -- means no interest, - not bad but not a prospect, + some chance, ++ likely prospect.

Grade (or other) Changes

Sometimes further listening leads me to change an initial grade, usually either because I move on to a real copy, or because someone else's review or list makes me want to check it again. Also some old albums extracted from further listening:

Rechecked with no grade change:

Additional Consumer News:

Grades on artists in the old music section.

Music Weeks

Music: Current count 36534 [36534] rated (+0), 149 [149] unrated (+0).

Excerpts from this month's Music Week posts:

Notes

Sources noted as follows:

• [cd] based on physical cd
• [cdr] based on an advance or promo cd or cdr
• [lp] based on physical lp (vinyl)
• [dvd] based on physical dvd (rated more for music than video)
• [bc] available at bandcamp.com
• [r] available at napster.com (formerly Rhapsody)
• [sc] available at soundcloud.com
• [sp] available at spotify.com
• [yt] available at youtube.com
• [os] some other stream source
• [dl] something I was able to download from the web; may be freely available, may be a bootleg someone made available, or may be a publicist promo

Grades are probably self-explanatory, aside from B+, which is subdivided 1-2-3 stars, because most records that come my way are pretty good, but they're not all that good.