The Beatles leapt onto the international stage some 60 years ago. Mike Tiano returns to that remarkable era to explain how it happened.

David Torn, Tom Rainey, Tim Berne & Trevor Dunn came together make an instant album that’s explosive, urgent and intense, even when it isn’t loud.

Released 50 years ago this month, ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’ found the Doobie Brothers at a near-peak of their early-era powers.

‘Interaction’ really all of one big collection of amazing moments, a continuum of passion and a brainstorm of original ideas filtered through three highly trained instruments.

Nick DeRiso’s ‘Journey: Worlds Apart’ offers an unblinking narrative, but it’s also crammed with enough breakout information to make this a first-rate reference tool.

James Brandon Lewis’ quartet albums showcase other sides of his advanced artistry and that heavyweight band. ‘Transfiguration’ is jazz soul music of the highest order.

Rarely ever going far outside, Vijay Iyer continues to pursue his piano trio jazz revolution from within with a persistent creative spark and an inspired rhythm section.

The highly improvisational quartet Kaze makes their first 100% improvisation record ‘Unwritten’ and it’s just as unconventionally delightful as they are with written pieces.

Peter Himmelman, Marcel Bonfim and Ozomatli are part of the latest edition of Five for the Road, an occasional look at music that’s been in my car lately.

Relaxed yet articulate, it’s easy to see why Deelee Dube is the first European to win the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.