‘That’s What She Said’ is a great way to get to know the multi-talented Ali Handel. And once you get to know her, you’re bound to like her.

While ‘For Those About to Jazz/Rock, We Salute You’ really has nothing to do with AC/DC, Vector Families has that kind of intensity level and spunk. Only with way more improvised gumption.

Though tim Berne’s Snakeoil band lives and thrives dangerously, ‘Incidentals’ never goes off the rails; there’s a constant sense of surprise but coupled with a sense of purpose.

‘Trip’ is not Mike Stern’s ‘return to form’ but rather, a reaffirmation of form. And for that, we can be grateful.

Four masterfully intuitive musicians who regularly aspire for greater heights with each venture reach the summit together on Satoko Fujii’s ‘Aspiration.’

Older, wiser and brimming with confidence, Jonny Lang makes his strongest case yet for his early fans who fell in love with that high school phenom to come running back to him. In 2017, ‘Signs’ fulfills the promise of 1997.

Guitar whiz Dave Stryker gets back to meat ‘n’ potatoes soul-jazz with ‘Strykin’ Ahead.’

Great audio quality and Jack DeJohnette’s rare presence makes ‘Another Time: The Hilversum Concert’ a “new” Bill Evans album that’s also easy to recommend for reasons well beyond merely completing a catalog.

It’s probably a little too hyperbolic to call Mke Reed’s ‘Flesh & Bone’ the most important release of the year. At the same time, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of its message at this critical time.

Proving again that contemporary jazz doesn’t necessarily equate to smooth jazz, Brad Cheeseman Group’s ‘The Tide Turns’ is another solid set of tracks from Cheeseman where real work is put in from conception to execution.