Rodriguez wrings a compelling, simple charm from a broken down piano that’s as undeniable as the weathered ’55 Bel Airs lumbering around downtown Havana.

The jazz/hip-hop hybrid ‘In The Moment’ from drummer Makaya McCraven retains the energy and impulsiveness of the live performances within hypnotic looped and sampled grooves.

Steve Kuhn has been an original and dynamic pianist for over five decades, and that young spirit is very much present today on “My Shining Hour” and the rest of ‘At This Time.’

‘Book Of Storms’ does nothing but strengthen Daniel Rosenboom’s reputation as a conceptual improviser of the highest order.

With eleven sturdy originals and an all-star band in tow, there’s no way jazz guitar whiz Will Bernard’s ‘Out & About’ was going to disappoint.

Julian Lage’s ‘Arclight’ is Lage’s first serious foray into the electric guitar on a record, with a seriously powerful trio and delving further into modern jazz and other forms.

There’s no better way to demonstrate that Grover Washington, Jr. truly lives on than with some spirited, well-executed and earnest live performances heard on Jason Miles’ ‘To Grover With Love, Live In Japan’.

When a musician of Spalding’s caliber makes an “I don’t give a damn what the people think” kind of record, that’s exactly when the people need to pay the most attention.

I just realized why Ralph Alessi became Fred Hersch’s trumpet player of choice: Alessi is Fred Hersch, rendered through brass instead of ivory.

Playing with nervy purpose is purpose enough for the new jazz supergroup of Haas, Dillon, Singleton an Vidacovich to get together and make a record.