‘Rich Man’ is a consolidation of Bramhall’s strengths as a straight-up rocker, Texas bluesman and modern soul crooner, self-produced in the psychedelic soul style of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach.

When Carl Weingarten decides to create his soundscapes with little or no augmentation from others, it’s a flair that can be appreciated and enjoyed at its maximum potential.

With the first post-Daevid Allen Gong album, the torchbearers of serious rock who don’t take themselves *too* seriously carries on confidently.

It’s hard to imagine Ohio’s funky jazz-rock sextet Huntertones sounding any better than this. And that’s saying something.

A precursor of what’s next in store from UK-born/Spanish-residing David Phillips, “Washes Over Me” is a back-to-basics excursion from a guy who isn’t prone to stray far from the basics to start with.

Finding simpatico between improvising piano and drums probably isn’t so easy to pull off convincingly, but Bobby Kapp and Matthew Shipp make it seem that way.

As oldies recast in soul-jazz bliss, ‘Eight Track II” is one of those good ideas from Dave Stryker that deserved another go around.

Think of ‘Gotta Get Back’ more as Walker’s renewal of his vows to the family and sweet, soulful roots music that made him who he is.

Chicago’s chordless quartet’s self-titled album ‘Outset’ is a laudable debut not of what is possible down the road but what is achieved right out of the gate.

A no-nonsense, unvarnished approach to the music accompanies the message rendered by the core, acoustic FCO for this one-off tune calling attention to police brutality.