Master bassist Michael Bisio and his Accortet flat out thrive in unusual settings and while they often stretch out, they never lose their grip on tradition.

Jimmie Vaughan’s ‘Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites,’ released five years ago this summer, shined a needed spotlight on some largely unheard covers.

Mike Pride states, “making this solo record has been a total mind-bender.” Listening to ‘Listening Party’ is a mind-bender as well.

A model of consistency, style and grace, Michael Dease stays at the head of the class among jazz trombonists with his seventh album, ‘Decisions.’

Tad Robinson has made a filler-free quality soul-blues record that faithfully follows in the stellar tradition of Hill, Bland and Little Milton.

The way trumpet ace Joe Magnarelli’s band members interact each other so well makes ‘Three On Two’ a gratifying way to experience mainstream jazz.

JJ Grey and Mofro started out as a very good band. ‘Georgia Warhorse,’ released on August 24, 2010, catapulted them to greatness.

I’m not one to snap up everything Willie Nelson or Wynton Marsalis puts out. But ‘Two Men With the Blues,’ released in the summer of 2008, was special.

‘The Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla,’ released on August 20, 2008, found Emerson fully – and finally – embracing his storied past.

Liberty Ellman takes time off from doing great things for other jazz musicians to do a pretty great thing under his own name.