Roger Waters has been fighting this fight for a long time, and it is amazing how songs that he wrote decades ago sound so relevant today.

I’m not one to be highly critical of a person’s political beliefs. But if I’m being honest, I have been known to judge a person on their music collection.

While some covers work better than others, ‘Jem Records Celebrates John Lennon’ provides a fun tribute that includes less-obvious updates of deeper cuts.

Progressive music has moved in the direction suggested long ago by ‘Junk Magic’ but as Craig Taborn revisits these ideas, it’s clear they remain unique in an increasingly crowded field.

Unlike many recordings back then, ‘Sur la mer’ doesn’t go overboard on smothering the Moody Blues’ natural talents in a blanket of gadgetry.

The genius of Steve Lacy isn’t that easy to articulate but Phil Sudderberg, Charlie Kirchen and Jason Stein take great care of the soprano saxophone legacy when they play his ‘Clinkers’ solo masterpiece with all the invention and attitude of the original.

‘Hit Me: The Best of Ian Dury’ is pure nostalgia, but curated in such a way that you get a real insight into his musical persona.

Ron Miles’ music is always both relaxed and cerebral, a rare combination of qualities that few can pull off so convincingly. But once again with ‘Rainbow Sign’ he does, and with the ample help of some very special friends.

Here is the video premiere of a sensuous cover of the jazz standard “Goodbye” by the Doxas Brothers.

Daniel Carter, Patrick Holmes, Matthew Putman, Hilliard Greene and Federico Ughi create improvisational music of uncommon elegance and shared vision.