By the end of La Tonya Hall’s ‘Say Yes,’ I realized I’d listened to something wholly original yet totally satisfying.

Marillion’s ‘With Friends From the Orchestra’ is the sound of a band still bravely sticking out from the mainstream music scene.

Preston Frazier’s Best of 2019 Rock and R&B includes Black Pumas, Alexis Evans, Ben Levin, Grupo Fantasma, Monkey House, Isaiah Sharkey, Frederico7 and others.

Here’s a tantalizing suggestion of what Walter Becker’s debut might’ve sounded like if he made ’11 Tracks of Whack’ more like ‘The Nightfly’ instead of ‘Plastic Ono Band.’

Ruby Turner’s voice has the ability to lift, charge emotionally and occasionally drop the listener into a void, longing for more.

Samuele Strufaldi and Tommaso Rosati’s ‘1.15 K’ is fascinating not just because of the colliding of two musical worlds, but the creativity that went into it.

Geoff Downes joined us to discuss the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” which arrived 40 years ago today on ‘The Age of Plastic.’

It’s clear how Gordon Grdina?’s Nomad Trio got their name: They wander without a clear map through vast musical terrain few can even attempt, and make it to the other side unscathed.

I think I finally understood David Bowie sometime around Christmas 2019.

With Kait Dunton’s ‘trioKAIT Live at the Blue Whale,’ the integrity of the compositions and the sheer musical ability holds up just fine on stage, thank you very much.