Here’s a Best of 2019 list featuring favorites from this year’s new releases – along with some albums that were just new to me.

“Nine Voices (Longwalker)” is a loving tribute to the man who helped Yes to produce their best work for many years.

Avant garde jazz could use more joy and wit, which is Reut Regev R*Time’s secret weapon for making you want to listen.

Dig deeper into Grover Washington Jr. – who died 20 years ago today – and you’ll see why he retains the title of Mister Magic for us.

Walter Becker, the same guy who often came up with some cold putdown lines, wrote a dozen stanzas here full of aching poetry.

Udo Pannekeet’s wondrous ‘Electric Regions’ is rock; it’s jazz – and then it’s everything in between.

Preston Frazier’s Best Songs of 2019 list includes rock, jazz and R&B, with a shout out to the continuing resonance of an old favorite from Walter Becker.

Vinyl loving fans of the Beatles, rejoice: 2019 was your year. But we found plenty of books, movies, box sets and other fun stuff, too.

Fernando Perdomo lights votive acoustic-guitar devotion to the music of early King Crimson.

Enjoyable, well-honed and expertly delivered, Erodoto Project’s ‘Molon Labe’ is a really engaging recording.