With a little help from his friends in Toto, Steve Lukather has produced one of the best solo works of his stellar career.

Michael Formanek is once again leading a high-powered quartet, and ‘As Things Do’ is as fresh, thoughtful and vigorous as anything he’s ever done.

Metallica divided its fanbase 20 years ago with ‘St. Anger.’ But if you give the LP an honest second chance, it might offer surprising new revelations.

The Claudio Scolari Project’s ‘Intermission’ is a collective leap of faith, and these guys positively thrive in it.

Alex LoRe’s ‘Evening Will Find Itself’ a set of musical chapters that likewise stretches modernist jazz to the frontiers of what is possible.

Steely Dan stalwart Donald Fagen’s second solo album ‘Kamakiriad’ arrived 30 years ago as a somewhat-overlooked testament to creative genius.

Illegal Crowns’ new album ‘Unclosing’ is maximal jazz from a band full of advanced composers and prodigious improvisers.

Witch’s long-awaited ‘Zango’ is a lovely and melodic resurrection that prays, thankfully, with the passion of an always generous universal soul.

On her latest excursion as a leader, ‘The Glass Hours,’ elite bassist Linda May Han Oh does everything to burnish her reputation as a complete artist.

The Guido Spannocchi Quartet’s ‘Live at Porgy & Bess Vienna’ brings forth the full impact of performance and reciprocity between musicians.