by Tom Johnson Elvis Costello makes yet another shift in his career, this time to take on the persona of a jazz crooner backed by an orchestra arranged and conducted by his own bad self. Does it work? Depends on your view of Elvis: If, in your world, he’s theRead More

I do like my jazz with some funk, and Chris Greene delivers.

A pioneer as just the third African American woman to make a phonograph recording back in the 1920s, Edith Wilson later fell on hard times — and was reduced to appearing through the mid-’60s (and quite anonymously) in the first Aunt Jemima TV commercials. You May Also Like: No relatedRead More

Sometimes old really is new again. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones existed as a trio for a handful of years after harmonica/pianist Howard Levy left, only to ask consistent fill-in saxophonist Jeff Coffin to join their ranks. You May Also Like: Bela Fleck, Robin McKelle, Delfeayo Marsalis + Others: FiveRead More

The Bob Dylan list is necessarily subjective. But like all birthday presents, it’s the thought that counts.

Sean Jones does something with No Need To Words” that’s sorely needed: Talk about love in a complete way. Not just the romantic part, or the passionate part (though that’s here, too) but the other parts — the angry parts, the melancholy parts. The part where you thank a parentRead More

Frank Black is dead, but long live Black Francis as ‘Bluefinger’ brings back a little more Pixies-derived attitude.

Los Lobos guitarist/accordian player and all around musical polyglot David Hidalgo got together with vocalist Mike Halby (Canned Heat, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers) to create this fantastic chunk ‘o blues. You May Also Like: Los Lobos – ‘Native Sons’ (2021)

Listening to this record before I even read Melvin Jones’ liner notes, I already knew what he meant by the title of this debut album by him. It’s an album that has many shades of jazz on display, and the constant is the pure, malleable trumpet voice of Jones. SoRead More

Neal Morse, former frontman for Spock’s Beard, joined us for an Something Else! Sitdown in advance of the release of his long-awaited ‘Testimony 2.’