Broadly speaking, ‘From This Place’ is the classic Pat Metheny plot updated with new twists; that is still miles better than what the vast majority of artists are capable of today – jazz or not.

Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Ordinary Man’ is extremely difficult to listen to – not because of the content, but because it sounds like utter crap.

Giorgi Mikadze tells a lot about himself on his first record as a leader. He is telling us he’s proud of where he’s from and quite honestly, he’s got plenty to be proud of.

Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft and Nels Cline’s ‘Music From the Early 21st Century’ is, thankfully, not typical of music from the era in which we are living in.

Matt Mayhall went for an instinctual approach on ‘Fanatics,’ took a few chances and with the right guys to assist him, emerges triumphal.

After nearly 40 years, Robert Cray remains as viable as ever. In a world turned upside down, his music continues to serve as comfort food for the soul.

Whatever obscure music forms Alabaster DePlume encounters, he is able to take something old and make it sound fresh on ‘To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1.’

Dave Rempis, Tashi Dorji and Tyler Damon continue to draw heavily from their experimental/improvised music backgrounds, letting everything else in Kuzu rest on instinct.

‘Our Place On the Wheel’ is Ross Hammond still in full-on rural mode, only this time with some really good help.

Here is the streaming premiere of “Batida” by the re-formed Chicago Underground Quartet.