The drummer who is capable of taking on any role he wants behind his drum set makes his best music when he takes on the role of simply being himself.

Toronto’s The Worst Pop Band Ever has a hand-made, unforced approach that makes rock-jazz uncommonly relaxing, and ‘Blackout’ keeps that relaxed vibe going.

Nick DeRiso’s Best of 2015 list for blues, jazz and R&B also included Marc Cary, Robben Ford, Dave Douglas, Papa Mali, Matthew Shipp and others.

Tim Kuhl has spun off many video singles from his ‘1982’ album, and this one produced by Rich Ragsdale might be the the most visually vivid one of them all.

S. Victor Aaron picks the best of 2015’s fusion jazz music, including John McLaughlin, Chris Potter, Donny McCaslin, Jeff Lorber and others.

Jacob Garchik’s ‘Ye Olde’ might be about the hardest rockin’ thinking man’s fusion record in recent memory.

With a kindred soul in Nicolas Moreaux as Jeremy Udden’s musical partner, ‘Belleville Project’ is a record made by two people but one, prolific mind.

The perfect pairing of Eraldo Bernocchi with Colin Edwin makes ‘Doctoring The Dead’ well worth this second helping of Metallic Taste of Blood.

Never out of ideas or ways for his band of super avanteers to exploit them, Brian Drye does it again. ‘Eggs Up High’ keeps the Bizingas’ creative zeal going strong.

The music that Velocity plays is sometimes complex but always easy on the ears. That’s why ‘Displacement Over Time’ is easy to recommend if old school funk-jazz is your thing.