Trying to make sense of the surprises that lurk around every corner on Halvorson’s solo guitar outing ‘Meltframe’ is much of the fun in listening to this.

Steven T. Easter is a bit of a phenomenon. As we learn in this in-depth talk, he is a musician, promoter, producer and kite flyer – yes, kite flyer.

Master bassist Michael Bisio and his Accortet flat out thrive in unusual settings and while they often stretch out, they never lose their grip on tradition.

A model of consistency, style and grace, Michael Dease stays at the head of the class among jazz trombonists with his seventh album, ‘Decisions.’

Guitarist Matt Gold and drummer Nate Friedman display a jazz acumen well beyond their years on Sun Speak’s sophomore album, ‘Sacred Rubble.’

The way trumpet ace Joe Magnarelli’s band members interact each other so well makes ‘Three On Two’ a gratifying way to experience mainstream jazz.

Lizz Wright’s ‘Freedom and Surrender’ is a stirring and eclectic mix of adult contemporary and jazz stylings which is not to be missed.

I’m not one to snap up everything Willie Nelson or Wynton Marsalis puts out. But ‘Two Men With the Blues,’ released in the summer of 2008, was special.

Liberty Ellman takes time off from doing great things for other jazz musicians to do a pretty great thing under his own name.

Identical but not the same, the Bosman Twins talk to Sammy Stein about their deft combination of jazz, R&B, funk, gospel – and family.