A global pandemic hasn’t quelled the creative fire of Ikue Mori, Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura, and their long-distance collaboration ‘Prickly Pear Cactus’ doesn’t sound at all like musicians trying to just ‘make do.’

Glistening with finger-clicking rhythms and a cheery vibe, Dan Markell’s catchy “Comin’ Up On Christmas” makes it impossible not to look forward to the holidays.

“Subway Walls” doesn’t quite match what we have come to expect from albums of all eras, but make no mistake: This is still good Yes music.

Preston Frazier’s Best of 2020 Jazz list includes Wayne Escoffery, Gary Husband and Markus Reuter, Nick Finzer and Wolfgang Muthspiel, among others.

Individually and collectively, Tim Berne’s Hardcell trio was amazing and the live souvenir ‘The Cosmos’ confirms that.

Sometimes, as the Bill Champlin-sung “Who Do You Love” from Chicago’s ‘Twenty 1’ makes clear, less is more and more is less.

‘Streets of Philadelphia’ might ostensibly be about a certain American city, but it speaks more to the boundless talent and imagination of outsider guitarist and composer Nick Millevoi.

Robin Trower, Andrew Green and Brian Charette are part of the latest edition of Five for the Road, an occasional look at music that’s been in my car lately.

“Burn” is an epic Toto ballad, and it serves to remind you how accomplished the band is – not only as musicians, but as songwriters and producers.

Dave Gisler’s highly improvisational trio is a natural in a live setting. Add the like-minded trumpeter Jaimie Branch to the mix, and those qualities are taken up a couple of notches.