With a little help from his friends in Toto, Steve Lukather has produced one of the best solo works of his stellar career.

Michael Formanek is once again leading a high-powered quartet, and ‘As Things Do’ is as fresh, thoughtful and vigorous as anything he’s ever done.

Here’s a look back at songs by John Barry, Imagine Dragons and John Wetton – both with King Crimson and as a solo artist – that stir my emotions.

The Claudio Scolari Project’s ‘Intermission’ is a collective leap of faith, and these guys positively thrive in it.

Alex LoRe’s ‘Evening Will Find Itself’ a set of musical chapters that likewise stretches modernist jazz to the frontiers of what is possible.

Steely Dan stalwart Donald Fagen’s second solo album ‘Kamakiriad’ arrived 30 years ago as a somewhat-overlooked testament to creative genius.

Illegal Crowns’ new album ‘Unclosing’ is maximal jazz from a band full of advanced composers and prodigious improvisers.

Witch’s long-awaited ‘Zango’ is a lovely and melodic resurrection that prays, thankfully, with the passion of an always generous universal soul.

On her latest excursion as a leader, ‘The Glass Hours,’ elite bassist Linda May Han Oh does everything to burnish her reputation as a complete artist.

The Guido Spannocchi Quartet’s ‘Live at Porgy & Bess Vienna’ brings forth the full impact of performance and reciprocity between musicians.