Bob Salmieri Bastarduna Quintet’s ‘And Mama Was a Belly Dancer’ is appealing and incisive, tapping into connections felt by many people with many cultures.

Metroluxe’s “Get Some” is the kind of thing that creates hope and a certainty that music will come back – live, kicking, and so so good.

Indigenous Lifeforms’ ‘Siberia Extreme’ captures the essence of spiritual, shamanic story-telling, combining very Western improvisation with soaring vocals.

A spirituality invades Ricardo Pinheiro’s guitar/voice album ‘Caruma.’ The world is right, the music beautiful.

Alan Broadbent and Georgia Mancio have collaborated over many years, and ‘Quiet Is the Star’ confirms their growing international reputation.

Sarah Moule has a voice that inspires and comforts at the same time. The quality of her vocals makes you realize all is well in the jazz world.

The Fabulous Red Diesel’s ‘Queensbury House Sessions’ is an uplifting, musically diverse and well-produced album with a tight ensemble and wonderful vocals.

Deelee Dube combines a stellar African musical lineage, a London upbringing’s eclectic tastes, and a deep love and respect for the jazz tradition.

There’s a healthy dose of complexity on ‘Dice of Tenors,’ but Cesar Cardoso’s melodic and musical respect for the original source material remains.

Giancarlo Romani’s ‘Naif’ has nine original compositions, and they create nine paintings of different emotions, life experiences and ideas.