Stellar Evolution is the next entry in American singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan’s discography. Known for his eclectic blend of rock and indie music, Tasjan takes listeners on an auditory journey that explores new terrains by combining rock, pop, folk, and dance music.

Released in April 2024, Stellar Evolution arrives when the music industry is deeply invested in digital innovation and social media, influencing music consumption and promotional strategies. This period is marked by a resurgence of interest in authentic songwriting within the rock genre, encouraging a blend of traditional sounds with modern [...]

With the bustling energy of contemporary jazz, Dave Pietro’s latest endeavor, The Talisman, is a beacon of post-bop creativity. Released under the SteepleChase label, this marks Pietro’s debut with the Danish imprint and finds the virtuosic alto saxophonists expressing sincerely with the rich language of the jazz tradition.

Pietro has been on the New York scene since 1987, performing with groups such as the Grammy Award-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra and the Gil Evans Project. This expansive experience brings a cosmopolitan sensibility to this recording with his approach to both composition and performance. The ensemble [...]

In the ever-evolving narrative of Lizzy McAlpine’s discography, Older offers a reflective and introspective body of work, distinct in its maturity and depth from her preceding albums, notably 2022’s five seconds flat. McAlpine, who has been on a clear upward trajectory since her debut, continues to push the singer/songwriter’s awareness of her artistry, delving into more personal and nuanced territories with Older. These fourteen songs, written over a three-year span marking McAlpine’s transition into adulthood, are a voyage through the complexities of growth, heartache, and self-discovery.

Older is built around raw emotion [...]

Elbow’s tenth studio release, AUDIO VERTIGO, hit the services on March 22, 2024, under Polydor Records, as a bold twelve-track program with an evolving sonic palette. This album encapsulates a journey that the Manchester-based rock band has embarked upon, navigating through rock, post-rock, and beyond, ever since their debut in 2001. With recordings taking place across Migration Studios in Gloucestershire, The Dairy in London, and mixed at Blueprint Studios in Salford, AUDIO VERTIGO is a homecoming of sorts, a synthesis of the band’s three-decade-long exploration of music.

The center presence of AUDIO VERTIGO is the band’s lead [...]

by Shannon Smith

When two experienced vocalists like Steve Tyrell and Deborah Silver join forces, the result is something special. Their latest duet, a fresh take on the Frank Sinatra classic “That’s Life,” showcases their individual talents and gift at presenting songs that have become a staple of American music. Release on November 17, this rendition is poised to make waves with longtime jazz aficionados and a new generation of listeners who are discovering these standards for the first time.

From the very first notes, it’s clear that this is a thoughtful reimagining as the arrangement, lush with the [...]

The album My Land by Chiyomi Yamada & Baobab represents a cross-cultural experience that weaves the nostalgic threads of ancient Japanese folklore with the vibrant hues of modern European folk-pop. Spearheaded by the classically trained soprano Chiyomi Yamada, born in 1956, and backed by the eclectic indie folk group Baobab, the album is a bridge between the mystic past and the eclectic present.

Chiyomi’s musical evolution is remarkable, from studying classical music in Tokyo to immersing herself in Baroque and polyphonic vocal music in The Netherlands. Her tenure with ensembles like Alba Musica Kyo and her exploration of [...]