Pianist and composer, Eric Lilley’s career has gracefully unfurled in the lush jazz landscape, revealing a rich amalgamation of musical influences and experiences. With the release of his third album, Three, he continues to evolve, melding his past influences with his present musical ideations, resulting in a work that is both a nod to tradition and a step towards unexplored territory.

Shannon reviewed his multifaceted album Follow Up in 2021 (READ REVIEW), and now I have the pleasure of exploring Lilley’s Three. The bold trio—Lilley on piano, Mark Diamond on [...]

Fasten your seat belts, fellow sonic adventurers, and prepare to journey into the whimsical wonderland of Maisie Peters’s latest album, The Good Witch. If you are looking for a seasoned guide to guide you through this enchanting soundscape, then look no further. I’m your Evocative Storyteller, bringing to life every note, every lyric, every raw emotion etched into the fabric of this album.

Our first stop is “The Good Witch,” the title track, our lodestar. Can you feel it? The dreamy, atmospheric soundscape that sets the tone for the rest [...]

There’s something to be said about the soulful roots of one’s upbringing shaping their artistic expression, and the Davisson Brothers Band encapsulate this sentiment profoundly in their third album, Home Is Where The Heart Is. The album is a heartfelt ode to their home state, West Virginia, a tribute to their own lineage and culture; it’s a chronicle of their journey that seamlessly intertwines personal stories with evocative melodies.

The Davisson Brothers Band are as non-conforming and [...]

Gonzalo Grau & La Clave Secreta: “De Verdad Verdad” – A True Musical Odyssey

It’s been a quarter of a century since Gonzalo Grau and his ensemble of musical explorers formed La Clave Secreta, and in their latest album, De Verdad Verdad, they’ve truly come into their own, with a program that takes us on a musical journey that plays like a hybrid symphony that brings together a world of sounds, from Cuba to New York, from flamenco to hip-hop. It’s a fearless dive into the heart of what makes music a universal language, all brought into focus by Grau’s [...]

Orrin Evans opens the door to the hallowed heritage of jazz that has emerged into today’s modern jazz, an album  that pays tribute to his lineage and his faction of musicians, The Red Door. Released on the Smoke Sessions Records, this album is a collection of originals and arrangements that traverses an expedition of styles to stimulate the senses and challenge conventions.

Opening with the title track, “The Red Door,” the listener is instantly catapulted into Evans’ universe, which is familiar with jazz history and unique in the [...]

Icelandic pianist-composer Eydís Evensen’s second album, The Light, is an artistic experience that unveils the beauty found within pain, suffering, and solitude. This album is an introspective journey that paints a vivid picture of human emotions through the universal language of music. Read our review of her EP Frost.

The album embarks on its journey with “Anna’s Theme,” a piece that gently coaxes the listener into Evensen’s musical realm. This track, marked by a simple yet memorable melody, unfolds through a series of beautiful chord progressions. Evensen’s touch on the piano is light and flowing, the [...]