By Steven Miller

In The River, pianist and composer Silvano Monasterios offers a suite of textured Latin jazz. His ensemble writing and musical storytelling are framed by the metaphor of a river. The seven-part work unfolds as a dialogue between the written and improvised contemporary Latin jazz language. It is a flowing, textural narrative brought to life by a Venezuelan Nonet of exceptional caliber. Rather than spotlighting one or two star voices, the album thrives on a collective approach where every instrumentalist adds to the music’s feeling and precision as it becomes musical poetry.

From its tranquil beginnings to its [...]

by Shannon Smith

Megan Moroney’s “6 Months Later” is a country glitter-dipped goodbye you’ll want on repeat. Leave it to Moroney to turn heartbreak into a hair-flipping power move. With “6 Months Later,” she closes the book on an old flame as she dog-ears the page, adds glitter, and turns the whole thing into a summer anthem for anyone who’s ever gotten that “you up?” text from the past. Spoiler: she is not.

Built on a sweet tangle of acoustic picking, strumming, fiddle flares, pedal steel moans, and a glint of synth sparkle, “6 Months Later” walks that delicious line between modern country radio and something you might blast [...]

by Shannon Smith

Ava Max’s single “Lovin Myself” is tailored to integrate into your pop listening patterns. From the very first breathy coo, Ava Max’s “Lovin Myself” draws you into a glittering affirmation of personal power with equal parts synth-pop strut and engaging vocal phrasing. It’s bold, beat-driven, and brimming with finesse and pop intelligence. Underneath the neon sheen lies a well-crafted pop song.

Max’s performance walks a thrilling tightrope between vocal muscle and vulnerability. Her technique shines its range and how she maneuvers between chest and head voice, with each [...]

by Steven Miller

Adding to his ever-expanding canon of contemporary jazz compositions, Gregg Hill’s work continues to captivate discerning musicians and listeners alike. Pianist Rick Roe’s latest offering, Tribute: The Music of Gregg Hill, released by Cold Plunge Records, underscores Hill’s distinctive compositional brilliance, interpreted through a compelling trio setting. Alongside bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Nate Winn, Roe approaches Hill’s repertoire with profound sensitivity, celebrating its inherent versatility and emotional understanding of styles.

Roe’s thoughtful arrangements [...]

By Steven Miller

After the raucous triumph of Death Wish Blues (2023), which earned her a Grammy nod and solidified her place among today’s blues-rock elite, Fish returns with an album filled with her gift for songwriting. Produced by Detroit garage-rock icon Bobby Harlow and released via Rounder Records, Paper Doll has layers of sonic framework to reveal Fish’s truest weapon: her voice. Yes, her guitar still snarls and struts. But it’s her vocal performance that is attention-grabbing in its elastic, expressive, and electric character that drives this record straight into the hearts of modern blues, Americana, and roots rock fans.

The [...]

by Shannon Smith

When Alex Warren stepped onto the Stagecoach Festival stage in April 2025 to debut his new single “Bloodline,” joined by genre-crossing phenom Jelly Roll, there was already a hum in the air. That hum has grown into a full-throated track with an emotionally charged pop song with elements of country hybrid that stares generational trauma in the face and dares to write a new ending.

“Bloodline” delivers an emotionally gripping blend of pop structure, country grit, and folk-pop lift. It’s a story song about generational pain and the defiant hope that says: you can stop the cycle [...]