Trumpeter Ralph Alessi is one of those major jazz figures who’s never quite hit the button of stardom, yet remains one of the most respected musicians in his field.

Pals due to the former’s renowned Alternative Guitar Summit, outsider guitarists Joel Harrison and Anthony Pirog have worked together for a few years now, and this is what their collaboration has led up to: The Great Mirage.

Calgary, Alberta’s classically-trained, award-winning Hickli possesses a beguiling voice that flabbergasts on first listen; though stylistically poles apart from Hickli’s solo side, Calgary art-rock/electro-pop quintet 36? is captivating in its own quirky way.

Bobo Stenson’s career goes back very nearly to the beginning of ECM Records.

In his third and most rewarding solo record to date, Radiohead drummer Philip Selway has scored with “Strange Dance”. Blending artful orchestral arrangements and outstanding songwriting, he explores life’s deepest themes with candor and curiosity.

Vectralux have truly come into their own here, maturing as songwriters and hitting upon a sound all of their own.

The leader of La Luz pivots from groovy psychedelia to unplugged strangeness.

Here’s a good way to be prolific: improvise everything.

Portland’s Eyelids sound like they’ve mainlined several generations of tuneful power pop and college rock on their fifth studio album.

Led by guitarist Ryan El-Solh, Brooklyn trio Scree combines ambient jazz, Lebanese folk music, and atmospheric psychedelia into music for walking lonely nights through a desert landscape.

Though Richmond, VA’s Barry reunited in 2019 for shows with Avail, the punk band he fronted from 1987-2007, he still releases quieter folk albums; this is his eighth studio LP since 2006.

For Corridors, Scott strips things down to the minimum, employing saxophonist Walter Smith III and bassist Reuben Rogers in a chord-less trio.

Few composers in jazz and its adjacencies command as much respect as Vince Mendoza.Few composers in jazz and its adjacencies command as much respect as Vince Mendoza.

The digital-only March On isn’t so much a follow-up as an addendum, featuring music recorded during the March sessions that’s related to what made it on the album.

Guitarist Dave Stryker has been performing with organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter for a dozen years. Oddly, Prime is their first full-length record as a trio.

Though he’s established himself as one of Italy’s most important improvisational voices, clarinetist and saxophonist Gianluigi Trovesi has long kept one foot in the world of classical music.

Gareth Koch and Martin Kennedy have come together to make ”Music In The Afterlife” after collaborating separately with The Church’s Steve Kilbey. Playing to each other’s complementary strengths, the two have produced a magical new instrumental album that’s a much-needed salve for bleak and uncertain times.

Following 2008’s Crawler and 2009’s Dead Tongues, this punishing Cincinnati, OH post-punk trio put out a handful of split releases from 2010 to 2017; here finally is their third full-length.

Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys present “Heaving”, the title track and third single from their forthcoming Heaving album, following the recently-released lead tracks “Burning Building” and “Stereoscope”. The full-length album will be released in spring 2023 via Unique Records, a division of Schubert Music Europe.

UK-France electronic rock duo The Noise Who Runs presents “Beautiful Perhaps”, the anthemic first track from their imminent Preteretrospective LP, scheduled for release on April 7. This follows These Will Be Your Gods EP, released in January, and High Time in Lo-Fi, their third EP released in mid-2022.

Now in their fifth decade of existence, Australian rock icons The Church continue their evolution on their latest album The Hypnogogue.

Rising London indie pop gem Mari Dangerfield has released her album Love And Other Machines, a collection of 12 catchy synth-driven alternative pop tunes, on CD via Dimple Discs. She also presents a series of fun buoyant videos, including for the uber-catchy “Love Machine”, a song exploring how love can be a mechanical process.

Based in the New Jersey town of Secaucus, Clay Joule is a singer-songwriter who makes buoyant and uplifting soft rock music, characterised by his delicate vocal leads and backed up by warm organic instrumentation. His music always carries an important message and his latest release, “O’dream” is no exception – a vital and informative call for support for the Ukrainian people.

Now nearly thirty-five years into their career, Australian improvisational trio the Necks still insist that their initial direction was correct: follow your own instincts and you’ll never go wrong.

American indie rock trio Quiz Show – involving members of legendary DC alternative rock band Shudder To Think, Guided By Voices and The Dambuilders – has released their new single “Sound of Kissing” a powerhouse preview of their eponymous debut album, due out March 17 via Montclair, NJ -based Magic Door Record Label.

Originally released in 1967, D.B. Shrier Emerges chronicles a burst of jazz with feeling that, oddly, became the musician’s only recorded statement.

Hendersonville, NC-based Robinson is a British ex-pat who played in Roger McGuinn’s touring band, and Woltil is a Tampa Bay, FL resident who fronts power-poppers The Ditchflowers; this is their second combined effort sharing lead vocals, following 2015’s Cycle.

The box set is a treasure for Zappaphiles, and the LPs are recommended for newer disciples who want to bridge the gap between the well-known Hot Rats and Apostrophe (‘) albums.

Alt-rock post-punk duo A Cloud of Ravens present a new veiled calling card for their forthcoming Lost Hymns LP, set for release on April 28 via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe. With a hopeful eye towards the light, “Requiem For The Sun” is a rich frenetic jaunt through the multiple facets of darkness we are all so eager to leave.

At eighty years young, bassist Buster Williams has a long and storied history in jazz, playing with Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughn, Chet Baker, Carmen McRae, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Betty Carter, and far too many more to list.

Though this is his first album as a leader, Zach Lober is no late bloomer – he’s had two decades of experiences as a sideperson and composer in the States and Europe.

Gramercy Arms is a revolving collective, masterminded by Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Lloyd Cole). Inspired by the artistic heyday of ‘70s and ‘80s-era New York City, they make addictive indie pop – exquisite hook-laden melodies filled with lyrics that will have you floating back in time, remembering your favorite mistake.

It’s not hype to say that the jazz scene in London is one of the most exciting musical movements happening in the twenty-first century.

Indie pop outfit The Mystery Plan are back with their What A Day EP, a scrumptious dose of bliss-pop released via American boutique label 10mm Omega Recordings. This boisterous three-track offering highlights the lead track from the band’s forthcoming Haunted Organic Machines record – their seventh full length album and 13th major release.

Last seen as a leader with Countdown, an album of standards and covers, vibraphonist Simon Moullier makes his return to the racks with Isla.

UK indie pop outfit Jody and the Jerms are hot to trot with their new single ‘Started Something’, the first taste of their forthcoming full-length album ‘Wonder’, out in April via their own JATJ Records imprint.

UK indie rock troubadour Withered Hand presents his uplifting new single ‘Waking Up’, released on February 14 via Reveal Records, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The accompanying video was filmed on location in Portobello, Edinburgh by Juliana Capes.

Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc is well-known for eschewing setlists in performances, making up the program – and often the music – as he goes along, trusting in his sidepeople to follow.

His range of study encompasses everyone from Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery to Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell, and it shows in both his performance and his compositions.

Though well known as a composer and a stalwart of the Chicago jazz scene, trumpeter Markus Rutz owns one advantage that trumps everything else: he sounds good.

bdrmm’s new single, “It’s Just a Bit of Blood” meanders and surges with epic dream pop— and shoegaze—drenched results. Now we have to wait til June 30th for the LP, “I Don’t Know”.

This Seattle five-piece’s first two albums, 2019’s Over the Bar and 2020’s Straight In/Straight Out so wowed Elvis Costello’s Attractions and Imposters keyboardist Steve Nieve, he supplied alluring piano to this third LP’s soulful ballad “Harder Than the Truth.”

Swing Your Lanterns channels several spirits from seventies and eighties New York, reflecting Julian’s own versatile experiences.

The appearance of the Chicago group’s second full-length Dion’s Quest is more than welcome.

The guitarist plugs his instrument into synthesizers and boards of electronics, creating a fascinating series of soundscapes that seem to have dropped in from another reality entirely

Pianist Fred Hersch is revered for his compositional, improvisational and technical talents, a jazz musician’s jazz musician. Singer/bassist/songwriter Esperanza Spalding has used her massive talent to bridge the worlds of jazz and, well, everything else.

As well as being a bandleader in his own right, bassist Ander Jormin anchors the long-running Bobo Stenson Trio. Singer, songwriter and violinist Lean Willamark has joined her fellow Swede on numerous occasions, co-leading a quartet with koto player Karin Nakagawa and Jormin’s Stenson Trio rhythm partner, drummer Jon Fält.

Shelkett’s career in the Baltimore emo scene goes back 30 years, having fronted and released albums with Blank, Cross My Heart, Dead Red Sea, and Liars Academy; this debut solo LP was produced by hardcore/punk vet J. Robbins.

Hammock and The Reds, Pinks, and Purples have each recently released music around the theme of “the void.” Hammock writes of “love in the void” while RPP sings of “life in the void.” With uncannily similar themes from music released just a few days apart, the results are outstanding and dramatically different. Dive in.

A tenor sax ace and Hammond B-3 queen team up to make feelgood soul jazz.