Alt Country-Americana
- Only You-Elana James (A pleasant, lyrically concise tune released in February; its progression reminds me of "Don't Worry, Baby" by The Beach Boys.)
- Solo-In Memory Of His Father, Harry L. Evans (Live)-Bill Evans (A moving, long piano piece from the excellent "Bill Evans At Town Hall" album.)
- Gemini Dream-The Moody Blues ("The Voice," the leadoff track from the "Long Distance Voyager" album, still gets the lion's share of the radio airplay today, but "Gemini Dream" deserves its due. There's a different energy on this track that's worth hearing.)
- Y La Negra Bailaba-Paquito d'Rivera (An instrumental full of life and joy that moves with a butterfly's grace.)
- Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?-Louis Armstrong (A perfect choice for the theme song of "Frank's Place," a TV show that should have had more of a following; New Orleans is a much of a character in the show as the characters themselves. Also recommended: the Ellis Marsalis piano rendition.)
- Stardust-Marlon Jordan (You can't go wrong with source material like this; a strong, expansive trumpet rendition.)
- (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me-Sandie Shaw (These days, most people probably think of the Naked Eyes '80s version of this tune. It's interesting to hear this earlier, faster version in an arrangement that reminds me of Dionne Warwick.)
- Muse-Kyle Eastwood (A sly groove that perks along in its own good time; good interplay between keyboards, bass, and drums.)
- Last Track-Adrian Legg (A guitar piece that proves that "fast" and "contemplative" aren't contradictory terms.)
- Shapeshift-Alicia Bessette (A serious piano piece worth seeking out.)
