'40s Junction
- Satin Doll-Duke Ellington (One of the best jazz dance melodies ever recorded, with exactly the right proportions of elegance and power.)
- Don't Dream It's Over (acoustic)-Neil Finn (As strong as Crowded House's original electrified version is, it's a pleasure to hear Finn make it sound just as compelling acoustically.)
- Breakdown-Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound (Mae & company convey this Tom Petty song's grit in an effective cover.)
- Dancing In The Dark-Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes (Two pianos serve the song well.)
- If You Only Knew-Ray Brown Trio (Piano played with the grace and beauty of falling leaves or snow.)
- Autumn Leaves-Nat King Cole (One of the most elegant seasonal accompaniments a listener could choose.)
- Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major, "Romantic" (St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Hans Vonk, conductor) (Sweeping, majestic passages for horns and strings shine in this rendition.)
- After All-Al Jarreau (One of Jarreau's smoothest ballads. Also recommended: the entire "Jarreau" album.)
- New Shoes-Mindi Abair (At first, I wondered if this was a sax-based cover of a Steely Dan tune. It isn't, but given the complexity and originality of Steely Dan's music, it's good to hear Abair capture some of that band's spirit.)
- Sister Moon-Sting & Herbie Hancock (An already strong Sting song becomes even stronger, thanks to Hancock's contribution on the piano.)
