KBEM (Minneapolis, MN)
- Temperance-Wynton Kelly (Kelly's at the helm of this trio on piano, guiding a melody that cooks and simmers.)
- How Can It Be?-Bria Skonberg (No wonder Skonberg has received such enthusiastic reviews as an artist to watch. Her silky vocals, which bring Diana Krall to mind, and commanding trumpet playing carry this tune impressively. Check out her Madison Square Park performance of it on YouTube. This is one of the highlights from her latest release, "Bria." Also recommended: "Malaguena" and "Down In The Deep.")
- Forgive Them Father-Lauryn Hill (Do you forgive those who have wronged you? If so, when? Hill's lyrics bring these questions to mind, along with the anguish it takes to answer, "Yes," to the first question.)
- We Are More-Erin McKeown (I'm not sure Nietzsche was entirely correct in saying, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Nevertheless, McKeown presents a good lyrical argument about how it's possible to survive adversity.)
- Bird On The Wire-Leonard Cohen (Rest in peace, Leonard Cohen. These are some of his best lyrics about the consequences of being yourself and how it isn't really possible to be completely free.)
- Higher Ground-Stevie Wonder (See my review, two songs up, of "We Are More.")
- I'll Get Along-Michael Kiwanuka (Easy-going vocals paired with a refreshingly sunny instrumental backdrop that, despite being released in 2012, would make me swear it was recorded in the early '70s.)
