KDHX 88.1 FM
- I Don't Wanna Be Without You-The James Hunter Six (If I hadn't known otherwise, I wouldn't have guessed this was from a 2018 release. Hunter and company capture the spirit of Sam Cooke impressively. Also recommended: "Whatever It Takes," the new release's title track, which sounds even more like Cooke.)
- A Song For You-Donny Hathaway (Ray Charles sang the most captivating rendition, in my opinion, but Hathaway's take deserves more radio airplay than it usually gets.)
- 'Round Midnight-Red Holloway & Clark Terry Sextet (Until hearing this version, it was difficult for me to imagine any cover coming close to the Miles Davis Quintet's sublime rendition. This version does, however. When I heard it over the weekend, I half-expected the landscape in front of me to suddenly develop a moonlit glow or a sepia tint. The melody, especially as it's played here, sets the scene for warm nostalgia or gentler-than-usual film noir narration.)
- Skeeter Blues-Regina Carter (Carter's consistently dazzling violin playing leads this excellent closing track on her "Rhythms Of The Heart" CD, while allowing the rhythm section plenty of room in which to sizzle. Also recommended: "Our Delight," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most," and "By The Brook.")
- Little Paradise-Eliane Elias (Elias's sultry voice is ideally suited for these lyrics.)
- Seven Days In Sunny June-Jamiroquai (This is one of the more enjoyable vocal dance tracks I've heard on "The Jazz Collective." It's similar in feel to one of Jamiroquai's strongest tracks, "When You Gonna Learn?")
- Affirmation-George Benson (This upbeat guitar melody never wears out its welcome for me. The central theme's resemblance to the "You're gonna miss my lovin'" chorus of the Lou Rawls hit, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," serves the tune exceptionally well. I was always pleased when this came up in KNJZ's rotation.)
