Seven recommended tunes heard today:
KALX (Berkeley, CA)
- Loretta-Ginger Root (This is from 2021? Wow. Vocally and instrumentally, this sounds like an infectious late '70s R&B track; this is a convincing way to pull off another era's pastiche.)
KMRE (Bellingham, WA)
- Petunia-Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio featuring Rodney Jordan and Jason Marsalis (Can jazz piano and banjo pickin' coexist harmoniously to produce a compelling uptempo instrumental? Yes, with talent of this caliber.)
- Pieces Of Dreams-Stanley Turrentine (A beautifully soaring uptempo melody for tenor sax and orchestra.)
- The One Who Really Loves You-Claire Daly (I've praised this catchy melody before in its Mary Wells and Rosie & The Originals incarnations. This impressive ensemble shows how well it works as an instrumental. The flute carries the melody with strong rhythmic support from the piano, bass, guitar, and drums.)
WUMB (Boston, MA)
- Otherwise-Heather Maloney (Lyrically and instrumentally, this reminds me somewhat of Aimee Mann and Jonatha Brooke.)
- Wouldn't Be So Bad-Alison Krauss & Union Station (Krauss consistently brings melancholy laments to life convincingly. WUMB could have segued this song with...)
- Seven Years-Norah Jones (...this overlooked low-key charmer from the smash hit "Come Away With Me" release. "Come Away With Me" and "Don't Know Why" got the lion's share of radio airplay, but the warmth in the vocals is just as evident on this track. The guitar interlude at the 1:14 mark sounds similar to what you'd hear on many Alison Krauss songs.)
