Stereo Reform: The Whitestone Session

In a mini follow-up to their first album Robots of Evolution, Stereo Reform came back with a four-track EP recorded at Whitestone Studios.

The album features three brand new tracks, plus a re-recording of Robots of Evolution’s “There’s No Time.”

With The Whitestone Session, Stereo Reform is back—but not in the same funkadelic way as on Robots.

Where Robots of Evolution was full of upbeat, grooving tracks, The Whitestone Session has taken things down a notch. Instead of the funk-rock vibe that characterized Robots, Stereo Reform went with a jazzier sound for Whitestone...MORE

Jacob Merlin: Alchemy of Soul

If you’re looking for just an all-around stellar album, Jacob Merlin’s Alchemy of Soul is it.

From beginning to end, Alchemy of Soul delivers a sucker-punch of great music. The songs are fun and energized, while maintaining the mellowness typical of R&B. However, this album is by no means generic R&B.

The R&B/jazz scene tends to be very guitar-driven, with other instruments serving primarily as complements to the guitar. On Alchemy of Soul, however, this isn’t the case. Instead, it’s the songs revolve more around the trumpet and keyboards/piano, which adds a certain flair to the music.

Throughout, the album never loses its energy, and manages to completely draw in the listener...MORE

Tom Braxton: Endless Highway

Tom Braxton is one of the most respected artists on today’s jazz scene, and with his newest album Endless Highway, it’s not difficult to see why.

Braxton’s saxophone playing is absolutely flawless. Sax is an instrument that can sometimes get overshadowed by supporting instruments, but with Braxton the saxophone completely carries the music.

One of the highlights on the album is the track “Ventura Highway,” which features vocals by Arthur Dyer. Dyer’s voice and Braxton’s playing complement each other really well, with the result being an awesome break from the instrumental tracks on the rest of the album, without losing the overall feel of Endless Highway.

As can happen often with instrumental albums, Endless Highway hits a lull where each song sounds indistinguishable from the one preceding it. Luckily, this lull only lasts for about three songs, and Braxton steps it up in the following tracks...MORE

Katie Locke & Bullet Proof Tiger

Plain and simple, Katie Locke & Bullet Proof Tiger’s self-titled EP is wonderful.

The music falls into that genre of jazzy tinged pop that you hear from artists like Dido, Feist, and Norah Jones. However, Bullet Proof Tiger stands apart from those, thanks largely to vocalist Katie Locke.

With Dido, Feist, and Norah Jones, you have artists who are certainly talented and possess excellent voices. In common with the three though is the fact that their voices all have a certain softness to them. Not Locke.

Locke has a very strong, full voice that makes the listener sit up and take notice. Her voice has a power to it, and an awesome range, that can’t be ignored. Locke isn’t an artist you can have on as background music—her voice demands that you actively listen to her...MORE

Oz Noy: Schizophrenic

It’s always disappointing when an album starts off strong, giving the listener the impression it’s going to remain that way throughout its entirety, but then fails to do so.

This is the case with Oz Noy’s fourth album, Schizophrenic.

The album starts off with “Ice Pick,” which has a sound similar to what you might hear during a Phish jam session. Schizophrenic maintains the jam-band style throughout, and Noy’s guitar playing consistently shines through.

About mid-way into the album, however, Schizophrenic starts to lose its appeal...MORE

Erin Hunt: Meet Me in the Middle

In a music industry that seems to be moving ever closer to being taken over by synthesizers and electronic backing, anything that breaks away and has a sound of its own is a welcome change.

With her debut EP Meet me in the Middle, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Erin Hunt has given the music world something completely refreshing.

With a sound that can’t help but elicit images of a dimly lit jazz club, Meet me in the Middle is a fusion of soul, R&B, and pop, with a nice dash of Latin flair thrown into the mix to make for an album that is anything but generic...MORE