Marty Ehrlich

While I’ve always admired Marty Ehrlich’s musicianship, some of his albums have seemed a little…aloof, technically swell but somehow distant, more to admire than to enjoy on a repeat basis. Until, as you may’ve surmised, now. News On The Rail is one of the years nicest surprises – it’s intellectually provocative, yet with plenty of heart. It has great subtlety, but doesn’t forget to swing (and smile). “Enough Enough” is the kick-off. It is a jolly [Duke] Ellingtonian swinger where the sextet sounds like a whole jazz orchestra.

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Elfonía

I discovered one of the most beautiful and entrancing voices in progressive rock music a few weeks ago while listening to another out of this world Arjen Lucassen project called Stream Of Passion. The vocalist is Marcela Bovio from Mexico. She has her own band called Elfonía.

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Brent Magstadt

Brent Magstadt is a multi-tasking musician in the studio and his self-titled album documents his brilliance. He plays everything from soup to nuts. Well...actually...the acoustic and electric guitars, bass, percussion & bamboo, along with some spirited vocals that reminded me of Tommy Shaw during the vintage Grand Illusion period of Styx. After I listened to album for the first time, I asked Brent if he was a Styx fan and he responded with a resounding 'yes'!

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Nickos Kapilidis & The Jazz Utopia

Kapilidis is a Greek drummer whose first musical studies were on the Greek accordion - the Bouzouki Accordian, then trumpet, flute and piano. He started playing drums with pop bands and studying music theory at the age of 13 and eventually worked in the family band with his father and brothers playing traditional Greek music. Drum studies with Stelios Fotakis, Alekos Xristidis, Mickey Earnshaw in Vancouver and Max Mariash in Chicago followed.

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Alan Ferber

Alan Ferber, a five star trombonist, composer, arranger and leader has a voice that is always articulate and in this release he keeps in the right balance all the way through has created (along with the others) some wonderful tracks. "New View,” “Scenes From An Exit Row,” “Reunion,” “Get Sassy,” “Jigsaw,” “Long Lost,” “Filin” and “Kayak” surprises us with this spring of bright talent in each composition and arrangement.a

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