Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Bobo Bazinsky in the Bronx will scare you in the same way that a big city scares an out-of-towner.  It’s loud, hectic, in-your-face, and diverse.  But behind the beeps and traffic is a silver lining of humanity and culture.  All of this, believe it or not, is actually captured by ...

Far & Wide, the debut album by U.K. jazz guitarist Andreas Hagiioannu (pronounced “hajianu”), rings with warm, lyrical tones and clean, crisp licks. Backed on a little over half the tracks by bassist Dirk Griffin and drummer Alan Savage, the album swings in an unpretentious groove as Hagiioannu explores harmonic ...

Bebel Gilberto’s Momento is an album that fits moods like a chameleon. Plug in your earphones under the thatched roof of a beachside cantina, and watch the world go by in an easy samba. Back at your flat, and put the CD on while you shower up, mix martinis and ...

Light Longing is an ethereal journey into the beauty of progressive classical music. For anyone who thinks violins are boring, this album will prove you wrong. It leaves you mesmerized by the peace and serenity an excellent violinist can give. The melodic pop feel of the album only adds to ...

Davis Coen’s fourth album is nothing short of a well-crafted blues gem. With a deep, clear, hollow voice, Coen leads the listener down country roads and Chicago streets with tunes that showcase a refreshing blend of innovation and respect for tradition. This is not rock pretending to be blues, or ...

When it comes to ratings, I’m not one to hand out star quality like 10.0.  An album has to be pretty much perfect in order to receive the highest of the high grades.  But, alas, I have found such perfection with Glen Helgeson’s whirlwind album, Distant Borders Revisited.In ...

On Revolucion’s fifth track, Descarga Inez, Jose Conde implores his audience with the words “Mueve los pies.” For those of us who haven’t long since forgotten our high school Spanish his request is simple and concise: Move your feet. What Conde didn’t realize is that it’s almost impossible not to ...

The Pamela Hines Trio’s new album, Drop 2, delivers top-drawer straight-ahead jazz. Featuring Hines on piano, John Lockwood on bass and Bob Guilotti on drums, the trio are totally in sync and make nice in the playground together, knowing when to take turns on the swing, and when to run ...

Former NBA star Terry Cummings proves he can score on the court and in the studio on his album, T.C. Finally, a soulful blend of jazz and smooth R&B infused with some Urban beats and Gospel. Normally, like most people, I get leery when celebrities not in the music business ...