‘Only Fools Love Again’ by multi-instrumentalist Danny Ayala is a throwback to an era of music when songs, not production tricks, ruled the music industry. Ayala teamed primarily with producer/guitarist Fernando Perdomo to deliver 10 pop-rock songs that evoke the classic singer-songwriter era. “I Was Wrong” kicks things off in fine fashion. Ayala’s voice is […]
Fernando Perdomo has contributed as producer and/or principal artist to several projects that made my top 20 list for 2025. His twelve-album Waves series deserves special mention for its ambition, musicality, and execution. When tasked with listing my favorites, I realized they change from day to day; however, the entire series demonstrates consistent quality. Perdomo […]
Jaime Ospina, working with a powerful group of musicians for five days in the Lechehouse Music studios in Buda, Texas, produced a challenging and innovative album, ‘The Vessel,’ which is available now on Bandcamp. Ospina, a founding member of the group Superfonicos, enlisted Grupo Fantasma member Beto Martinez to engineer and mix these ten engaging […]
Travis Hall’s debut album, HeART Museum, is a genre-blending journey that fuses the elegance of classical opera with the soul-stirring essence of R&B and NeoSoul. Standout tracks include the debut single “A Day,” featuring a roller-disco groove and gospel undertones that conjure classic 1970s R&B while also carrying the author’s unique stamp. Halls’ vocal and […]
Prog rocker Ben Craven has been a favorite of mine since his exquisite 2016 album, ‘Last Chance to Hear’. While Craven has produced several stellar solo works since then, he has on occasion teamed up with keyboardist Tim Bennetts (Seven Day Mask) on several projects, including their work on Progaustralis live, and with drummer Dean […]
No, the album isn’t Animal Logic III. Instead, it is a fresh, thoughtful, and daring look at life and aging. Holland produced the 11 songs, recorded in various studios in California and Vancouver, BC. Working with many engineers and mixers, Wendy Waldman and Abraham Parker, Holland gave the album a warm, intimate feel. “Thankful (Thanksgiving […]
Steve Porcaro, a founding member of Toto, makes a bold, intensely personal statement with The Very Day that highlights his mastery as a songwriter while refusing to be confined by expectations. Nearly a decade after Someday Somehow (2016), Porcaro returns with an album that is expansive, sonically rich, and unashamedly adventurous. Songs like “Marilyn” and […]
Vernon Reid has always been a restless innovator. As the driving force behind Living Colour, his guitar redefined what Black artistry could sound like in the late ’80s rock mainstream—equal parts metal, funk, jazz, and political urgency. With ‘Hoodoo Telemetry’, Reid returns to the solo spotlight, crafting an album that resists easy categorization. “Door of […]
Jazz in 2025 didn’t just look backward or push forward—it did both at once, with purpose, grit, and imagination. This installment of Slang of Ages’ Best of 2025 Series (Jazz) highlights a wide, invigorating spectrum: live documents from master improvisers, deeply personal statements forged through adversity, large-ensemble works with social and historical weight, and small-group […]
Some records don’t just survive time—they outrun it, dance past it, and dare you to keep up. The Queen of Salsa: Centennial Tributedoes exactly that. This Craft Recordings reissue isn’t just a celebration of Celia Cruz’s 100th birthday—it’s a living, breathing proof-of-life document for one of the most indomitable voices ever committed to wax. The […]
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