I spent a solid hour this morning watching dust motes suspended in a single shaft of sunlight, my entire nervous system held absolutely captive by Magdi Aboul-Kheir and his devastatingly immersive new album, "Slow Heat". The Germany-based journalist and classically trained pianist usually writes across a massive spectrum of genres, pivoting wildly from trance to late romanticism. Today, he has dropped an ambient, contemporary...

Chicago native Luke Frees plays guitar, piano, and bass, among other instruments, and writes original songs. Beginning as a solo artist in Chicago, Luke eventually enrolled in Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music to study composition. After graduating from Berklee, Luke moved back to Chicago and teamed up with fellow musician Gary to make music that would leave an indelible mark on listeners. Luke was a part...