To understand the profound depth of Amana Melome's new album, "Recalibration", one must first appreciate the legacy she carries. As the granddaughter of Jimmy Woode, the legendary bassist who was the youngest member of Duke Ellington's orchestra and who performed alongside icons like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, Melome' is heir to a monumental tradition in American music. Her latest work is not a simple continuation...

When d'Z & Bernadette Dengler (featuring Chris Korzec) unleashed "Shout!", it hit me less like a typical single and more like a sudden, necessary nervous system reset. The track, a collaboration spanning the Netherlands and Austria, carries the dense, sophisticated DNA of Steely Dan but decides to wear it to a raucous block party hosted by The Brand New Heavies. https://open.spotify.com/album/58VJ9SBgyY7Mr1vHP69juG?si=gnsjycqTRkKz57cAMDwRwg d'Z anchors the vessel with...