DWIKI DHARMAWAN, Alagnorisis (MoonJune Records). Silky, tasteful, and jazz oriented. The band’s talent — particularly their pianist leader — shines through with ease. The composed pieces flow smoothly. The improvisations are loaded with musical telepathy. What a lovely way to start the day.

GARY HUSBAND, Postcards from the Past (MoonJune Records). It’s far from a “greatest hits” collection, nor is it a “clear out the archives” box set. Gary Husband has put together a remarkably tasteful collection of his past works, with recordings dating back as far as the seventies(!). The music runs the gamut from jazz to prog rock and points in between, and features artists like Allan Holdsworth, Paul Williams, Chick Corea, and Randy Becker among many others. More importantly, Husband’s skills as a composer and multi-instrumentalist are front and center. It’s a collection that only gets better as you go along.

PAUL RICCI, The Path (Origin Records). Multi-dimensional jazz from a variety of influences, all tied together by silky, Benson-esque guitar lead lines. Plenty of space left for some cool cameos from the likes of Steve Jordan, Randy Brecker, Alex Foster, and the late Anthony Jackson. Strong grooves make for a chill experience. A solid record.

MICHAEL DEASE with the MSU JAZZ TROMBONES, Spartan Strong (Origin Records). How many trombone players does it take to make an album? It would seem Michael Dease’s answer is ALL of them! And it works! Nineteen trombones and four bass trombones — all from Michigan State University — have teamed up to make some innovative and hard-swinging jazz. Oh, to be in the room when this album was being recorded …

EDDIE ALLEN’S PUSH, Rhythm People (Origin Records). A little something for every Jazz fan. Hard-bop that swings, fresh takes on standards, ensemble playing, and even a little smooth, no doubt for “accessibility.” The playing is solid throughout and the band has just the right chemistry to make this an enjoyable journey.

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If you would like to have your music reviewed or have your band photographed while in Chicago, contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com