Michelle Qureshi "Sage" 2019 Sage is an album perfectly suited to our fraught times, delivering meditative, calm, restorative music. The title references the burning sage sticks that are used by Native peoples for spiritual cleansing, and these thoughtful pieces transport the listener on a sonic journey into peaceful internal spaces. Quereshi, a classically trained composer and multi-instrumentalist, plays acoustic fingerstyle on this, her 14th release, with calm assurance, pristine clarity, and rich tone. On "Skipping Stones," flourishes of pull-offs perfectly mimic the effect of stones skipped across water, while an arpeggiated section calls to mind the widening ripples after the stone's impact. On the sweet "Pushing Rainbows," a repeated motif of chiming harmonics contrasts with resonant bass, while "Tender Side of the Moon" features a beautiful single-note melody line as clear as droplets of water. "To Be With You" has a haunting quality, with contrasting melody lines, one jangly and one rich and deep, while "Messengers," which features Quereshi on slide guitar, has a sultry quality. Perhaps most beautiful is "Watercolors," the longest composition here, a somber, mysterious, ethereal piece. It has a deep reverb-like opening that moves through shadings of sound, reminiscent of the way watercolor paint melds into water. About halfway through the piece takes a turn into airy tremolo before returning to the opening melody. Quereshi is an outstanding musician who on Sage offers emotionally resonant, introspective music at a time when it is especially needed. © Céline Keating

New Latitude "Wood, Steel and Grace" 2020 Sometimes acoustic guitar music is best on its own; sometimes the addition of an ensemble around the guitar(s) adds a richness and depth unavailable to a solo guitar. This seems to be the case for the group, New Latitude, on their 3rd CD, Wood, Steel, and Grace. The nine original songs - written by guitarists Dave Erickson and Jim Carr - don't overpower with guitar flash, but provide solid complementary parts backed by a fine rhythm section, even adding cello on the last tune, "Prismatic Sky." The writing is strong on melody that is not overwrought or extended too far so as to be unrecognizable. Carr and Erickson have obviously been influenced by jazz and Latin rhythms, and their sound does pay a bit of homage to the California Guitar Trio. The overall vibe of their music is lively and gentle, not frenetic - they are not a jam band! The CD opens with "Alpine Bliss," with smooth harmonic guitar overlays, and subtle variations on the main theme woven throughout the song. "Dias Callientas" doesn't sizzle too strongly with Latin heat, but it has enough warmth to get your feet and fingers tapping along with the beat. "Alpenglow" uses shimmering cymbal work to augment the simple but sweet guitar phrasing to convey light. "Windmills" is almost a dance tune that glides and flows, twists and turns, drives and slows. It's one of the few songs on the CD where the guitars let loose a bit so you can hear some of their fine chops. The final track, "Prismatic Sky" is set up by ringing harmonics, while a cello paints underneath in celestial hues. This CD would go well with a warm drink in a comfy chair on a cool morning as the mists give way to the light of day. © Kirk Albrecht

Hot Club of Los Angeles "Cinema Swing" 2019 Gypsy jazz is full of musical surprises, fun and danceable, qualities which the Hot Club of Los Angeles has in abundance. The group is comprised of Josh Workman, Jake Bluenote, Carl Byron, Paul Eckman, and Jim Doyle, all skilled players. There's plenty of variety in the styles and tonalities of guitarists Workman and Bluenote and keyboardist Carl Byron, who supply most of the improvisation. Three of the group also sing, often in French, Roma, or Russian. Notably, the lineup includes both piano and drums, instruments not usually present in groups that stick to the approach of the original Quintet of the Hot Club of France. The album includes gypsy jazz favorites like "Nuages", "Douce Ambiance", "After You've Gone", and "Black Eyes" (commonly titled "Dark Eyes"). Several band members contribute fine originals, among them "Cinema Swing", "Cynthia", "Valse Angeles", and "Drinking Song". The collection provides great listening. © Patrick Ragains