New Albums - Page 16

Aston “Family Man” Barrett kept The Wailers going the rest of his life and they still continue today under the leadership of his son, Aston Barrett, Jr. They’ve just released their new album, “Evolution.”

Los Angeles-based fusion group King Llama has released a new album called fata implexis that defies genre boundaries. The group, which is the brainchild of guitarist/songwriter Ryan T. Bailey and drummer Luis Briones, underwent some changes after the COVID lockdown.

Zeal & Ardor scored one of the most acclaimed releases of 2022 with their self-titled album. Now, they’ve followed it up with “Greif.”

Pianist and composer Geoffrey Keezer has released “Live at Birdland,” which marks his first live trio album in 15 years. The performances were captured during a three-night run at the legendary New York jazz club. Keezer was joined by drummer Clarence Penn and bassist John Patitucci.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have released their 26th album, “Flight b741,” which they call a “back to basics” rock album. The group is known for their boundaryless experimentation and complex arrangements, but they stripped it all back for a bluesier sound.

The Mingus Big Band has been keeping bassist/composer Charles Mingus’ legacy going ever since his passing. The group celebrated what would have been his 100th birthday in 2022 with an album called “The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions Vol. 1,” and now the second edition is available.

Divinity Roxx has returned with a new album the whole family can love. “World Wide Playdate” is her second album geared toward kids, following up on 2021’s “Ready Set Go!”

This year marks the centennial of James Baldwin, whose writing and activism influenced generations to come. One artist that has been deeply affected by his work is bassist, singer, and composer Meshell Ndegeocello. The musician has celebrated his life and legacy with her new album, “No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin.”

Esperanza Spalding first heard of Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento while she was a student at Berklee College of Music. Now the duo has collaborated on new album, “Milton + esperanza.”

MonoNeon has returned with a new album called “Quilted Stereo,” which sees the funk visionary continuing to hone his craft and songwriting. The album features two megastar contributions from MonoNeon’s living influences: George Clinton and Mavis Staples.

Jazz guitar giant Mike Stern has announced a new album called “Echoes and Other Songs,” which promises to be a killer record. Aside from Stern's great compositions, the music is brought to life by a lineup of monster musicians.

Virtuoso saxophonist Jeff Coffin is a member of the Dave Matthews Band and a former member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. As such, he’s befriended some of the most talented musicians in the world. That’s clear on his new album, “Only The Horizon.”