New Albums - Page 89

Joe Bonamassa has once again tapped bass groove monster Michael Rhodes to anchor his new album, Redemption. The blues-rock guitarist’s 13th studio release compiles 12 original songs that span a variety of styles while revolving around the themes of redemption and salvation. “We all need to be redeemed at some point in our lives. It’s this yearning to redeem yourself...

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators have followed up 2014’s World On Fire with Living the Dream, an album that the Guns N’ Roses guitarist says expands their sound. “It’s a natural progression from World on Fire, for sure,” Slash states. “I think it has a little more diversity—some of the ideas are not really what I would consider...

Master jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter has blended his music with the visual arts on Emanon. The triple album, which is only available in physical releases, is accompanied by an 84-page graphic novel penned by Shorter with Monica Sly and illustrated by Randy DuBurke. Shorter borrowed the title Emanon, which is “no name” spelled backwards. “When Dizzy Gillespie had a piece...

Bassist Barre Phillips is noted for being the first musician to record an album of solo double bass, which was his 1968 record Journal Violone (also known as Unaccompanied Barre or Basse Barre). Fifty years later he has released End to End, which he says is his final solo album. “It is a beautiful and moving musical statement,” ECM Records...

Suicidal Tendencies has been bringing their flavor of heavy music to the masses for 37 years, and they’re still keeping it real. That’s proven in their new album, Still Cyco Punk After All These Years, which is the second full-length to feature the dynamic rhythm section of drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist Ra Diaz. The new record is, in fact,...

Jonathan Scales has always had great bassists for his band and his new album only ups the ante. Pillar, which is the steel pannist’s third Fourchestra album, features his full-time bassist E’Lon JD as well as low-end guests Oteil Burbridge, Victor Wooten, and Mononeon. Burbridge anchors the opening track, “Fake Buddha’s Inner Child,” while the latter two are featured together...

Legendary fusion band Yellowjackets have released a new album called Raising Our Voice, which pushes into new territory by featuring vocalist Luciana Souza on seven of its thirteen tracks. The usually instrumental band used the opportunity to continue their sonic explorations. “The band keeps moving forward,” says longtime saxophonist Bob Mintzer. “It’s one of the few partnership bands in the...

In 2016, former Yes members Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman formed their own version of the band. They’ve taken the act on the road for the past two years and have documented their live show with a new album and film called Live at the Apollo. Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman is rounded out by...

Pianist Art Hirahara has released his fourth solo album, called Sunward Bound. This time he called upon a killer group to fill out his quartet with saxophonist Donny McCaslin, drummer Rudy Royston, and bassist Linda May Han Oh. The lineup helped to fulfill the bandleader’s artistic vision over the 11-track collection. “I actually wrote this record with all these musicians...

Paul Simon is currently on his farewell concert tour, which may be part of the reasoning for his new semi-retrospective album, In The Blue Light. The 10-song album features fresh perspectives on some of his lesser-known songs from his catalog with tracks taken from seven records. “This album consists of songs that I thought were almost right, or were odd...

The all-star project Metal Allegiance has just released their second album entitled Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty. The group is comprised of guitarist Alex Skolnick, drummer Mike Portnoy, and two bassists: Mark Menghi and David Ellefson. Even though each member is busy with their own bands, they come together as a unit to write and record with tons of special...

Clutch has returned with their twelfth studio album, entitled Book of Bad Decisions. While fans can expect the same heavy grooves the band is known for, they also expanded their sound a bit. Bassist Dan Maines explained that working with producer Vance Powell pushed their musical palette. “He came out on the road with us for about a week right...