Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Jazz Albums Released In 2019

Here in the office halls of Rock is the New Roll we appreciate Jazz and enjoy listening to a great Jazz recording whether it be Chick Corea, Charles Brown, Herbie Mann or Oscar Peterson. With the sudden realization that we were a bit behind on listening to the Jazz albums released this year with the help of our Jazz writer Barnaby Lark we set out to right this wrong.

Cochemea – All My Relations

Cochemea has spent much of his diverse musical career as a soloist, musical director, composer, and ensemble player. Known mostly for his work with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings as a saxophone player. With his latest long player, All My Relations, he combines his roots in Jazz, Latin, Funk, and Rock into a polyrhythmic blend of indigenous and spiritual splendor.

Veronica Swift – Confessions

Having guested for Chris Botti, Wynton Marsalis, and many more, Veronica Swift is one of the sparkling new voices on the Jazz scene today. With Confessions, despite her tender age of 24 she is poised to enter the pantheon of modern day torch singers.

Camila Meza – Ambar

A bonafide triple threat Camila Meza Sings, plays exquisite guitar, and writes most of the songs on her latest release,Ambar. Singing in both her native Chilean tongue as well as English, her George Benson and Pat Methany influenced soundscapes with full orchestral accompaniment are delicately nuanced wonders.

Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Brian Blade – Trilogy 2 (Live)

This follow up to the Grammy winning 2013 album, Trilogy, that featured a collaboration between pianist Chick Corea, bass player Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade, All virtuoso players in their own right. Highlights abound on these live sessions, but the searing rendition of Corea’s Latin fusion opus “500 Miles High” is ear popping.

Wallace Roney – Blue Dawn – Blue Nights

With this eclectic ensemble of stellar Jazz musicians including Lenny White, who plays on four tracks here, Trumpeter Wallace Roney both leads and stands in the shadows on this set of energetic tracks. On “Why Should There Be Stars” the pin-drop of the trumpet, piano and upright bass engages the listener, and even the inclusion of Toto’s “Can’t Stop Me Now” shows that in the hands of master musicians like this, the sky is the limit.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (October 4, 2019)

The Darkness – Easter Is Cancelled

On their latest record, The Darkness, tight-pantsed heroes on a mission to save the world with the power of Rock, don’t make any apologies as they turn the proceedings up to 11 as they gloriously build on their Queen, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy foundation of glorious Glam.

Angel Olson – All Mirrors

A bit of a Swiss Army Kinife sort of artist, here, Angel Olson mostly shreds her country inflected Indie-Folk for a more lavish and expansive sound. Bolstered by a 17 piece orchestra, this record should be a master class in how to do Symphonic Pop the right way. From the title track to the moody and expansive “Impasse” your ears will take you on a journey that would make The Moody Blues proud.

Angel – Risen

Even back in the day, Legendary Glam Rock band Angel never really amounted to anything above cult status. But, as huge fans of the band, we here at Rock is the New Roll are bordering on giddy with the release of their first record in 19 years that features original members Punky Meadows and Frank Dimino. Thankfully, the band doesn’t stray far from the sound they were laying down when they were opening for Motley Crue, Poison, Van Halen, and the rest of the hair band crew back in their Sunset Strip glory days.

Old Crow Medicine Show – Live at The Ryman

Weighing in a lean 42 minutes, Old Crow Medicine Show pays tribute to the iconic palace of Country music on this joyously vivacious live set. From the opening 1-2 punch of “Tell It To Me” and “Shout Mountain Music” the template is laid down for the evening as the band weaves hee-haw nostalgia with contemporary coolness. Margo Price joins in on the fun playing Loretta Lynn to Ketch Secor’s Conway Twitty on “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” with Molly Tuttle and Charlie Worsham jumping on stage for the showstopping and show ending “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

GospelbeacH – Let It Burn

Much like he did with his former band Beachwood Sparks, with GospelbeacH, lead singer Brent Rademcker, channels Tom Petty and the Laurel Canyon sound with a Country Rock vibe that is timeless. Adding even more to the Pop credentials laid down on the highly excellent 2017 release Another Summer of Love, “Dark Angel” could have been a long lost Heartbreakers song, and even when the band goes low and slow like they do on “Get It Back” there is a cool nostalgia that can be traced back to The Long Run era Eagles. The late Neil Casal, who was a member of Beachwood Sparks, contributes searing solos throughout the record and is a bittersweet presence on an uplifting record.

Video of the Day: Vincent Neil Emerson – Fly On Willie’s Wall

Hailing from the small town of Myrtle, Texas Vincent Neil Emerson is as true as Country gets. His new Record, Fried Chicken and Evil Women, can stand right up there next to Charlie Crockett and Colter Wall. “Well I’m as drunk as an uncle in a Walmart parking lot, blaring Margaritaville and taking up teo spots.” He sings like George Strait with a Bob Wills soul.

Live Video of the Day: Dawes – A Little Bit of Everything (Live From Here with Chris Thile)

The last song on their 2011 release Nothing is Wrong “A Little Bit of Everything” tells the story about a desperate man who is about to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. As he hoists his first leg over the rail his journey is interrupted. Spoiler alert, it ends well on this gripping version of a song that should savored with multiple listens.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released Today (September 27, 2019)

Charlie Crockett – The Valley

It has been a bit of a tough year for Charlie Crockett. Just after he finished up the recording sessions for this new record he had major heart surgery. Thankfully, all is well and he can celebrate this masterful bit of Classic Country retro goodness.

Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury

Full disclosure, we here at Rock is the New Roll are very divided on this new and very different incarnation of Sturgill Simpson. Here, he goes electric, turns up the amps and noise on this soundtrack to an Anime film.

Temples – Hot Motion

Going back to their roots a bit. Here, The Temples fly there Psyche flag a bit more than they have in quite a while going back to their earlier days and in so doing turn up the Jangle-Pop in fine fashion.

David Hasselhoff – Open Your Eyes

Ok, we have not lost our minds, or our ears for that matter. While we are stopping short of actually recommending this record, the guests on this album are ridiculous. Todd Rundgren, Charlie Daniels, Steve Cropper, Ministry, Flock of Seagulls, Tracii Gunns, Steve Stevens, Eliot Easton, and yes, there’s more.

Billy Strings – Home

The appropriately monikered Billy Springs can play the hell out of pretty much any string instrument. After sharing a side man stage with everybody this side of Zamfir, here, we see his talents on full display with his latest release.