Crystal Bunch moved to the vibrant community of Moab in 2018 and has been an enthusiastic DJ since 2019. If you have tuned it to The Artist Speaks or Desert Sol Soundsystem you have heard “DJ Sunshine” spreading cheer and tunes in Moab and beyond. She previously held the pivotal role of music and program director and has now gracefully returned to ease into that role once more. Her deep love for music began at a tender age, where she delighted in holding concerts... Read More
Latest Album Reviews
Review of 1978 (steep)
Album Info: 1978 (steep)
Chris Wabich Album: 1978 (steep) Label: ADW Genre(s): Fusion Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Aug 28, 2025
Review
A mainstay on the Los Angeles jazz scene for years, drummer and composer Chris Wabich joins forces with Josh Nelson (piano) and Dan Lutz (bass) for an album of sublime, instrumental jazz. Some notable influences here include ethereal vibes of legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans, Peanuts theme-maker Vince “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” Guaraldi and even some of Dave Brubeck’s vintage piano jazz to name a few. The difference here is that that 1978 (steep) is described by the artist as being “an immersive song cycle, capturing the essence of intrinsic positivity”.
Running 40 minutes, 1978 (steep) is totally relaxing and impressionistic New Age sounding jazz in places especially compared to mainstream bop jazz and fusion. It’s worth noting that Wabich has also worked in the past with songwriter poet Leonard Cohen and Sting, and the quiet introspection is
Monster Mike Welch Album: Keep Living Til I Die Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Contemporary BluesBlues Posted By: Duane Verh
Aug 24, 2025
Review
Axe-meister Mike Welch’s taut vocals are an ideal match for his to-the-point lyrics on tracks such as “Love Me Baby” and “Do What You Want With My Grave”. There and elsewhere here, he justifies his nickname with predictably furious and focused fretwork. Multiple voicings work to pleasing effect on his instrumental workup of Bob Dylan’s “Dear Landlord”. Standing out as well are “Your Problem To Solve” and the title track.
Lili Maljic Album: The Nearness Of You Label: Pacific Coast Jazz Genre(s): Contemporary Jazz Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Aug 23, 2025
Review
European-based singer Lili Maljic dives deep into the Great American Songbook on her debut album The Nearness Of You. With every song a classic, The Nearness Of You benefits from the skills of trumpet master Jim Rotondi, who sadly passed away in 2024. Before he died Jim brought his vast experience as a producer, arranger and musician to this album. In her liner notes, Lili praises Rotondi as her mentor and inspiration and, the album title is even subtitled In Loving Memory Of Jim Rotondi.
The album kicks off with what is commonly referred to as one of the true American music classics, “The Shadow Of Your Smile” written by composer Johnny Mandel in 1965. Hard to top this song for sure, yet Lili gives it a strong showing before delivering fresh remakes of all-time classics from the pens of Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and many others. The connection here is
The Boneshakers Album: Live To Be This Label: Gulf Coast Genre(s): Contemporary BluesBlues Posted By: Duane Verh
Aug 17, 2025
Review
Vocalist Jenny Langer secures a spot on the top tier of contemporary female blues vocalists with her incendiary work here, standing up to the built-in swagger of Betty Davis’s “They Say I’m Different” and this set’s leadoff track, “I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man)”. Blues and ballads are well delivered alongside guests Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush, respectively, on “Evil No More” and “Salty”. Guitarist/partner Randy Jacobs provides a cool counterbalance to Ms. Langer’s thermalistics.
Randy Armstrong Album: Echoes Of Tomorrow Label: UMP Genre(s): Fusion Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Aug 17, 2025
Review
New Hampshire–based guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Randy Armstrong earned critical acclaim for his 2017 album, The Conference of the Birds as well as his 2015 collaboration with Volker Nahrmann, Beyond Borders. Now, in 2025—after releasing several albums for Kitaro’s DOMO Records—Randy returns with what may be his finest solo work to date: Echoes Of Tomorrow. This 11-track CD, LP and DL was released in 2025 on Randy’s own UMP Records label.
In contrast to the multi-faceted Conference of the Birds, which featured numerous guest artists, Echoes of Tomorrow is very much a personal statement—a guitar lover’s dream. Entirely instrumental, the album blends New Age, Jazz, World Fusion, Americana, and Folk, with each track seamlessly drawing from all of these influences.
Randy’s
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