Bob Mintzer has led big bands off and on since the late 1970s, in addition to small groups and working as a part of the jazz fusion band the Yellowjackets. These sessions open with his colorful "'Swing Out," a forward-thinking chart in the mold of Bob Brookmeyer's large ensemble writing. "Each Day" is an upbeat number with a gospel undercurrent, while "Swangalang" is an infectious midtempo blues.

Given songwriter and producer Thom Bell's legendary reputation, it's difficult to believe that this is the first contemporary jazz record to pay tribute to his work. Co-produced by Bob Baldwin, Will Downing, and former Bell sideman Preston Glass, Betcha by Golly Wow is a second chapter for Baldwin and Downing; the first was Never Can Say Goodbye: A Tribute to Michael Jackson in 2009. As has been typical of his own recordings for the past two decades, Baldwin plays multiple instruments, from drums and bass to keyboards.

Baroness' Yellow & Green finds a band that has developed into more than just giants of the metal underground, they are now fully formed hard rock titans. Fans of the band have come to expect nothing less than constant evolution from Baroness and that is precisely what the band has delivered, but in ways noone could have anticipated: the hooks are immediately seared into your brain, riffs that take just one listen to fully lodge themselves in your consciousness and vocals that are sung both heavily and beautifully. Some songs are more delicate than Baroness ever hinted to before while others are straight up arena rockers.

While there is nothing revolutionary about Destination Paradise, Desert Sin provides a fine example of the art of power metal. A solid album from beginning to end, Destination Paradise should be on the short list of anyone looking to fill out their European power metal collection. This release will not disappoint fans of the genre.

In the intimate atmosphere of one of New Orleans's premier jazz clubs, Lulu White's Mahogany Hall on Bourbon Street, the music that set the city on fire: the authentic sounds of Jelly Roll Morton's jazz is performed by the legendary Dukes of Dixieland and Danny Barker, one of Jelly Roll's own musicians. Ferdinand Lamothe aka Jelly Roll Morton was one of the first great composers and piano players of Jazz. He was a talented arranger and musician who wrote special scores that took advantage of the three-minute limitations of the 78 rpm record. Even more than this, he was a real character whose spirit shines brightly through history - like his diamond studded smile

With his sixth CD, Blue Bolero, Chris Standring returns with a left-turning musical project so daring in its scope but still so true to his sound that it's destined to be one of the year's most-discussed projects, while certainly sure to be remembered in years to come as a highlight of the guitarist's works. He's taking a chance with Blue Bolero, but it's one his fans will certainly embrace as they follow Standring's ever-evolving career. "I think this one is probably the most honest CD I have recorded so far," Standring says. "I didn't care about commercial constraints. I didn't care about having special guest performers on the album for the sake of creating a sales and marketing perception. Everyone who performed on this CD was there because I felt they were the absolute best to help realize this album."