The biggest blessing that jazz music has brought to the world is it’s ability to tie different cultures, places, and musical ideas, all bound together by one common unity; love. Guitarist John McLaughlin, a pioneer of the jazz-fusion movement and continuation lets his music thrive in a state of flexibility that had lead him to brilliant collaborations with other craft masters worldwide. McLaughlin’s impressive career reveals a pivotal purpose of exploration and always reaches for more questions rather than answering old ones.

Living up to its self title, Robby Hecht’s third album is chocked full of personal sentiment that’s immediately relatable, backed up by simple-sounding, perfectly timed acoustic melodies.

Hecht’s hazy sound draws a lot of James Taylor comparisons, and rightfully so. It hit my ear like a warm blanket with tracks that feel like reuniting with an old friend who lost touch. It’s the kind of music that will make you smile at sad thoughts.

Recently, I read an online article arguing the inevitable demise of rock music. The writer saw fit to place the blame upon a variety of conditions, from the public unfairly judging bands by their looks (As opposed to their music), to band classifications and whether or not they deserve to be considered “classic”, to the topic of sexism in music, stating that it should be more appealing to the “fairer sex”.

Picking yourself up and dusting yourself off when you fall or continuing to keep getting it when times get hard, is the gist of this album from Todd Snider’s newly formed band the Hard Working Americans. Whether it is the accomplished musicians in the Hard Working Americans or the lyrics, you can find a pinch of many great bands within this group. A little Neil Young. Check. A little Black Crowes. Check. A little Arlo Guthrie. Check. A little Widespread Panic. Check.

Colour is a short, smooth trip.Tropic Harbour’s new EP begins with its honey-sweet eponymous opener—“Colour” features rolling surf-inspired pseudo-flamenco guitars over echoing snares and Mark Berg’s dream poppy vocals—and the end that comes a few minutes in is a lingering sentiment you won’t soon shake.With its intro through, Colour sails on to “Golden Rays,” a Fitz and the Tantrums riff-meets-Beirut’s melancholy grandeur under the vulnerable voice that Raggi brings to Of Monsters and Men.And that’s all there is here—not quite ambient, lazily outgoing, Tropic Harbour’s

With Jake Shimabukuro’s new release Grand Ukulele: Live In Boulder; ukuleles are not for Don Ho singing Tiny Bubbles or Tiny Tim tip toe-ing through the tulips anymore. Thank Goddess of Fire Pele! The ukulele being In the same vein as the Lower 48’s accordion as a stereotyped instrument that can’t possible grab one’s attention for long; is not only for the Big Island anymore.

This time ‘round for Zion-I, the duo’s MC Zumbi has a mission statement. In brief—“The sole purpose of the MC is to energize, invigorate, and guide the listener to a higher state of mind, whether that be reflection, relaxation or enlightenment.”Production behind the MC here as he goes to work on the task at hand is classic West Coast with Eastern underground dubs n’ breaks sprinkled in—think Wu-Tang meets Def Jux featuring the righteous sermons of a bizarro, born-again Mad Child preachin’ redemption.

Music is a ubiquitous part of my life because it has the power to make it better. On countless occasions, it has demonstrated the ability to rejuvenate me when I’m sapped of energy and to will me out of a funk when I’m frustrated or down in the dumps. It even has the power to enliven my spirits for weeks without even yet being heard – anyone who lives for the music knows what it’s like to anticipate a show weeks, or even months, ahead of time.