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Kurt Elling turns his talents towards the music of the Brill Building – completely transforming a host of pop and soul classics in the process! The songs are familiar, but the music's got all the careful balance of some of Elling's best records in recent years – definitely jazz all the way through, with sparkling arrangements that really work beautifully with Kurt's unique vocals – in ways that push these tunes way past their roots, and show how strongly Elling can bring new feelings out of a song – even with numbers that are much more iconic than his usual fare. Titles include "So Far Away", "Shoppin For Clothes", "A House Is Not A Home", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "On Broadway", "Come Fly With Me", and "You Send Me".

Kurt Elling turns his talents towards the music of the Brill Building – completely transforming a host of pop and soul classics in the process! The songs are familiar, but the music's got all the careful balance of some of Elling's best records in recent years – definitely jazz all the way through, with sparkling arrangements that really work beautifully with Kurt's unique vocals – in ways that push these tunes way past their roots, and show how strongly Elling can bring new feelings out of a song – even with numbers that are much more iconic than his usual fare. Titles include "So Far Away", "Shoppin For Clothes", "A House Is Not A Home", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "On Broadway", "Come Fly With Me", and "You Send Me".

Genius work from a singer who makes us proud to live in the Windy City – vocalist Milton Suggs, who emerges here as a hell of a writer and arranger too! Milton's easily one of the best new voices in jazz we've heard in years – filled with a rich sense of imagination on his lyrics and phrasing, and a depth of soul that makes sure that his music and movements are always right on the money – a sound and style that puts him the company of a rare few in jazz – a short list that might include Jon Hendricks, Gregory Porter, Kurt Elling, and Mark Murphy! Yet like all those talents, Suggs has a sound that's uniquely his own – a way of putting over a tune that's tremendous – especially when he takes musical inspiration from others, and makes it something all his own – as he does here with core compositions by Wayne Shorter, Belly Golson, and Roy Hargrove. The Shorter inspiration is especially strong – which is great with us – and the album also features great instrumental accompaniment as well. Titles include "Jayme's Song", "Walking Out", "Only A Memory", "Side By Side", "Die Laughing", "Will You Fly With Me", and "Joy Enough To Spare".

Genius work from a singer who makes us proud to live in the Windy City – vocalist Milton Suggs, who emerges here as a hell of a writer and arranger too! Milton's easily one of the best new voices in jazz we've heard in years – filled with a rich sense of imagination on his lyrics and phrasing, and a depth of soul that makes sure that his music and movements are always right on the money – a sound and style that puts him the company of a rare few in jazz – a short list that might include Jon Hendricks, Gregory Porter, Kurt Elling, and Mark Murphy! Yet like all those talents, Suggs has a sound that's uniquely his own – a way of putting over a tune that's tremendous – especially when he takes musical inspiration from others, and makes it something all his own – as he does here with core compositions by Wayne Shorter, Belly Golson, and Roy Hargrove. The Shorter inspiration is especially strong – which is great with us – and the album also features great instrumental accompaniment as well. Titles include "Jayme's Song", "Walking Out", "Only A Memory", "Side By Side", "Die Laughing", "Will You Fly With Me", and "Joy Enough To Spare".

Gregory Porter's a hip little singer – just the sort we love to discover in jazz, and the type that only comes around once in a blue moon! Like Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy, or Kurt Elling – all perfect references for Porter's style – Greg has a wonderful way of coming up with his own lyrics for a tune – making him way more than just a singer of standards, and instead a richly expressive voice that has every bit to offer as you might get from a jazz instrumentalist! The arrangements are great, too – handled by Porter with help from pianist Chip Crawford and producer Kamau Kenyatta – bold, soulful, and soaring on the best tracks – all in beautiful declaration of Gregory's rich power and presence. Titles include a great version of Wayne Shorter's "Black Nile", and the original tracks "1960 What", "Lonely One", "Water", "Pretty", "Illusion", and "Magic Cup".

The Jazzwise cover feature takes a look into the "Lost Quintet" period of Miles Davis – which is the group recently spotlighted on the astounding Live In Europe 1969 (Bootleg Series Vol 2) box set – and featuring Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Wayne Shorter! Other features include piano jazz great Cedar Walton looking back it his 60+ year career, jazz-folk-fusion combo Quercus, singer and pianist Liane Carroll, Kurt Elling on the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross album that changed his life in Turning Point (good choice, Kurt!) and more.