A beautiful International Anthem debut from Resavoir – a group led by Will Miller, a musician who's equally skilled at both keyboards and trumpet – and who often plays in a style that sometimes makes it hard to tell which sound is coming from which instrument! In other words, there's trumpet-like phrasing to his keys, and keyboard-like washes of sound from the trumpet – set up array of players who ground any electric sounds in some very organic, acoustic elements. As with other releases on the label, there's a style here that's a bit hard to peg – but we can definitely say that there's a richness to the record that maybe makes it stand above even some of the others on IA, and which also makes the set very soulful as well. A few tracks have voice from Akenya Seymore, mostly in a non-lyrical way – and titles include "Clouds", "Woah", "Resavoir", "Taking Flight", "Escalator", "Illusion", and "Plantasy". (Jazz, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Jimetta Rose is a fantastic singer on her own, but this set may well be her most heavenly, most righteous record to date – as it features Rose at the head of a larger ensemble of singers – blending gospel structures with soul and spiritual jazz – all with a sound that's completely sublime all the way through! Some of the tunes here are older cuts from the world of soul and jazz, redone in a mode that's nicely different than the originals – with voices moving back and forth, trading lines, and rising together – while light rhythms keep things moving forward, yet never get in the way of the singers on the record. The approach might look like gospel, and the messages here are righteous – but in a way that's also got strong secular soul appeal too. Titles include a great remake of "Spirits Up Above", plus the cuts "Let The Sunshine In", "How Good It Is", "Ain't Life Grand", "Operation Feed Yourself", and "Answer The Call". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning little set from Incognito – the group's first full album on Talkin Loud records, and a set that's head and shoulders above their earlier jazz funk from the 80s! The sound here has a real "instant classic" quality – not just because it's dripping with the best references from the jazzier side of 70s soul (think Fantasy Records at its best!) – but also because it's so well put together, with a sense of instrumentation that's tight, yet an overall groove that's relaxed and fairly spontaneous – something that was quite rare at the time the record was released! Bluey is at the height of his powers here – stepping strongly into a run of great work that would last for well over a decade – and other key figures include Maysa Leak on vocals, Kevin Robinson on trumpet, and Graham Harvey and Peter Hinds on keyboards. Titles include a killer remake of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", plus "Change", "Colibri", "Magnetic Ocean", "Closer To The Feeling", "Tribal Vibes", "Pyramid", and "I Love What You Do For Me". CD

A set with maybe the most striking cover image that Monday Michiru's given us in years – and a record that really delivers on that promise, too – filled with really captivating tunes that represent a new high level in Monday's already-high career! There's a depth and maturity to the record that we never would have guessed when we first fell in love with her music – and we thought she was already pretty darn deep way back then – as Monday delivers hers vocals alongside musical complexity that takes strong advantage of the many great guest jazz musicians in the lineup – players who include Misha Tsiganov and David Kikoski on Fender Rhodes, Gil Goldstein on piano, Lew Tabackin on flute, and Steve Wilson on soprano sax. But at the center of it all is Monday – far more a jazz singer in recent years than the soul artist of her start – but balancing the spirit of both worlds beautifully, and with command of her vocal instrument that's completely stunning! Where most singers seem to get a bit more casual about their craft over the years, Michiru's just continued to master her natural instrument with a fantastic range and wonderfully expressive quality. Titles include "Ombre Of Time", "Pivot", "Cycles", "The Sound", "Ringo Oiwake", "Hope Pretend To Sleep", "Rise Above", "Life", and "Gossamer's Touch" – plus "Untethered", which features some great guest work from Ursula Rucker! LP, Vinyl record album