Blues

Veterans such as Neil Young, Ryan Adams, blues great Joe Bonamassa, Bjork, The War On Drugs, St. Vincent, The National, Spoon, and Living Colour made stellar releases. Favorite new artist: Jay Som.

The jazz duo presents a broad spectrum of musical expressions, rooted in breezy guitar riffs and the refined vocalese of Stacey Schulman.

Véronneau's repertoire as a jazz vocalist/performer is ample in world music formats.

The trio's body of work targets mainstream jazz idioms and a contemporary zest to plot their own melodic improvisations.

The twosome's debut release is an impressive recording.

Ramminger accomplishes to compose earthy arrangements with lyrics that intimate a candid off-the-cuff banter.

A collection of (mostly) obscure songs by familiar artists, Bonamassa and Hart's new album features earthy, electrified reinventions that breathe new life into old numbers while giving the guitarist and the singer plenty of room to show off within icy-tight arrangements.

With iconic special guests including Steven Tyler, Buddy Guy, and ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons, Jeff Beck's 'Live at the Hollywood Bowl' is an essential collector's item for longtime fans. Period.

Great bluesman that he is, Ellis can speak volumes in a few well-placed notes. The songs span Chicago blues, rock, and soul with ease, delivering a dose of just about everything electric blues can offer.

Grayson Capps' 'Scarlett Roses' is one of the best albums I've heard to come out of North America this year.