Best Music for Boomers

1. The Fall - Norah Jones - Pop - great songs and superb production - another masterpiece from Norah.

1. Battle Studies - John Mayer - Rock/Pop - it is a tie - this is Mayer's best to date, great songs.

2. Bread and Buddah - Harry Manx - Rock/Blues/Folk - this is the year that I discovered Harry and his latest is his best to date - he makes songs sound like he wrote them - incredible perfomer.

3. Nobody Left to Crown - Richie Havens - Folk/Rock - Richie is back with a very solid album, some originals and some covers - fab!

4. Stand Clear of the Closing Doors - Heath Brandon– Jazz/Male Vocal – this short EP excited me as much as the first time I heard Norah Jones. Heath is definitely in a NY state of mind with his songs, but this is not to be missed.

5. Sunrise on Avenue C - James Maddox - Rock/Pop - he reminds me a little of Billy Joel - great catchy songs, not a bad cut on the album.

6. Here with Me - Holly Williams - Country - granddaughter of Hank Williams - first album - fabulous. Even if you are not a country fan, you need to check this out. Great songs, great delivery. One of the best albums of the year.

7. The Soul of John Black - Black John - R&B - Best R&B album of the year, just love it. Very different, need to give it a listen and see if it sets your soul free like it does mine.

8. The Elements of Freedom - Alicia Keys - R&B - I have never been a big fan of Keys until this album, love it. Ballads or dance - great songs and great production.

9. American Saturday Night - Brad Paisley - Country - this was recommended to me and I said, "yeh right", was I wrong, this is great country music.

10. Eleven Songs – Luka Bloom – rock – Luka who?, Bloom just released one of the strongest albums of the year. Great songs and production.

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – Live from Madison Square Garden – Two oldies re-unite for a great evening of music and tour. Songs from Cream, Blind Faith, Clapton and Winwood – great album, Clapton hasn’t sounded this good in a long time.

Son Volt - American Central District - Rock - acoustic rock band delivers a very good album, good songs, mesmerizing.

Diane Birch – Bible Belt – Pop – wistful production that just works - nice album.

Paul Carrack – I Know that Name – rock – Carrack delivers another album of horn infused rock – not as strong as his last, however still a good LP. Incidentally, he wrote “I Don’t Want to Hear Anymore” which was on the last Eagles LP- performed here with and without some of the Eagles.

Matt Scofield, Heads, Tails, and Aces – Blues – Discovered Matt last year and this studio album is awfully good. It all about the blistering guitar work, songs are good, vocals are good, and the guitar playing is superb.

Kristina Jones - Spilt Milk - Pop/Jazz/Female Vocals - another female vocalist from Blue Note (Norah Jones's label), great voice, she just needs some better songs, however there are standouts and the production is first rate.

Pieta Brown - Shimmer - Folk - If you have never heard Pieta before, do yourself a favor and check this album out. You will be wanting more.

Rod Stewart - Soul Book - R&B - I have not been a big fan of Rod re-doing standards, but classic R&B songs is definitely his forte.

Government Mule - By A Thread - Rock - The Mule rocks out in the best tradition of the "Allmans".

Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring - Rock - Prophet is unusual, he speaks as much as he sings, but I like him. Always has great songs and lyrics.

Kate Ceberano and Mark Isham – Bittersweet - Standards/Easy Listening – I know, who needs another album of standards? This one is a little different in that the song selection is different than normal and the combination of Kate’s voice and Marks trumpet makes for a very nice recording.

Gabe Dixon Band – Live at the World Café – Rock – Another short EP from a new band to me, piano centered band – reminds me a little of early Billy Joel.

Shawn Mullins - Live at the Variety Playhouse - Folk/Rock - Mullins is a singer songwriter from Georgia, he sounds like he could be from Austin - this is a great live album. If you like Texas singer/songwriters, you will love this - a very good album. Highly recommended.

Ruthie Foster - The Truth - Folk/Blues/R&B - I discovered Ruthie last year and her new album is really, really good. This LP reminds me of some of the great R&B albums from the 60's - not to be missed.

Peter Bradley Adams - Traces - Singer/Songwriter - folk/pop - really nice songs with a few standouts, no bad songs which says a lot. Adams will remind you of James Taylor - very listenable - highly recommended!

Michael Buble - Crazy Love - Pop - Buble gives his treatment to more modern material than usual, some works some doesn't. If you are a Buble fan - this is a must, if you are new to Michael, better albums to start listening to this modern day Sinatra.

Linda Eder - Soundtrack - Pop/Female Vocals - Eder has a great voice, she tackles some of the best tunes from movie soundtracks. If you like Diana Krall, you will like Linda Eder.

Al Stewart - Uncorked - Rock/Folk - This is Al with guitarist Dave Nachmanoff, acoustic live set - if you are a fan of Al's and would revisit him, this makes a very nice album. He does not cover his big hits here, but his better album songs - nice.

Steep Canyon Rangers - Deep in the Shade - Country/Bluegrass - Not another bluegrass album, this one works, good musicians, vocals but best of all the songs are winners.

Revelations featuring Tre Williams - The Bleeding Edge - Old school R&B - you will hard pressed to find a better old timey R&B album than this. Take a trip to the 60's and listen to Tre and the Revelations lay down the grooves. I am a sucker for R&B, so yeh I like this album.

Rosanne Cash - The List - Country/Folk - I love Rosanne, so I am prejudiced, however the list of songs that she performs do not always work. The ones that do - "I'm Moving On" - work well, the ones that don't - just don't. I like this album, however not her best and I am finding that it does not wear well.

Will Hoge - The wreckage - Rock - Another singer/songwriter that I happen to like, little edgier than most, however this album cooks.

Chris Smither - Time Stands Still - Singer/Songwriter - another favorite of mine, Bonnie Raitt turned me on to this guy, I think this is one of his best albums in that there are more good songs than most of his albums.

Michael Buble - meets Madison Square Garden - 2 Buble albums in the same quarter, this is the best one, live - he sings his best songs and the orchestra is superb. Great songs, great charts. Sounds so much like Sinatra it is downright scary.

Pete Yorn - Back & Fourth - Rock/Folk - singer songwriter who really delivers, great songs, love the voice - just nice!

Derek Trucks - Already Free - Rock - Trucks is such a great guitarist and so versatile - this LP is more mainstream than some - very good.

Eric Lindell – Gulf Cast Highway – Rock/R&B – One of my favorite artists has just released another toe tapping horn infused album of southern style R&B influenced rock. Love it.

Van Morrison – Astral Weeks Live – I am a big fan of Van, however I never thought Astral Weeks was so great, however this is a great live outing from Van the Man.

Madeleine Peyroux – Bare Bones – Female Vocal – People have been raving for Madeleine for some time, I just never got it. Now, I do – very nice – love the songs and her treatment. Play this back to back to Luka bloom for an evening of pure joy.

J.J. Cale – Roll On – Rock – Another masterpiece from Cale, If you like him, this is not to be missed.

Chris Isaac – Mr. Lucky – Rock – It has been awhile since Isaac has released an album, this was worth the wait. Great collection of Isaac slow lamenting vocals.

The Bottesini Collection – Classical – I have no idea who Bottesini is, however this is a great album of symphonic classical music. Love it – beautiful.

Robert Cray - This Time - Blues - this is the bluesiest album that Cray has ever cut - more down home blues with the melodies driven by the keyboard rather than Cray's guitar. Not a typical Cray album, however very nice - and of course some nice guitar work by Robert. Like the blues, then pick this up.

Dave Brubeck Time Out – Legacy Edition – Jazz – I bought this on record, then I purchased the CD, then I got the SACD – so why would I want this? Because, it has eight un - released live tracks of the group back in the day. So with the magic of Itunes, I just purchased the live tracks and are they special.

Joshua Redman - Compass - Jazz - One of Jazz's best sax players delivers another outstanding LP of just great jazz.

Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette - Yesterdays - Jazz - One of Jazz's best trios release one of their best.

Diana Krall – Quiet Nights – Jazz/Female Vocal – If you love Diana as much as I do, then you will love her newest. Just classic Krall making songs that you know so well – hers. Love Boy from Ipanema - yes, Boy.

Branford Marsalis – Metamorphosen – Jazz – Branford releases another great jazz album, he just does not disappoint, litter edgier than previous.

Steve Turre – Rainbow People – Jazz – I have always been told that the trombone is a hard instrument to play, as you have to feel the notes. Turre plays it so well, great album, I keep coming back to this album. Maybe my pick of the best jazz album of the year.

Dr. Lonnie Smith – Rise Up – Jazz – Dr. Lonnie makes another album of funky organ jazz. Great LP/

Stanley Turrentine – A Chip off the Old Black – Jazz – reissue, if you missed this like I did the first time around, do yourself a favor and don’t miss it again.

Ramsey Lewis - Songs from the Heart - Jazz - I cannot begin to describe how good this album is, the playing is first rate as always, however it is the original compositions that make this stand out. Beautiful!

Eric Alexander - Revival of the Fittest - Jazz - great piano, bass, drums and the sax of Eric A which may bring tears to your eyes. Like jazz, then this is a do not miss.

Stanley Jordan - State of Nature - Jazz - this album borders on smooth jazz, however the playing takes it out of that genre into something more honest and real. However, this is one smooth album, very nice indeed.

Christian McBride - Kind of Brown - jazz - superb jazz album - just superb - worthy of lots of listens. Did I say superb - highly recommended.

David Fathead Newman - The Blessing - jazz - Fathead's last album before his death, straight ahead jazz with Fathead blowing a sweet breathy sax.

Enrico Rava - New York Days - jazz - piano based quartet - quiet dreamy stuff - on ECM is if that means anything to you. Reminds me a little of later Miles - sort of out there.

Vijay Iyer Trio - Historicity - jazz - very avant garde, if you like your jazz adventurous, this is for you.

John Moulder - Bifrost - jazz - this dude is from Chicago, he is a priest by day - another out there jazz album.

Marcus Roberts - New Orleans meets Harlem - jazz - Roberts piano is just fab, you will know every song on this album and you will love hearing them again with Roberts playing away - surrounded by very good players.

Best Music for Boomers of 2009

ID3 inc : Memorial Plaques : House Number plaques : Pet Markers : walnut plaques new baby gifts dedication plaques bench plaques