2019's dropping hot with the boys examining four brand new releases (one still in the pipeline) by independent types (as opposed to, you know, those big corporate-sponsored names in jazz). Mostly the music leans left, but the final selection is more mainstream and, unusually enough in the jazz world, openly religious. Gabriel Zucker - WEIGHTING; Jason Stein’s Locksmith Isidore – AFTER CAROLINE; Daniel Carter/Federico Ughi/Hilliard Greene/Matthew Putman/Patrick Holmes - TELEPATIA LIQUIDA; Jordan Pettay – FIRST FRUIT. Stay tuned for Mike's deconstruction of Barbara Streisand's deconstruction of the Christmas album.