Front And Center am Madden

Brilliant songwriter, world-class harmonica player and streetwise vocalist Rick Estrin was the very popular front man with the internationally renowned Little Charlie & the Night cats for over 30 years. TWISTED highlights Rick Estrin's offbeat, yet razor-sharp lyrical visions backed by a more visceral, rock-infused guitar punch than before. Front and center throughout are Estrin's wry, cutting vocals and amazing harmonica chops. Andersen's killer fretwork stands out as well and a rock solid rhythm section keeps things tight and right.

Pianist-composer Yelena Eckemoff’s body of elaborate, ambitious jazz concept albums reaches a new virtuosic summit with "Lonely Man and His Fish," to be released April 28. A double-album set, the album is also a long-form parable, a story of deep affection between a human and his beloved pet. An all-star lineup—cornetist Kirk Knuffke, flutist Masaru Koga, bassist Ben Street, and drummer Eric Harland—helps Eckemoff breathe life into the tale.

Concrete and Mud. Since kicking off his career with 2014's Ephemeral, Sam Morrow has seen plenty of both. With his career-defining third record, Morrow should cement his place as a member of Los Angeles' country elite. Concrete and Mud is a confident album, rooted in Texas twang, southern stomp, and old-school funky-tonk. Recorded largely live in the studio on a vintage Neve 8068 console with producer/engineer Eric Corne at the helm, it also shines a light on Morrow's strength as a songwriter, front-man, and bandleader. At 27 years old, Morrow's found his footing as an artist and appears poised to join the ranks of West Coast heavyweights like Sam Outlaw, Jade Jackson, and Morrow's friend and label mate, Jaime Wyatt whose vocals can be heard on three songs here.