Once in a Life Time

Released in 1968 by an 18-year-old Stevie Wonder, "For Once In My Life" yielded the number two hit single title track and the top 10 song "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" which Wonder co-wrote. A lush, energetic album, sees 'Little' Stevie Wonder singing a workout's worth. Not to be confused with the more broadly creative Stevie of later years, this is the vintage singing-sensation Stevie. It's a thrill to hear. While the studio instrumentation is standard fare for the time, Wonder plays happily off the backing with saucily bent notes and hearty falsettos that make these pop tunes wail.

For Once in My Life is Ben Paterson's fourth album as a leader but first as an organist. In his native Philadelphia—home to such giants of the Hammond as Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, Charles Earland and Joey DeFrancesco—Paterson was known as a pianist. He began doubling on organ while living in Chicago, and by the time he moved to New York City in 2013 was gigging regularly on organ and piano all over Manhattan, from Harlem in the north to Greenwich Village in the south. One of the reasons he made the move to organ, Paterson says, is "I get to be the bassist."

After being discovered by Simon Cowell in 2003, Il Divo went on to sell over 30 million albums and sellout arena tours worldwide. For their 10th studio album, Il Divo celebrates the hits of Motown.

Formed in the mid-’70s by art school chums David Byrne, Chris Franz, and Tina Weymouth—and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison—Talking Heads exploded out of CBGB’s punk breeding ground to become one of the most artistically adventurous and influential bands ever. Their visionary, polyrhythmic spin on rock fused elements including funk, African beats, Brazilian sway, avant-garde minimalism, pop savvy, and punk’s DIY aesthetic into a pioneering sound that was at once experimental and accessible . . . wholly inventive yet immediately welcoming. From 1977’s self-titled debut to 1988’s Naked , their work both unceasingly pushed the envelope and delivered massive Top 10 hits like "Burning Down The House."

After working as an engineer for 34 years, Spike Robinson finally became a full-time musician late in 1985. This outing with fellow tenor Al Cohn and a rhythm section comprised of pianist Richard Wyands, bassist Steve La Spina and drummer Akira Tana finds Robinson holding his own with his better-known sidemen. The two tenors had similar but complementary styles (Cohn's tone at this point in time was deeper and darker than Spike's), and their interplay and occasional tradeoffs are delightful. In addition to some standards, they perform Miles Davis' "Sippin' at Bells," Bob Brookmeyer's "Rustic Hop" and Johnny Mandel's "Low Life" on this easily recommended LP.