Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox

Trumpet player and band leader, Wes Watkins brings a unique and groovy style that always sets the perfect vibe for an unforgettable brunch. Watkins' music will make you dance, think, cry, and (he hopes), strive to be better. He wants a world that is steeped in accountability, honesty, forgiveness, and reform. "I was told a long time ago that the human connection can water any seed and what are humans if not imperfect? Music is the tool I use to…

Four is guitarist Bill Frisell's third leader set for Blue Note. His top-shelf quartet seamlessly balances improvisational acumen with a profound sense of melodic invention. Frisell's sidemen include saxophonist/clarinetist Greg Tardy, pianist Gerald Clayton, and drummer Johnathan Blake. There is no bassist. Nine of these 13 tracks comprise fresh material, while the remainder is revisioned tunes from his catalog. Much of the new music was composed in notebook fragments during the pandemic; the album is his meditation on loss, renewal,…