Rush

 

Artist:  Rush
Origin:  Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre:  Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Original line-up:

Alex Lifeson:  Guitars, Synthesizer Bass, Backing Vocals
Jeff Jones:   Bass, Lead Vocals, Keyboards
John Rutsey:  Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals 

Classic line-up:

Alex Lifeson:  Guitars, Synthesizer Bass, Backing Vocals
Geddy Lee:  Bass, Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Neil Peart:  Drums, Percussion

Rush is a Canadian Progressive Rock Band from Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, formed in 1968, the original line-up by Alex Lifeson (Guitar), Jeff Jones (Bass, Lead Vocals) and John Rutsey (Drums).  After several line-up, the band is composed of Alex Lifeson (Guitar), Geddy Lee (Bass, Lead Vocals) and Neil Peart (Drums).  Rush has sold 25 million units in the United States and 40 million units worldwide as of 2004.  The band has been awarded 24 Gold, 14 Platinum, and 3 Multi-Platinum Albums, and has received and won several Juno Awards, was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 1994, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.  Rush plans to stop touring at the end of 2015.

Title:  Rush (2026)

Genre:  Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Label:   Mercury

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Finding My Way (5:03)

 2.  Need Some Love (2:16)

 3.  Take A Friend (4:27)

 4.  Here Again (7:30)

Side Two:

 1.  What You're Doing (4:19)

 2.  In The Mood (3:36)

 3.  Before And After (5:35)

 4.  Working Man (7:67)

Personnel:

Alex Lifeson:  Guitars, Vocals
Geddy Lee:  Bass, Lead Vocals
John Rutsey:  Drums, Vocals

Rush is the debut studio album by Rush, originally released on March 18, 1974 by Moon Records, remastered and reissued on February 27, 2026 by Mercury Records.  Pressed on 180 Gram Vinyl.

Paul Gilbert

 

Artist:   Paul Gilbert
Birth Name:  Paul Brandon Gilbert
Born:  November 6, 1966.  Carbondale,  Illinois, USA.
Genre:  Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal, Instrumental Rock, Speed Metal, Rock
Instruments:  Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Percussion, Harmonica

Paul Gilbert is an American Guitar Hero and Musician, best-known with Racer X, and Mr. Big, as well as his Solo Albums.  He has been voted No. 4 on a list in Guitar One Magazine of "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time' and "50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time" in Guitar World Magazine.

Title:  WROC (2026)

Genre:  Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal, Instrumental Rock, Speed Metal, Rock
Label:  Music Theories Recordings

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  Keep Your Feet Firm And Even (4:46)

 2.  Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune Of Another) (4:35)

 3.  Maintain A Sweet And Cheerful Countenance (3:50)

 4.  Go Not Thither (4:52)

 5.  Orderly And Distinctly (4:58)

Side B:

 1.  If You Soak Bread In The Sauce (3:63)

 2.  Let Thy Carriage (3:55)

 3.  Conscience Is The Most Certain Judge (4:56) 

 4.  Spark Of Celestial Fire (8:10) 

 5.  George Washington Rules (3:02)

Personnel:

Paul Gilbert:  Guitar

Doug Rappoport:  Guitar, Vocals

Timmer Blakely:  Bass, Vocals

Nick D'Virgillio:  Drums, Backing Vocals

WROC is an album by Paul Gilbert, released on February 27, 2026 by Music Theories Recordings, recorded live over four days at The Hallowed Halls in Portland, Oregon.

Thelonious Monk

 

Artist:  Thelonious Monk

Birth Name:  Thelonious Sphere Monk

Born:  October 10, 1917.  Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA

Died:  February 17, 1982 (Aged 64).  Englewood, New Jersey, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Cool Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop, Post  Bop, Jazz Instrument, Piano Jazz. Progressive Jazz, Modern Big Band

Occupation:  Musician, Composer

Instruments:  Piano

Thelonious Monk was an American Jazz Pianist and Composer.  He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the Standard Jazz repertoire, including "Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Ruby, My Dear" and more!.

Artist:  Thelonious Monk Quartet

Title:  Thelonious In Action (Special Edition) (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Cool Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop, Post  Bop, Jazz Instrument, Piano Jazz. Progressive Jazz, Modern Big Band

Label:  Ermitage

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Light Blue (5:18)

 2.  Coming On The Hudson (5:27)

 3.  Rhythm A-Ning (9:20)

 4.  Epistrophy (Theme) (1:06)

Side Two:

 1.  Blue Monk (8:34)

 2.  Evidence (8:53)

 3.  Epistrophy (Theme) (1:07)

Personnel:

Thelonious Monk:  Piano

Johnny Griffin:  Tenor Saxophone

Ahmed Abdul-Malik:  Bass

Roy Haynes:  Drums

Thelonious In Action is a live album by Thelonious Monk Quartet, originally released in 1958 by Riverside, remastered and reissued on January 16, 2026 by Ermitage, recorded live at the Five Spot Cafe, New York City, August 1958.  Special Edition Yellow Vinyl.

Highway Of Diamonds: Black America Sings Bob Dylan

 

Artist:  Various Artists

Origin:   USA

Genre:  Soul, Funk, Jazz, Gospel, Rock, Pop

Black America Sings Bob Dylan, All songs written by Bob Dylan from more of Black America's greatest musical talents of the past 60 years by some of the foremost African American Artists.

Artist:  Various Artists

Title:  Highway Of Diamonds: Black America Sings Bob Dylan (2026)

Genre:  Soul, Funk, Jazz, Gospel, Rock, Pop

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side One:

 1.  A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall (by The Staple Singers) (6:04)

 2.  Everything Is Broken (by Bettye Lavette) (3:41)

 3.  Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (by Nina Simone) (4:49)

 4.  Gotta Serve Somebody (by Natalie Cole) (5:14)

Side Two:

 1.  It Ain't Me Babe (by Maxine Weldon) (3:22)

 2.  It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) (by Billy Preston) (3:49)

 3.  The Mighty Quinn (by Solomon Burke) (2:58)

 4.  Shelter From The Storm (by Cassandra Wilson) (5:15)

 5.  Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (by Merry Clayton) (2:50)

LP 2:

Side Three:

 1.  The Times They Are A Changin' (by The Brothers & Sisters Of Los Angeles) (2:42)

 2.  Tomorrow Is A Long Time (by Harry Belafonte) (3:27)

 3.  Baby, I'm In the Mood For You (by Odetta) (2:47)

 4.  Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight (by Aaron Neville) (4:21)

 5.  If Not For You (by Sarah Vaughan) (2:48)

 6.  George Jackson (by JP Robinson) (3:29)

Side Four:

 1.  When He Returns (by Jimmy Scott) (4:25)

 2.  I Threw It All Away (by The Bo-Keys) (3:56)

 3.  Down Along The Cove (by Johnny Jenkins) (3:24)

 4.  Every Grain Of Sand (by Lizz Wright) (5:28)

 5.  Blowin' In The Wind (by The Caravans) (3:25)

Highway Of Diamonds: Black America Sings Bob Dylan is the tribute album by Various Artists, released on January 30, 2026 by ACE Records, featuring Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Preston, Solomon Burke, Cassandra Wilson, Harry Belafonte, Aaron Neville, Jimmy Scott, Natalie Cole, The Staple Singers, and many more!.

Sonny Boy Williamson

 

Artist:  Sonny Boy Williamson 
Birth Name:  Alex Or Aleck Ford
Born:  December 5, 1912.  Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, USA
Died:  May 24, 1965 (Aged 53).  Helena, Arkansas, USA
Genre:  Blues, Harmonica Blues, Chicago Blues
Occupation:  Musician, Songwriter, Arranger, Band Leader
Instruments:  Singing, Blues Harmonica

Sonny Boy Williamson was an American Blues Harmonica Player, Singer and Songwriter.  He was an early and influential Blues Harp Stylist who recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s.  He first recorded with Elmore James and he toured Europe and recorded with English Rock Musicians, including The Yardbirds, The Animals, and Jimmy Page.  The song "Help Me" became a Blues Standard and many Blues and Rock Artists have recorded his songs.

Title:  The Real Folk Blues (2026)

Genre:  Blues, Harmonica Blues, Chicago Blues

Label:  Chess Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side 1:

 1.  One Way Out (2:44)

 2.  Too Young To Die (2:52)

 3.  Trust My Baby (2:41)

 4.  Checkin Up On My Baby (1:52)

 5.  Sad To Be Alone (2:52)

 6.  Got To Move (2:24)

Side 2:

 1.  Bring It On Home (2:34)

 2.  Down Child ( 2:30)

 3.  Peach Tree (2:31)

 4.  Dissatisfied (2:41)

 5.  That's All U Want (2:13)

 6.  Too Old To Think (2:46)

Personnel:

Sonny Boy Williamson:  Harmonica, Vocals

Buddy Guy:  Guitar on Track 1/1

Robert Lockwood Jr.:  Guitar on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/2, 4-6

Eddie King:  Guitar on Track 2/3

Matt Murphy:  Guitar on Track 2/1

Luther Tucker:  Guitar on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/3-6

Otis Spann:  Piano on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/3-6

Lafayette Leake:  Piano, Organ on Tracks:  1/1, 3, 6, 2/1, 2

Willie Dixon:  Bass on Tracks:  1/2-5, 2/2-6

Jack Mayers:  Bass on Track 1/1

Milton Rector:  Bass on Tracks:  1/6, 2/1

Fred Below:  Drums on Tracks:  1/1, 3-5, 2/2-6

Odie Payne:  Drums on Track 1/2

Al Duncan:  Drums on Tracks:  1/6, 2/1

The Real Folk Blues is an album by Sonny Boy Williamson, originally released January 1966 by Chess Records, remastered and reissued on February 20, 2026 by Chess Records.  Pressed on 180 Gram Vinyl.

Jimmy Smith

 

Artist:  Jimmy Smith 

Birth Name:  James Oscar Smith
Born:  December 8, 1925.  Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
Died:  February 8, 2005 (Aged 79).  Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Genre:  Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Fusion Jazz
Occupation:  Musician
Instrum

Birth Name:  James Oscar Smith
Born:  December 8, 1925.  Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
Died:  February 8, 2005 (Aged 79).  Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Genre:  Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Fusion Jazz
Occupation:  Musician
Instruments:  Hammond B-3, Electric Organ

Jimmy Smith was an American Jazz Musician.  He wasn't the first organ player in Jazz but no one had a greater influence with the instrument that he did.  He recorded more than 30 albums for Blue Note Records between 1956 and 1963, collaborating with the likes of Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine and Jackie McLean.  In 1963, he signed a new record deal with Verve.  In 2005, he was awarded the NEA Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor that America bestows upon Jazz Musicians.

Artist:  The Incredible Jimmy Smith

Title:  Organ Grinder Swing (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series) (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Fusion Jazz

Label:  Verve

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Organ Grinder Swing (2:16)

 2.  Oh, No, Babe (9:02)

 3.  Blues For J (5:19)

Side Two:

 1.  Greensleeves (8:54)

 2.  I'll Close My Eyes (3:19)

 3.  Satin Doll (7:01)

Personnel:

Jimmy Smith:  Organ

Kenny Burrell:  Guitar

Grady Tale:  Drums

Organ Grinder Swing  is an album by  The Incredible Jimmy Smith, originally released in 1965 by Verve, remastered and reissued on January 23, 2026 by Verve, featuring Kenny Burrell, Grady Tale.   Pressed on 180 Gram Vinyl.