Tompkins Square
In an online work-in-progress documentary about him, British folk “outsider” Chapman lists his early influences as Big Bill Broonzy, Django Reinhardt and jazz organist Jimmy Smith, the latter because “he’s like a self-contained bass player, and I try to do that on the guitar.”
Oglio
After two collaborations with electropop legend Jean-Jacques Perrey, retro-synthesizer whiz Countryman finally finishes the debut album he started eight years ago.
Blue Bella
For those who like Willie Mitchell, the Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the MG’s, the Bar-Kays and that 1990 self-titled album by the Memphis Boys, Stubbs comes highly recommended.
Epic
The best instrumental music emotionally engages the listener at a stratospheric level, making up for the lack of words. When it comes to Satriani, not many guitarists fly higher — his ultramelodic rock is the genre’s gold standard.
