Kadhja Bonet, Childqueen

Kadhja Bonet, Childqueen

The daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, Kadhja Bonet is a multi-instrumentalist with a tendency to obscure her jazz roots by dressing it up with sounds borrowed from other genres. Probably at least half a dozen genres suggest themselves as the music’s central framework — R&B, champer pop, folk and soul among them — each to be discarded after a song or two. At its heart, Childqueen is cosmic jazz; sunny, intricate, spacious and warm. Everything else is flavoring. Strings, woodwinds, electronic sounds, bass guitar and drums are all regular contributors, but Bonet’s prime instrument is, unmistakably, her voice, which floats and lilts and soars, often in three-part harmony with itself, warmly expanding into the benevolent ether of jazz that does not sound like jazz. Highlights: “Procession,” “Joy,” “Mother Maybe”

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Richard Thompson, 13 Rivers

Richard Thompson , 13 Rivers Richard Thompson — 13 Rivers Arguably the most consistently engaging artist of the last 50 years, Richard Thompson continues to write deep, dark folk-rock songs with an acerbic wit married to a soft, calm wisdom. This new album isn’t widely divergent from his established catalogue but miraculously Thompson, who was already a guitar hero in the 1970s, still manages to grow as a guitarist and sound fresh. Working highly intricate riffs into the undergirding of each song’s frame, he also solos on every song and as usual, his virtuosity remains connected to the music, always moving the songs forward rather than grandstanding. Plus, Thompson’s one of a kind voice only deepens in resonance over time. Highlights: “Trying,” “O Cinderella,” “Bones of Gilead”

Courntey Marie Andrews, May Your Kidness Remain

Courntey Marie Andrews, May Your Kidness Remain This young old soul sings simple songs of timeless wisdom that could have been delivered in any genre; Courtney Marie Andrews has chosen folk-country stylings with some indie pop flavorings. The Phoenix-born Andrews has a voice that rings out clear and sonorous and heartfelt, and leaves the twang to the guitars. The first two songs are sheer perfection and at least half the songs approach it; she’s at her strongest when she’s extolling the core virtues of her message — love, kindness and self-awareness. Highlight: “May Your Kindness Remain,” “Lift the Lonely from My Heart,” “This House”

Ezra Furman, Transangelic Exodus

Ezra Furman , Transangelic Exod us Ezra Furman’s “Queer outlaw saga” wowed me at every turn. A concept album about a boy and his lover on the run from the law — after the lover undergoes illegal surgery to become an angel — Furman soars and rages his way through his most impassioned album yet. Fleeing the authorities in a red Camaro, his protagonists continually risk their lives in service to their love for each other and to their true nature. These are powerful, vulnerable songs, teaming with urgency but sweetened by magic. The album’s mysticism has its roots in Furman’s own spirituality — he’s an observant Jew who never performs Friday nights — and he liberally weaves clearly autobiographical elements into the story, which makes it all the more resonant. Like the best concept albums, the story never bogs itself down in plot details, so that its finer points aren’t necessary for the enjoyment of the individual songs. Furman’s new band, the Visions, blends the guitars, s...

Album Reviews by Stefan Wenger

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