Grandphunkiest came up in the church singing but then got funky with it. “Could U Be” samples a classic Prince song but only at the hook. The rest of it plays with originality with some Spanish flare tossed in there. The beat is soft while the lyrics are delivered with a mixture of aggression and sensuality. That one has this funky R&B vibe to it while “Precious” has more of a rock backbone going on. There are these little spurts of singing but then the other parts seem like a monologue. It’s an interesting take on music but out of the two I’d lean more towards “Could U Be.” If you’re a fan of funky, eclectic music then check out Grandphunkiest. (https://www.jango.com/music/Grandphunkiest?l=0)

Two Troubadours Music’s “Tim Hogan & Jon Lorentz” is pop for people who have their life together. Songs about the idea of home are always touching because where are people most comfortable? Well at their own house, that’s why “Home” is a good song. Everyone can relate to it. The same can be said of “House is Our Home.” We pick up the pace and head in a different direction with “Runaways.” The intro of “Wants & Needs” grabs you and the vocals haunt you as you dive deeper into this one. When you approach “The Misty Gold” you don’t get the same sound that played with the rest of the record. Two Troubadours Music sounds like a completely different artist here music wise. Ending this record is “The Way She Moves” and it’s come full circle in terms of sound. It is pop music done in a very mature way that it almost sounds like a classic piece. If you’re a fan of mature pop like Ryan Adams, check out Two Troubadours Music. (https://twotroubadoursmusic.bandcamp.com/)

Arjun – Core

Barbra Bailey Bradley’s 2006 release “Harp-Felt” is for the harpist lovers out there. The record starts out with “The Lakes of Pantchartrain.” It is an elegantly done song that I’m sure will be the feel of the rest of the record as well. All harp music has this royal vibe to it and you can hear that throughout with Barbra’s music. “Sonata for Harp, 2006 Mov’t II” has a nursery rhyme appeal to it. It sounds like a lullaby done on a grander scale in a way. That tone changes with “Chester Variations.” With this one I felt like it wasn’t like the rest that came before it. It sounds kind of like something out of a Victorian horror movie - if that’s a genre that exists. If not, then this song just created it. Barbra then takes on a classic, literally with some Bach as she does “Invention No. 1 in C.” When people do covers like this you can’t help but think of the pressure the artist was under to endure a song with so much history and substance. We get back to the lullaby feel with “Simple Gifts.” We end things with “Nostalgia.” What was great about this one is that it didn’t have a light and airy feeling like the rest. There were a lot of elements to this record that it would be hard to pinpoint them all without writing an essay. So the best summary of this would be that it has a lot of, again, elegance, as well as some covers and moments of differentiation. If you’re a fan of classical music, especially the harp - then check out Barbra Bailey Bradley’s “Harp-Felt,” out now. (https://www.beeharp.com/)

Dale Irvin Thompson is a Gospel artist from Los Angeles who has some tricks up his sleeve. “Happy” has this midtempo beat and kind of reminds me of someone who might be on tour with someone that falls between Bad Rabbits and Jason Mraz. Dale brings a song that has this laid back vibe but breaks it down and gets funky with it too. With “Free From You” you get the drama. The intro sounds like something you’d hear at Medieval Times before the games begin. Then that funky soul comes through and the drama is gone. Lastly, we end on a soft note and “The Music of Your Name.” It’s unlike the other two and has a very light feel to it and sounds like the heartfelt one of the bunch. It’s a bit sentimental but the chorus picks up the energy for sure. If you’re into R&B that’s got a funky step to it, check out Dale Irvin Thompson. (https://www.reverbnation.com/dithompson)

Mike Appel is a music man who has done the band thing for years but is currently flying solo and bringing you an array of sounds. “A Woman After Me Own Heart” kicks off and invites you into a love song that has a Country backbone. It’s got a cute element to it and you can’t help but be taken aback by the sweet words coming from it. Anyone who has ever been to Arizona knows that there is a specific sound when it comes to that place. Appel doesn’t have that Country feel in this one, it’s more soft rock as he gives Arizona a new theme song. Then he gets a little more closer to actual rock with “Close Enough For Rock-N-Roll.” It wasn’t exactly Ozzy rock, but more a ’70s feel. We head back to that Country vibe with “Hank’s Last Shot.” It’s a story of a man and has that aroma to it. Sticking with that storytelling way we head into “Jimbo’s Dream.” What can be said about Mike Appel is that he’s not a one trick pony. He can go from being a simple Country man to a guy who can rock it a bit. If you like to straddle that line when it comes to music, then Mike Appel is the man you need to catch a tune or two from. (https://www.mikeappel.com/index.html)

Steve Henrichs’ music is an escape brought on by fusions of pop and jazz. “Dawn” sounds like the beginning of not only a new day, but a good one. It brings the idea of a promising beginning to the table. For someone who has lived in Southern California their whole life, rain isn’t a positive thing but with Steve Henrichs it sounds like it is because his track “Rain” has this very light feel to it. With “You” you take things down a bit and you get a beautiful angelic voice that’s not Steve’s but a friend lending her pipes. One of the best from this batch is “Tenderly” because it’s rightfully titled. Every note, every mark is just as tender as the last. Pulling it all together at the end is the elegantly done “For All We Know.” It sounds like a fancy affair is happening and you can see the classy dances being done on a ballroom floor. If you’re a fan of jazz and love for it to tell stories and evoke feelings, then you have to check out Steve Henrichs and his pals now. (https://www.stevehenrichs.com/)

Sarah Donner – This is a Pegasus

by Levi West. Approved by Cyrus Rhodes