No matter how much you hear good things about a particular artist in that style, that artist always neglected. For me, that artist is Lee Morgan.

The man’s abilities are top-drawer. I need to spend more time with Mr. Morgan.

#JazzSunday #cirdecsongs

Composer and woodwind player Sam Morrison has created a fascinating record with Bill Laswell called Cosmic Trip. The music sounds pretty much like the cover art. Which is a GOOD thing.

Check it out! #cirdecsongs

modreloaded.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic...

25 From 25: “Breezy” Part of a yearlong celebration of my favorite people, places, and things in music from the past 25 years. photo by CirdecSongs I miss Jaimie Branch. It’s not like I really knew her. We only spoke t…

A few words about Jaimie “Breezy” Branch, a marvelously talented musician taken from us far too soon. It was a given that she’d make my “25 From 25” list. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/26/2...

#cirdecsongs #inconcert #graphicnovel #comicbook

My photos restyled to look like they came from a graphic novel.

25 From 25: The Albums (Part III) Part of a yearlong celebration of 25 of my favorite things in music from the last 25 years. This list is woefully incomplete. It isn’t fair to ask a music geek like me to limit himself to a finite …

Here’s Part III of the list of my favorite albums of the last 25 years. In case you missed them, the piece has links to the first two parts as well. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/20/2...

25 from 25: The Albums (Part II) Part of a 12-month celebration of my favorite musical people, places, and things from the past 25 years. Choosing a limited number of albums I’ve loved over the last quarter century was even harder…

Here’s the next group of releases that help make up my favorite albums from the last 25 years. Enjoy! #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/18/2...

Rush Changes, Yet Stays the Same RUSH, Grace Under Pressure, Super Deluxe (UMG Recordings, Inc.) In their 1978 song “Circumstances,” Rush drummer Neil Peart lyricized, “Plus ça change/Plus c’est la même chose,” which he quickly tr…

A few thoughts about the Deluxe re-release of @rushofficial.bsky.social album Grace Under Pressure. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/17/r...

I got to wondering … what would it look like if I turned concert photos I took and restyled them to look like they came from a graphic novel?

The results are … interesting. And pretty damn cool! #cirdecsongs #concert #photo #comics

CirdecSongs NextWave 4 With this list, I have listened to 120 new bands and songs. And I have barely scratched the surface. (Actually, as you read these words, I have TWELVE 30-song lists assembled. Expect to see a LOT m…

Here’s another batch of new songs from up and coming artists. It’s always nice to step outside the norm now and then. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/07/c...

The Song That Just Won’t Die My buddies in KW3 (photo by Erik Oldman) I have made great friends since moving to Chicago. More than a couple of them have a wicked sense of humor. I went to see my friends’ band KW3 a few days ag…

Every music genre has that one song everyone seems to know and cannot be escaped. Theres one like that in jazz. It makes me NUTS. I take a moment to discuss it. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/05/t...

CirdecSongs 1st Impressions STEVEN WILSON, Impossible Tightrope: Live in Madrid ( Fiction Records). A Steven Wilson concert is an exercise in precision. His music is intricate and full of expression. Pulling his songs off in …

I offer quick thoughts on new releases from Steven Wilson, Big Big Train, Pat Metheny and others. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/03/c...

Observing Marco the Monster Photo by CirdecSongs THE GIG: Matteo Mancuso THE SPOT: The Vic Theater in Chicago, Illinois THE DATE: February 27, 2026 My back surgery is four months in the rearview mirror. At last, it’s time to …

I really enjoyed my first Matteo Mancuso experience. I even wrote a few words about it. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/03/02/o...

Yep. Matteo Mancuso is some kind of guitarist.

He’s owns a nice sweet spot between Jeff Beck and Steve Vai. He could shred all day if he wanted, but knows how to pace himself. He could go full metal, but resides in a nice fusion niche.

There is definitely hope for music’s future. #cirdecsongs

25 From 25: The Artists (Part 3) Part of my yearlong series celebrating 25 of my favorite musical people, places, and things from the last 25 years. This was tougher than I thought it would be. But it’s been a good problem to have…

Here’s the final installment of my “25 From 25: The Artists” list. This was a tough nut to crack, even if it was a fun one.

Now it’s time to gear up for the next subject. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/26/2...

I hang out with a lot of musicians since I moved to Chicago. But I’ve spent the most time with my buds in @sonsofraofficial They took me in and treat me like a brother.

I’ve taken a TON of photos of these guys. So, how about creating a little #anime? It’s all in good fun. #cirdecsongs

25 From 25: The Artists (Part 2) Part of a year-long series celebrating my favorite musical people, places, and things from the last 25 years. Few tasks have been more difficult than trying to choose my 25 favorite artists and ban…

The second part covering my 25 favorite music artists from the last 25 years. This was harder than I thought it might be. And I thought it would be hard! #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/25/2...

25 from 25: The Artists (part 1) Part of a special series recognizing my 25 favorite musical people, places, events, and things from the last 25 years. I confess to having a touch (and by that I mean a TON) of musical OCD. If I fi…

A look at a few of the 25 artists who’ve had the biggest impact on me in the last 25 years. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/24/2...

Thought it would be interesting to turn my first opportunity to check out #WeLosttheSea live and take photos into a comic book. I kinda like it! #cirdecsongs #postfestival #postrock

CirdecSongs First Impressions SILAS HITE, Return of the Vampire Hustlers from Hell (Self Release). Where the vampires went is a mystery. But wherever they went, multi-instrumentalist and composer Silas Hite brought them back al…

A couple of quick thoughts about new music from Peter Gabriel, U2, and a few other musical adventures. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/19/c...

A fresh batch of tunes courtesy of my Instagram page (cirdecsongsmusic) where I learned about killer new bands like Skeeter de Milo (pictured). Complete with a pair of playlists. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/16/c...

Frank Zappa’s Ideal Musical Mindset Frank Zappa’s 1984 band February is Black History Month. It would be easy to take the time to celebrate all things African-American where music is concerned. I would prefer to go in a different dir…

When it came to making music, Frank Zappa had the right mindset. He wouldn’t let something as silly as ethnicity get in the way of his songcraft. And he got help from more than a couple of brilliant musicians. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/13/f...

CirdecSongs 1st Impressions KORNSTAD 23, Summermørket (El Paraiso Rwcords). A nicely interwoven fusion tapestry. The album’s warm sound is no doubt a result of the “live to tape” recording method. There’s no doubting the chem…

A quick glance at new recordings from Yes, Ron Carter, Julian Lage, and others. There is no shortage of good music out there! #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/11/c...

Born In the P.A.I.N. (Editor’s Note: While I don’t believe I’ve spoiled this movie, there may be an element or two you’d want left to discovery. So, if you haven’t seen the movie I’m talking about yet, it might be best…

Turns out Bruce Springsteen and I have something pretty big in common. Who knew? #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/10/b...

You Should Be Listening to Lung Daisy Caplan (drums) and Kate Wakefield (Photo via Mad Indie Media) I was wandering through Everybody’s Records in Cincinnati back in 2019, looking for something new. Lucky for me, I was pointed in…

Lung is one of my favorite bands. I’m hoping you’ll make them a favorite, too! #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/09/y...

I Like It When They Can Play! It was burning my ass! My daily YouTube scroll landed me on a video called The 3-Minute Song That KILLED Progressive Rock Forever. Was it clickbait? Yeah, there was no doubt about it. Did I click o…

Is this really the way it happened? I was 11. That being said, I’m still not fully onboard with punk. I need SKILLS. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/06/i...

John McLaughlin’s Fire and Ice When you’re a legend, you do what you want however you want. Guitar legend John McLaughlin has earned the right to do that and then some. Most people associate McLaughlin with his lightning fast fr…

One legend. Two great new albums. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/04/j...

Do I prefer @starwarsexplained.com or @startrektour.bsky.social ? The quick answer is “yes.” But what about the music? Is one better than the other? I chat that up here. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/03/b...

25 from 25: Gaga for GoGo Penguin Part of the CirdecSongs celebrating 25 of my favorite musical things of the past 25 years. (All photos by CirdecSongs) GoGo Penguin at Thalia Hall in Chicago on May 7, 2023 I’ve always believed som…

My “25 from 25” series continues with a band I’ve been obsessed with for a decade, with no end in sight. I can only hope I’ve created a few more devotees. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/02/2...

CirdecSongs NextWaveJazz When it comes to new music and artists, my Instagram cup runneth over. I’ve nearly completed compiling my sixth 30-song playlist in about three weeks. There was just one problem: there’s little to …

It’s #JazzSunday! My relentless pursuit of new music led me to Bandcamp and these super-talented jazz artists. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/02/01/c...

CirdecSongs 1st Impressions BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, “Streets of Minneapolis” (Columbia). Conceived, written, and recorded in less than a week, Bruce Springsteen cuts to the heart of the crisis in Minneapolis, Minnesota with on-the…

A quick peek at some new music from artists known (Springsteen, Flea) and on the rise. A little something for everyone. #cirdecsongs cirdecsongs.com/2026/01/30/c...