Singer-songwriter John Mayer fills his debut, Room for Squares, with pep talks to and advertisements for himself. Even when questioning his young life, Mayer's doubts come off glib; not one second of "Why Georgia" convinces that "the stirring in my soul" keeps the artiste awake at night. Between his Dave Matthews-wannabe vocals and the accomplished but bland lite rock of his band, he could be just as easily offering tunes for hire to a coming-of-age network series as making a stand for himself and his worldview. The premise of "City Love"--that Mayer couldn't find his way around Manhattan until finding a girlfriend to root him to the place--is nice but not edifying. "My Stupid Mouth" is similarly fuzzy; letting us in on just what he said to alienate a dinner partner would've gone a long way toward fleshing out the song's pat self-deprecation. Ultimately, Mayer comes off less like a commiserating friend than a blabbermouth who's forever forgetting there's someone else in the room. And instead of whining about a discarded lunch box ("83"), dude, learn to brown-bag it the way the rest of us did.

Tango is one of the world's most popular art forms. With its inherent sensuality and sexual overtones, it is no wonder that the tango has created intrigue throughout the world. The all-star musicians on this disc recreate traditional tangos, beautifully capturing the essence of the form with elegance and panache. Washington Galli, the vocalist, epitomizes the style of tango singing, adjusting to the constantly pulsating underlying rhythm while manifesting freedom of phrasing and interpretation. Despite the passage of time since these pieces were originally composed, the works remain fresh, as the tango remains a poignant expression of our deepest human emotions.

Chesky Records release. A collection of performances titled the World's Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings - New York Time by Christian McBride, Javon Jackson, Jimmy Cobb and Cedar Walton and Traffic by Larry Coryell, Lenny White and Victor Bailey - in music stores and web sites that carry Jazz and Vocal music titles.

Chesky Records release. Renown in his community in Sevilla, Spain, Carlos Heredia is the consummate Flamenco guitarist and his ensemble of traditional musicians, including palmas and singers, invigorate the recording with a rich history. This is authentic flamenco - raw and intense.

Chesky Records release. Colombian singer/songwriter Marta Gomez is a wonderful, enigmatic talent. Her voice has the lulling softness that evokes Brazil's female vocal icons, yet there's a depth to her writing that goes far beneath the surface. She's also something of an expert on Latin rhythms -- there are 13 different ones on this disc, all of them rooted in different cultures, from Colombian bambuco to Argentine chamame...

Chesky Records release. You know her voice. Scottish-singer/actress Rebecca Pidgeon captivated music lovers and audiophiles alike with her classic rendition of "Spanish Harlem". Now, on her new Celtic-inspired, musical story book "Four Marys" she takes listeners on a musical journey back to her Scottish roots. Historical, philosophical, humorous and tragic, "Four Marys" explores classic tales of love, infidelity, war and revenge. In the process, Pidgeon's fresh interpretations of traditional Celtic folk songs like "Fhear a Bhata", "Black Jack Davey" and "Jock O Hazeldean" - blend her unmistakable vocal style with a distinctive Celtic flavor.

Tomorrow's World or meet Jean-Benoît Dunckel of Air and Lou Hayter, former keyboard New Young Pony Club. A musical union initiated by the Parisian and Londoner end of 2010 and said that the binomial approach as the soundtrack psychedelic pop a true-false Twin Peaks. Who says Twin Peaks and David Lynch told David Lynch that said Angelo Badalamenti said. Sensations that are palpable throughout their eponymous album, Tomorrow's World, a project that could not be limited to being a nice side project. Influences other very, very synthetic cross also the road from our Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra's third millennium minimalism aggressive Suicide, rhythms clinical Human League, tablecloths weightless Air... A true false true group embarked on a fake soundtrack true false film for a sensual trip and really tasty.

National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master and Grammy-winning legend George Benson brings his guitar to the forefront in his newest album Guitar Man. The 12-song collection includes a mix of jazz and pop standards – some in a combo setting and some solo, but all of them tied together seamlessly by Benson’s soulful and exploratory signature sound. The album includes masterful takes on such classics as Coltrane’s “Naima,” “Tequila,” The Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour” and more.

The 1976 triple-platinum album by 10X Grammy Winner George Benson marked the beginning of the guitarist and singer most successful commercial period. The album garnered 4 Grammys, including Best-Engineered Album, Non Classical and “Record of the Year” for the massive hit (and Leon Russell cover) “This Masquerade,” which topped the Pop, Jazz, and R&B charts.

Genius of Modern Music Volume One is an electrifying compilation highlighting the innovations of Thelonious Monk. The album features early Monk compositions that ultimately transformed into jazz standards. Guest musicians include Art Blakey, Milt Jackson, Gene Ramey, Sahib Shihab, John Simmons, Billy Smith, Shadow Wilson, Danny Quebec West and George Taitt. It includes the classic tunes “Well You Needn’t” and “In Walked Bud.” Genius of Modern Music Volume One is listed on Q’s “Best Jazz Albums of All Time” and Vibe’s “100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century”.

Genius of Modern Music Vol. Two is the second installment highlighting Monk’s undeniable genius. This stunning body of work includes the classics “Skippy,” “Let’s Cool One” and “Ask Me Now.” Guest virtuosos include Max Roach, Gene Ramey, Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, Lou Donaldson, Lucky Thompson and many others. This is an essential document of jazz history.

Street Of Dreams is Grant Green’s 1964 classic. It features fellow virtuosos Bobby Hutcherson, Larry Young and Elvin Jones. The album explores the exhilarating standards “I Wish You Love,” “Lazy Afternoon,” “Street Of Dreams” and “Somewhere In The Night.” Street Of Dreams features the band’s uncanny chemistry and delicate nuances. Absolutely essential.

A defining moment in a career that has spanned multiple decades, Rod Stewart remains one of the best selling artists of all time. Stewart continued his legacy with the release of his 1971 masterpiece, Every Picture Tells A Story. This quintessential recording rocks hard, comprised of originals and covers; the album is a rich mix of rock, blues and folk. Stewart’s soulful and brilliantly textured vocals are at the forefront of this album, which includes an inspired rendition of The Temptations’ “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and his chart-topping pop anthem, “Maggie May.” Experience this timeless classic and one of the greatest rock albums of all time as a pristine hi-res download.

Recorded with legendary producer Nigel Godrich in 2002, Sea Change remains one of the most popular and critically acclaimed albums of the 2000s. Rolling Stone Magazine declared it Album of the Year in 2002 and it reached #8 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. The music marries elements of folk, country, rock and electronic music with highly emotional lyrical content.