AJ Croce

When A.J. Croce was a week past his second birthday, his father, singer-songwriter Jim Croce, died in a September 1973 plane crash. Croce will celebrate two of his father’s albums, 1973’s Life and Times and his final release, I Got A Name, in addition to songs from You Don’t Mess Around With Jim. The Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour includes venues like New York City’s Town Hall and Detroit’s Royal Oak Music Theatre.

Sister Speak

Led by singer/songwriter Sherri Anne, Sister Speak has collaborated with San Diego musicians Lisa Viegas (drums), Tolan Shaw, The Brothers Burns, Stephen Gentillalli, Swift Pony, and others. “The idea was a collaboration of musicians supporting the expression of the woman’s voice through music,” says Anne. Sister Speak’s 2022 album Love For All is being pressed on 140g deluxe 12-inch lead-free vinyl and printed with non-toxic ink. An even more deluxe version comes with a signed lyric book.

Sluka

Progressive alt-rock singer-songwriter Christopher Sluka is an FAA gold-seal-certified flight instructor, with a commercial pilot’s license and over 3000 hours of flight time. An accordion is featured prominently in his new video for “Medley - Misery, Rage or Restrain, Coincidence,” from his Ready To Connect full-length. The album was produced by Grammy-winner Alan Sanderson (Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Rolling Stones) at local Pacific Beat Recording Studio.

Patrick Yandall

Fusion jazz guitarist Patrick Yandall has been featured in magazines like Guitar Player, Jazz Times, Smooth & Soul, Smooth Vibes, and Smooth Jazz News. Yandall’s new album Dance In the Rain drops July 11, preceded so far by a title single featuring Gene-O-Cole. “This gospel R&B-influenced selection has a beautiful message of dealing with any type of pain you might be going through,” says Yandall.

Lori Bell

From her 1980s work with Peter Sprague and Dave Mackay through her early 2000s solo releases and beyond, flute-playing jazz composer Lori Bell has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary Jazz Album, Best New Artist, Best Instrumental Composition, Best Instrumental Arrangement, and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Her song “Ingenuity” was recently chosen to appear on volume two of the album series New Standards by Women Composers. She’ll appear on Sunday, April 16, at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library.