Swinging Cobby Brzeski, cynical Spud Davenport, single Julia Sage, substitute Derek Engemann, solo Adam Lambert

Originally from Naples, Florida, jazz singer Cobby Brzeski graduated magna cum laude in 2018 from the Berklee College of Music. She writes, performs, and records original 1940s-inspired swing music. She recently released her debut album Vintage Girl In a Modern World, partially recorded by Rolling Stones producer Alan Sanderson at local Pacific Beat Studio.

Bigfellas drummer Spud Davenport also plays guitar and keyboard, as heard on a tune he wrote that appeared in the Brat Pack movie Class, “Overnite.” Davenport has a new solo release due in January, Songs For the Cynical, co-produced with Charlie Recksieck at Big Rock Studios. The album is so far preceded by a video and single for “Home For the Headaches.”

“I wrote this song as a visualization of new soulmates finding each other through music notes traveling through the air and connecting them to each other,” says bilingual Chilean folk, blues, and Americana songwriter Julia Sage of her new solo single “The Fall.” She has a second new single called “Sweet Rain.” “This song was inspired by the renewing power of rain, the power to take away the heaviness in someone’s world and cleansing the stains left behind by all kinds of suffering.” The track features guest violinist Jamie Shadowlight.

When Pantera’s Rex Brown announced that he’d miss the band’s final reunion shows of this year after he was diagnosed with a “mild strain” of Covid, he was replaced by former Cattle Decapitation (and current Philip H. Anselmo & the Illegals and Scour) bassist Derek Engemann. The revised lineup has so far played Knotfest Chile on December 11, as well as South American performances on December 15 and 18.

Occasional Queen singer Adam Lambert released a music video for his new take on Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World,” from his forthcoming covers album High Drama, due February 24. He also performed the song on the season finale of The Voice. The album includes Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand The Rain,” Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out For A Hero,” Billie Eilish’s “Getting Older,” and a rock and roll take on Lana Del Rey’s “West Coast.”