Jul. 25----MY SUITCASE IS ALWAYS PACKED: The Red Stick Ramblers

The Red Stick Ramblers are back with a hybrid collection of Cajun, honky-tonk bluegrass songs that live up to the band's Louisiana roots but surpass the expectations of a band that takes its name from the English meaning of Baton Rouge. "We live life to its fullest," says Ramblers fiddler and vocalist Linzay Young through the Sugar Hill label. "Then we pour that into our songwriting and our music, and take it with us wherever we go." No joke. This band may ramble, but it does so with drive, an exuberant, full-tilt joyous noise. Young is joined by Kevin Wimmer, fiddle, vocals; Chas Justus, guitar, vocals; Eric Frey, bass, banjo, vocals; Glenn Fields, drums. The CD's title is appropriate. The band took a break from its almost non-stop touring -- about 600 dates in a three-year period -- to create the Ramblers' fifth album. "The sessions for this album had a good combination of songs that we had been playing for a long time that we could just knock out quickly," Young says, "and some more open-ended things that we could really develop in the studio." For rockabilly Cajun listeners, this is one suitcase worth unpacking.

--FALL: Gian Tornatore

Saxophonist/composer Gian Tornatore releases a moody showcase of original instrumental arrangements on his new CD, "Fall." The eight songs on this CD are rich and melodic, a smart collection of tight arrangements that come across as effortless and as relaxing as a breeze off the ocean. While this album is every second a showcase for Tornatore's talents, he shares "Fall" with a talented group of musicians: Nate Radley, guitar; Jon Anderson, piano; Thomas Kneeland, bass; Jordan Perlson, drums. Tornatore is a Californian raised on R&B. Though a jazz album, "Fall's" R&B influences show. This CD may have soulful jazz fans falling.

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