VIJAY IYER’S SOLO & SUMMER SOUNDS OF BEST COAST

VIJAY IYER’S SOLO

Pianist Vijay Iyer’s trio album from last year, Historicity, was the consensus jazz album of the year. He mixed originals with exciting covers of songs from Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Hill, M.I.A., Julius Hemphill, and Stevie Wonder. Vijay’s new CD, SOLO (ACT, $16.99), takes the same approach: songs by Duke Ellington, Steve Coleman, and Thelonious Monk; standards old (“Darn That Dream”) and new (“Human Nature”); and the rest, originals. In this season of great jazz piano albums, you must check out Mr. Iyer.

SUMMER SOUNDS OF BEST COAST

Bethany Cosentino writes catchy, boy-crazed tunes drenched in big reverb that are perfect summer listening. Her group, Best Coast, has a fun new album, CRAZY FOR YOU (Mexican Summer, $12.98) that was reviewed in the Washington Post. She was also interviewed last Sunday on NPR.

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• András Goldinger