The Countdown 2017 | Sidewalk Chalk

Chicago Jazz Soul Hip-Hop outfit Sidewalk Chalk hit us with their next studio album this year, this time with Robert 'Sput' Searight in the producer's chair. Their experience with Sput led the band deeper into themselves, with stunning results. Split into three movements - The Hope, The Loss, and The Birth - An Orchid Is Born shows the band’s remarkable capacity for growth. They see that we cannot be reborn until we lose what we have, first treading in the well of despair that is a loss preceded by hope. In these three movements, Sidewalk Chalk has realized the best version of their band and, in the process, created their most important body of work.The hard fought project encapsulates the latest chapter of the band’s growth as a unit -- a period somehow beautified by a series of deep wounds that might have derailed a less focused collective. Little more than a year removed from the debut of their live album Shoulder Season, a seismic shift rocked the foundations of Sidewalk Chalk, refined their aesthetic and inspired a body of work that is as cathartic as it is the catapult necessary to push the rarefied groove at the foundation of their sound past its Chicago stomping grounds, to points across the globe.

The Countdown 2017 | Adam Ben Ezra

Israeli double-bassist Adam Ben Ezra is a phenomenon who redefines the term 'one man band'. A multi-instrumentalist, Adam brings the bass to the front and weaves influences from Bach to Sting into a live show like no other. His new recording - Pin Drop - captures the full experience as it was recorded live in an intimate studio setting. From Adam's original compositions to a miraculous version of The Beatles 'Dear Prudence', Pin Drop is a delightful journey. Adam recently toured the US and performed live with a Marimba playing robot, as if to further demonstrate that he is pioneering our future. See Adam Ben Ezra in his element right here

The Countdown 2017 | Jesus On The Mainline

We can guarantee you that THIS is the most under-rated and overlooked album of 2017. These are the times we live in, when gems lie right in front of us and we busy ourselves sorting out the rubbish. The name alone got our attention - it is clear that Andrew Neesley and Tim Emmerick know their history. Andrew is a Jazz composer who cut his teeth with Big Bands, and Tim is a songwriter with a serious love of indie rock. Together they distill the energy and craft of a fifteen piece band and make it sound simple, pure, and perfected. And the songs - They are mysterious, longing, and leave you happy. Which is OK, we promise.