Jason Crosby - Cryptologic (2017)

It was a risky move to walk away from the safety and security of his career as one of music's most in-demand sidemen, but Jason Crosby's decision to leave the road behind and experience a different kind of life helped plant the seeds that have blossomed into his exceptionally beautiful debut album, 'Cryptologic.' Split essentially into two halves, one in which Crosby plays nearly every instrument himself, and another in which he's backed by Golden State stalwarts The Mother Hips, the record showcases both Crosby's instrumental prowess and his unflinching honesty as a lyricist and singer. He digs deep on the album, most of which was written after his 2013 relocation from New York City to Marin County, California, painting vivid portraits of characters on the hunt for redemption and renewal. Richly cinematic and enchantingly playful, 'Cryptologic' plays out as a work of catharsis, but more than that, it's a leap of faith from an artist willing to push beyond what's comfortable in order to follow his muse. If Crosby's name isn't immediately familiar, his keyboard/violin/guitar playing most likely is. The multi-instrumental virtuoso has toured and recorded with a who's who of legendary artists, including Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Pete Seeger, Dave Matthews, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Robert Randolph, and Susan Tedeschi among others. He's graced the stages of the world's biggest festivals and appeared on television everywhere from The Tonight Show and Austin City Limits to Jools Holland and the GRAMMY Awards, where he played keyboard in the tribute to Funk with Outkast, the original P-Funk, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Upon landing in California, he took up gigs with Jackie Greene, The Mother Hips, John McLaughlin and Jimmy Herring, and Grateful Dead icons Phil Lesh and Bob Weir.