Kevin Whitehead

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead shares his favorite releases of the year -- which include three reissues of classic recordings.

Trumpeter Jack Walrath played with Charles Mingus, and now leads his own band in the new album Wholly Trinity. Kevin Whitehead says the record is filled filled with variety and humor, and is Walrath's best yet.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says the movie star had a range of about six notes, but he had personality and a swinging house band. Yet Astaire deserves praise for making famous several songs which later became standards.