Ann Wilson & Tripsitter: Live in Concert (Mercury Studios, Blu-ray, NR, 88 min.). This excellent show was recorded July 25, 2023 at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, with Wilson backed by the band Trippsitter, who also backed her on her then-recent solo album, “Another Door.” They perform six of the 11 songs from that album in this 16-song show. “Another Door” marked the first time since the 1970s that Wilson had written a full-length album collectively with a band and the first time in her career where she was the sole lyricist. Tripsitter includes Tony Lucido (bass), Ryan Wariner (guitars), Sean T. Lane (drums) and Paul Moak (guitars and keyboards).

The lineup’s two-guitar attack hits a bit harder than the two-guitar attack in the band Heart, where Wilson’s sister Nancy plays rhythm guitar. Five of Heart’s biggest hits, as well as its cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” are performed in this concert as well. A surprise cover is of John Lennon’s “Isolation,” which shows Wilson’s vocal range.

The show starts with Heart’s “Crazy on You,” whose riff and memorable chorus remain powerful. It is followed by the then-new “This Is Now,” a mid-tempo number that fits in nicely.

Wilson plays flute on the ending of “Love Alive.” On Heart’s “Magic Man,” there is lots of extended guitar, including solos by both guitarists, before Moak goes over to the keyboard. “Ruler of the Night,” another song from “Another Door,” has a drum beat start and more of Wilson’s flute. Of other songs from that album, “Miss One & Only” is softer and “Rain of Hell” is heavy, and arguably the only disappointment in the show.

Back to the Heart hits, Lucido’s bass opens “Straight On,” Wilson’s vocal is more playful on “Even It Up,” the combo of “Alone” and “Going to California” features acoustic guitar by Moak on the former and his mandolin on the latter, and the show ends with the raucous “Barracuda.”

After Wilson’s show, the final eight minutes feature singer-guitarist Annie Bosko, a country performer. Grade: concert A

War: Why Can’t We Be Friends? 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition (Avenue Records/Rhino, 3 CDs, 2 hours 47 seconds). The album was War’s seventh studio album and features some of the band's most iconic songs, including the timeless title track, the perennially cool “Low Rider,” “So” and more. Newly remastered by Bernie Grundman, the mini-box presents the original album (44:04) alongside two additional discs with seven unearthed bonus tracks, including a rare jam session of “Heartbeat” (15:55), three unedited mixes, three bonus songs and a listening into the making of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” with lots of studio chatter (22:50).

The title track and “Low Rider” both were singles and nominated for Grammy Awards in 1976. The album topped the U.S. R&B chart and made No. 8 on the Hot 100 album chart. The album opens with the funky “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” followed by the fine ballad “Lotus Blossom.” The bouncy and funky “Heartbeat” stretches to 7:25, making it longer than the four-part “Leroy’s Latin Lament” medley (6:36), which is sparked by the spirited “La Fiesta” section.

“Smile Happy” (7:22) is an instrumental, while “So” is a quieter song. “Low Rider” is dynamic and catchy, while “In Mazatian” is a bit jazzy. The closing title track features group vocals.

Disc two features the fairly direct bonus track “Zorro” and the lengthy “Roam & Ramble” (9:14), which has nice guitar in its second half. The disc also has three original unedited mixes, “Low Rider” (9:34), “Don’t Let No One Get You Down” (6:38) and “So” (9:50).

Disc three contains the bonus track “Oatmeal Box,” which is more “Hee Haw” show style, the “Heartbeat” jam and the title track making-of. It is the least essential of the three discs. Grade: original album A-; box set B+

Monkey House: Crashbox (Canada, Alma Records, CD, 53 min.). This is the seventh album from the internationally acclaimed jazz/pop ensemble Monkey House. Formed in 1992 by Emmy-winning songwriter and producer Don Breithaupt, the group gained momentum with “Headquarters” in 2012, marking a key moment when Breithaupt solidified his core lineup of Toronto musicians -- guitarist Justin Abedin, bassist Pat Kilbride and drummer Mark Kelso -- and partnered with his trusted studio team of producer Peter Cardinali and Grammy-winning engineer John 'Beetle' Bailey.

According to Breithaupt, he writes and demos the songs for years before the band hears them. After selecting the material, they record live off the floor at Noble Street Studios, refining arrangements and incorporating horns, background vocals and guest stars.

Some of the guest artists on “Crashbox” have a long history with Monkey House, including guitarist Drew Zingg (Boz Scaggs) and trumpeter Michael Leonhart (Steely Dan), which is probably why the title track reminds one a bit of Steely Dan. They are joined by vocalists Michael Dunston and Selena Evangeline, as the album blends jazz, rock, pop and R&B.

The mood is brighter than the often-dark “Remember the Audio” (2022), although some tracks, like "What's Left of This World," explore dark themes in a lively, funky way. The lead single "Someplace on Madison" recalls the band Chicago as it offers a swaying New York City tour, while the nice "Sundaying" is a sunny ode to relaxation. The title track is about how media keeps us on edge.

There are 11 Breithaupt originals, while the piano ballad "Disappear in Plain Sight" is by Marc Jordan. “Bring the Stars Down” is more dramatic. “You Just Don’t Know It Yet,” the sweet “Chasing the Muse” and “Friday Night Jam” all feature horns and Evangeline’s backing vocals. All three are good, with “Friday Night Jam” being the best. The album ends with the very good ballad “Feeling You Breathe.” Grade: album B+