Those Mean Woman Blues

A stomping groove, a steely, slice-and-dice guitar attack and a growling vocal greet listeners to CHRIS LORD & CHEATIN' RIVER's CHUNKABILLY BLUES, and this Seattle-based power trio never lets up from there.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Do You Believe in Magic?

A recently unveiled 45-year-old tape recorded in a tiny Milwaukee club in 1968 gives us a powerhouse live performance by MAGIC SAM in prime-time mode, both in voice and with his guitar, on LIVE AT THE AVANT GARDE.
by David McGee
 

 

 

This Close

A mixed bag of blues in different styles from Cleveland's GAETANO LETIZIA & THE UNDERGROUND BLUES BAND on VOODOO DOLL & OTHER BLUES LESSONS
by David McGee
 

 
 

In Search of the Cleansing Moment

Merciless as ever, and making paint peel from the walls with the heat of his guitar blitzkrieg, DUDLEY TAFT has made his third solo album, SCREAMING IN THE WIND, his most memorable.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Daddy G,’ In Full

GENE 'DADDY G' BARGE, saxophonist and vocalist par excellence, made his first record in 1955 and went on to accompany some of the greatest names in blues and soul. His new solo album, OLIO, demonstrates all his gifts in full.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Lily Tomlin & The Elephants In the Room (and On the Planet)

A few years ago LILY TOMLIN became engrossed in an effort to move two elephants from the L.A. Zoo to a sanctuary. Now she's championing the humane treatment of the big fellas in an HBO documentary, AN APOLOGY TO ELEPHANTS.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Glory of Love

A project some 10 years in the making, HANGTOWN DANCEHALL by ERIC BRACE and KARL STRAUB tells tales of the Gold Rush days of the late 1840s centered on two lovers who learned an enduring life lesson the hard way.
by David McGee
 

 
 

To The Birthday Bard, Ever Young at 450

Commemorating Shakespeare's 450th birthday, the ULSTER ORCHESTRA, under the direction of conductor JoAnn Falletta, offers two timeless Bard-related compositions by JOHN KNOWLES PAINE.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Jesse Winchester: Talk Memphis

JESSE WINCHESTER Tribute, Part 2: a Jesse monologue, his most extensive comments on his years in and abiding love for Memphis--'It was the world to me'--from an interview with Crossroads to Freedom.
by David McGee