The Throw of the Dice: Josquin’s ‘Missa Di Dadi’

With PETER PHILLIPS directing , THE TALLIS SCHOLARS return with their eleventh disc of JOSQUIN masses, a welcome release featuring two quirkly early masses, including 'Missa Di Dadi,' or 'The Dice Mass.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

Surf in Verse

SURF IN VERSE: Our annual feature marking summer's arrival. This month we spotlight, exclusively, the poetry of BRYAN KNOWLES, who has posted a wealth of his original poetry at the website Surf Poetry.com. Also: some choice SUR...
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Floating World

Can the Japanese today really look to Mother Nature to find out who they are? A visit to Hawaii spurs writer TOKUTA WONGSE-ONT to reflect on the lost 'floating world' that once was the Land of the Rising Sun.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Black Sacred Music, A.D. to B.D.

An essential overview of black scared folk music recorded between 1926 A.D. (After Arizona Dranes) and 1936 B.D. (Before Thomas Dorsey)
by David McGee
 

 

 

Stranger On the Shore

In 1962 British jazz clarinetist ACKER BILK penned a haunting instrumental for his daughter Jenny, changed its title and saw it sell a million copies. Here's how YouTube commenters remember it.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Hurricane Warning

Almost a half-century into his career. BOBBY 'HURRICANE' SPENCER delivers big-time on 'HURRICANE UNLEASHED,' singing some hard-luck blues but also revealing himself as a true romantic, in spite of heartbreak.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Warmth of Arctic Saxophone

Haunting and beautiful, ARCTIC SAXOPHONE, by Norway's Ola Asdahl Rokkones, is an unforgettable experience.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Wherein Byzantine Chant Meets Sarum Liturgy

CAPPELLA ROMANA uses its 30th album to honor a little-known occasion when the Byzantine Emperor celebrated Christmas at the English court in Eltham, circa 1400 A.D.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Lara St. John and Friends Do Schubert Right

The talented eccentric, LARA ST. JOHN, is back with a group of formidable friends with a 'Schubertiade,' an exciting exploration of 15 tunes written by Schubert and scintillatingly rendered on disc.
by David McGee