Retrospectives of the Year (2016)

Something akin to Lifetime Achievement Awards: Paul McCartney's Pure McCartney and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage's All the Rage: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Live in Concert, Volume One
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Elite Half Hundred of 2016, Part 1

Fifty albums that made life worth living in 2016. Part 1.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Elite Half Hundred of 2016, Part 2

Albums 26 through 50 in Part 2 of the Elite Half Hundred of 2016
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Zito Doctrine

Moving forward from the blunt confessions of 'Gone to Texas,' MIKE ZITO, working with producer TOM HAMBRIDGE, lets 'er rip in glorious fashion on the incendiary MAKE BLUES NOT WAR, one of 2016's best.
by David McGee
 

 

 

You Have Come to The World. I Pour Out Praise for You.

BENEDICTINES OF MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES have created their third classic Christmas album in CAROLING AT EPHESUS. All proceeds go the order's building projects.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Summoning Bukka

RORY BLOCK continues her Mentor Series with a scintillating tribute to a perennially underrated Delta blues man in KEEPIN' OUTTA TROUBLE: A TRIBUTE TO BUKKA WHITE
by David McGee
 

 

 

Channeling Beatles, In Rarified Air

In their first new CD since 2012, the HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO reimagines tunes by Lennon-McCartney and George Harrison in the gypsy jazz style of DJANGO REINHARDT.
by David McGee
 

 
 

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
 

 

 

Border Patrol

In a true border crossing event, GABRIEL ESPINOSA and TIERNEY SUTTON deliver a nuanced tribute to the songs of BURT BACHARACH and Mexican songwriting legend ARMANDO MANZANERO.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Soothing Music in a Troubled Time

Self-released and Kickstarter funded, Hawaii's PACIFIC HARP PROJECT quartet has reimagined works by revered composers such as RAVEL and DEBUSSY, and added scintillating originals to the mix.
by David McGee
 

 

 

You Can Go Home Again

MARK O'CONNOR. predictably unpredictable, returns as a member of a splendid roots band featuring his wife MAGGIE, his son FORREST and his son's fiancee, KATE LEE. It's a loving family affair.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Philosopher Ascendant

AL BASILE brings his voice, his cornet and his songwriting skills to bear most impressively on a new album that speaks to respect for those who came before even as it addresses contemporary issues.
by David McGee