Recent Articles
 

 

‘Isn’t That a Lovely Thing?’

From his 1960 book MY FATHER, CHARLIE CHAPLIN, JR. remembers his father's 'ruthless determination for perfection' and its effect on the family when Chaplin pere was writing 'MODERN TIMES'
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Music of Nature

From his outstanding 1878 book MUSIC AND SOME HIGHLY MUSICAL PEOPLE, the distinguished African-American author JAMES M. TROTTER exults in 'the music of Nature'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Bob Marovich’s Gospel Picks — May 2014

‘…still traveling the gospel highway…’ JUST LOOK AT ME NOW Brooklyn All Stars Just Look At Me Now 4 Winds Records www.malaco.com Founded in the late 1950s, the Brooklyn All Stars are still traveling the gospel h...
by David McGee
 

 
 

It’s Small’s World After All

Adhering to a '1 guitar, 1 voice, one foot format,' MARK T. SMALL's solo acoustic collection of mostly blues songs, with a taste of country and bluegrass for variety, is a low-key, honest effort that leaves a good feeling in it...
by David McGee
 

 

 

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