Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 

Lusitano: The First Known Black Composer, Acknowledged With Luminous Clarity

THE MARIAN CONSORT resurrects the Motets of VICENTE LUSITANO, the first known Black composer and a highly regarded 16th Century music theorist.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Updike & Easter

JOHN UPDIKE's 1960 poem 'Seven Stanzas at Easter' is easily the best known of all Easter verse. In this Easter special, we trace the poem's origins and offer seven perspectives on the intent and meaning of 'Seven Stanzas'
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Bluer Shade of Christmas

An update of our 2019 review of four essential Christmas blues anthologies: Volumes 1-3 of BLUES, BLUES CHRISTMAS and Legacy Recordings' DEATH MIGHT BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS.--a bluer shade of Christmas, if you will.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Angels Listened In

It's been a long, hard climb back to the active list for JAMES ARMSTRONG following a 1996 home invasion that left him without the use of his left arm. But back he has come, all the way, with GUITAR ANGELS, a blues triumph throu...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Family Ties

Bluegrass newcomers FLATT LONESOME are capturing the traditional world's attention with their debut album. A flawless start it's not, but the band is positioning itself for a long, fruitful run.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Singles Charts and the Battle for Bullets

In our continuing excerpts from MICHAEL SIGMAN's memoir Just Remember: Field Notes from a Music Biz Life, the author recounts the tumult that erupted when Record World dared to print charts reflecting actual record sales.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Abundant Love Before Breakfast

JANE PORTER's THE BOY WHO LOVED EVERYONE, illustrated by MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING, offers valuable lessons to teach children about managing their emotions, as JULES explains. Also: "HERE COMES THE SUN," a short but welcome Spr...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Blues In All Flavors

British bluesman Ian Siegal returns to North Mississippi's Zebra Ranch Studio, where he is joined by Cody and Luther Dickinson and proceeds to top his 2011 gem, The Skinny, with some new, profound, gutbucket hill country blues.
by David McGee