Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 

A Fresh Take on Fibich

Among Czech nationalistic composers, Zdenek Fibich's work has been woefully overlooked. The Czech National Symphony offers a partial corrective on its new CD.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Marovich Gospel Picks

JAVON JACKSON's THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO NIKKI GIOVANNI leads BOB MAROVICH'S new Gospel picks in its new expanded edition now featuring Bob's latest Gospel Singles Picks. Everybody say 'Amen!'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Contemporary Music

During a four-month concert tour of America in 1928, composer MAURICE RAVEL delivered a then-controversial lecture urging American classical musicians to incorporate African-American music into their compositions. Ahead of his ...
by David McGee
 

 
 

To Do More, To Be More

After a near-20-year absence, LITTLE STEVEN has returned with a new solo album, SOULFIRE. Rock 'n' soul don't get any better than this. All others are pretenders to the throne.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘It Is the Sho’ ‘Nuff Truth’

JUDY CHEEKS, daughter of gospel giant REV. JULIUS CHEEKS of the Sensational Nightingales, has emigrated from the secular world to gospel with a powerful debut album. An exclusive interview follows.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Pushing the Envelope of Nordic Jazz

The Karl Strømme Quintet is opening up new frontiers in Nordic jazz. The group's new album, DYNALYD, furthers the musicians' integration of other styles into the modern jazz tradition. A most pleasing sound it is.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘How Inexpressibly Sad Are All Holidays’

1863. HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW's wife had died in a fire, his son had been seriously wounded in the Civil War. The poet, in despair, still found a reason to believe and wrote the stanzas that later became a beloved seasonal s...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Robert Neubecker’s Little Plane That Could

Two superb new children's books are on JULES's radar: ROBERT NEUBECKER's charming LITTLE SMOKEY and, from the legendary ELOISE GREENFIELD, a personal look at midwives in THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES
by David McGee