The Dark Saint Rises

A genuine Statement record, IVY FORD's CLUB 27 finds the gifted Chicago-based blues artist-singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist--coming into her own in a powerful way. One of the year's best here.
by David McGee
 

 
 

In The Realm of The Elusive Butterfly

Darwin overlooked butterflies, Nabokov loved them, and author WENDY WILLIAMS did a deep dive into the butterfly kingdom and came out with an entertaining and informative perspective on a most unusual insect.
by David McGee
 

 

 

In Heavy Rotation: A Bucketful of Blues

A bucketful of new blues rounded up here: reviews of fine new CDs, from THE NIGHTHAWKS, JAY WILLIE &: JAMES MONTGOMERY, ANTHONY GERACI, SWINGADELIC and DAVE STRYKER & BOB MINTZER & THE WDR BIG BAND
by David McGee
 

 
 

Kicking It Up a Notch (or Two, or…)

KENNY 'BLUES BOSS' WAYNE comes out rockin' and rarely lets up on GO, JUST DO IT! In a tour de force performance, the Piano Hall of Fame inductee offers 10 original songs and terrific covers of two PERCY MAYFIELD tunes and a JJ ...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Being About the Needed Balance of Persistence and Faith

Like a bridge over troubled waters, ROD McCORMACK's FINGERPRINTS offers safe passage through perilous times--an instant classic of a debut album
by David McGee
 

 
 

Bob Marovich’s Gospel Picks

THE REV. LUTHER BARNES & THE RESTORATION WORSHIP CENTER CHOIR's LOOK TO THE HILLS--one of the best gospel albums of the year--leads BOB MAROVICH's latest batch of top new gospel albums
by David McGee
 

 

 

Standing on Big Shoulders

From Robert Johnson to the present day, SPECIAL CONSENSUS celebrates the Windy City's musical legacy on their 45th anniversary recording, CHICAGO BARN DANCE. The consensus? It's special.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Fashioning a More Thoughtful World

Scottish classical guitarist SEAN SHIBE, playing with lovely clarity and thoughtfulness, adds his own innate sense of the elegant to a trio of BACH lute compositions he has seamlessly transposed to his own instrument.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Eddie Sutton Contained Multitudes

EDDIE SUTTON, one of the winningest college basketball coaches in history, and an inspirational leader, died in Tulsa on May 23. Herein, two of his players pay tribute to a man who changed their lives.
by David McGee