Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 

Palestrina

In his Memoirs, published in 1896, composer CHARLES GOUNOD reflected on the exalted heights PALESTRINA and MICHELANGELO reached in their respective arts and the points of similarity between the two geniuses.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Being About an Instrument ‘At Once Familiar and Unknown’

In ART OF THE MANDOLIN, AVI AVITAL offers a perspective on 300 years of music composed specifically for his instrument of choice. A range of perspectives--via reviews, interviews and first-person observations-help explain the a...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Existential Bluegrass

Bluegrass existentialists THE ROYS are back with THE VIEW, comprised of songs pondering the burden of memory as time marches on, along with philosophical appraisals of quotidian troubles and joys.
by David McGee
 

 
 

With a Swagger and A Wink

CHRIS LEIGH wouldn’t be the first hard-core country artist to attribute a burst of inspiration to a wrecked marriage but he may be the latest. His impressive, bare-knuckled debut, Broken Hearted Friends, tells the tale.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Girls’ Night Out, In Style

It's girls' night out in song as LISSY WALKER, CLAIRE MARTIN and JULIE KELLY survey the Great American Songbook and posit some new, contemporary entries to it as well.
by David McGee
 

 
 

DEEP ROOTS ALBUMS OF THE YEAR, 2020

Honoring 10 exceptional album-length explorations of love, loss and spirituality by DAVID BROZA, ISAAC CAREE, KATHLEEN EDWARDS, FISK JUBILEE SINGERS, IVY FORD, GABRIELLE LOUISE, ROD MCCORMACK, JOHN MCCUTCHEON CARY MORIN and AL...
by David McGee
 

 

 

When Vintage Becomes Timeless

DAVID IAN did it in 2011 with Vintage Christmas, and does it again in 2012 with Vintage Christmas Wonderland: gather the combo, pare the set list to five songs and deliver a Christmas gem.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Senza pedale ma con tanti colori

WITHOUT THE PEDAL BUT WITH PLENTY OF COLORS: in his self-penned essay the towering classical pianist András Schiff discusses the challenges and nuances of J.S. Bach's music poses for the contemporary musician.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Remembering ‘The Undefeated Champion,’ Herman Johnson

In a Deep Roots exclusive, MARK O'CONNOR offers a warm reminiscence of one of his fiddling mentors, HERMAN JOHNSON, who passed away on Jan. 20 at age 94.
by David McGee