updike featured

Updike at Easter: Seven Voices on ‘Seven Stanzas’ (2019 Edition)

SEVEN VOICES ON 'SEVEN STANZAS AT EASTER': The 2019 edition of our regular Easter feature, spotlighting a septet of opinions--not all affirmative--on Updike's famous poem
by David McGee
 

 
 
Roberta Martin fremeaux

Leaving the Stillness of Peace in Its Wake

The first essential reissue of 2019, the French import ROBERTA MARTIN SINGERS: 1947-1962 charts the gold standard early years of this most influential African American mixed-voice gospel ensemble.
by David McGee
 

 

 
william murphy settle

Bob Marovich’s Gospel Picks

Seven potent new gospel releases appraised by BOB MAROVICH, including WILLIAM MURPHY, CASEY J, PHILLIP CARTER, GOLDEN GATE QUARTET, THE TOMMIES, THE RECORD COLLECTIVE and JESSICA DALLA TORRE.
by David McGee
 

 
 
Ragged Heart

Glorious Simplicity

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, SILVER LAKE 66 offers an interesting take on folk-country in its new album, RAGGED HEART. Attention must be paid, says our JOSEPH MCSPADDEN.
by David McGee
 

 

 
mary lane travelin

Being About the Persistence of Love

At long last, 83-year-old MARY LANE asserts herself at the forefront of contemporary blues with TRAVELIN' WOMAN, her record of a lifetime and of hanging in and hanging on to love, body, soul and heart intact.
by David McGee
 

 
 
swan lake featured

Magnificent Original

Conductor VLADIMIR JUROWSKI leads the State Academic Orchestra of Russia through a memorable performance of TCHAIKOVSKY's 1877 version of SWAN LAKE.
by David McGee
 

 

 
tartit amankour

Tartit: Tuareg Life Through a Woman’s Eyes

TARTIT, the female ambassadors of Tuareg traditional culture, return from a prolonged absence with messages of peace and social cohesion for all cultures on Amankour/The Exile
by David McGee
 

 
 
donald lawrence goshen

Chronicling a Spiritual Exodus from Modern-Day Anxieties

One of the first great albums of 2019, GOSHEN, by DONALD LAWRENCE PRESENTS THE TRI-CITY SINGERS, is a concept album ranging from worship songs to topical numbers to rages against the machine--and the power of faith.
by David McGee
 

 

 
stromme dynalyd featured

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