Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 

Seven Voices on ‘Seven Stanzas’: 2025 Edition

Our 14th installment of seven voices reflecting on the meaning of JOHN UPDIKE's poem, 'Seven Stanzas at Easter,' with musical interludes.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Updike & Easter, 2014

Continuing our annual tradition, we present seven new voices commenting on the meaning and import of John Updike's oft-contemplated, much-debated poem, 'Seven Stanzas at Easter.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

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
 

 
 

The Many ‘Worlds’ of Mandolinist Extraordinaire Avi Avital

Israeli-born mandolinist AVI AVITAL is blurring the classical-folk lines anew with BETWEEN WORLDS, featuring the work of 'classical composers inspired by folk music.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Bob Marovich’s Gospel Picks

DA' T.R.U.T.H. rebrands powerfully by using his birth name, EMANUEL as the title of his stirring new album; quartets are alive and very well on the VOICES OF QUARTET, VOL. 1 anthology.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Nobody Wins

Five years after his last batch of original songs saw the light of day, RADNEY FOSTER returns as strong as ever on EVERYTHING I SHOULD HAVE SAID. The moral of the story: Nobody wins.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Cautionary Tale of Jenny Wren

From his last published novel, Our Mutual Friend, comes the tale of Jenny Wren, a character Dickens uses to illustrate the damage adult alcoholics inflict on their offspring. Vividly drawn, altogether unforgettable, and the ins...
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘It Seethes Rather Than Boils’

On his new album, OVER LIGHT EARTH, Icelandic composer DANIEL BJARNASON mirrors the current climate--it seethes rather than boils and speaks to the mood of its time
by David McGee