Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 

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
 

 
 

Bob Marovich’s Gospel PIcks

A collection of gospel gems from veteran and new artists alike, including GLORIA GAYNOR's towering 'Testimony'; THE MANY's 'Love>Fear'; a reissue of REBA RAMBO's acclaimed 'Lady'; RENEE SPEARMAN's 'I Love Him,' and others.
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Bluer Shade of Christmas

An update of our 2019 review of four essential Christmas blues anthologies: Volumes 1-3 of BLUES, BLUES CHRISTMAS and Legacy Recordings' DEATH MIGHT BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS.--a bluer shade of Christmas, if you will.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Ellingtonian ‘Nutcracker’

An appreciation of THE NUTCRACKER SUITE as DUKE ELLINGTON & BILLY STRAYHORN reimagined it in 1960 and of a new take by THE HARMONIA ENSEMBLE conducted by STEVEN RICHMOND.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Going Mobile

Marty Raybon might well want to consider re-titling his album Southern Routes & Branches, given how many roads he travels in its dozen songs. To be clear, some of these roads he’s traveled before—nine of the songs are c...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Summit Sessions: B.J. Thomas on Scepter

For those of a certain generation, the radio of their youth never seemed to be long without a new, great B.J. Thomas single. Indeed, between 1966 and 1972 he had 19 charting singles, some way bigger than others, some more regio...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Elevating Harmony

On his new symphonic blues-classical hybrid album project, CORKY SIEGEL elevates harmony--musical, inner, social.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Coventry Carol (Lully, lullay): Twists and Turns

The ancient origins and twists and turns in the evolution of 'COVENTRY CAROL (Lully, lullay)," one of the most plaintive of sacred seasonal songs
by David McGee