The Floating World

Can the Japanese today really look to Mother Nature to find out who they are? A visit to Hawaii spurs writer TOKUTA WONGSE-ONT to reflect on the lost 'floating world' that once was the Land of the Rising Sun.
by David McGee
 

 
 

She’ll Take You There

Celebrate MAVIS STAPLES: Feb. 26 sees the release of her new album, Feb. 29 sees the HBO debut of a new documentary about her life and tiimes, MAVIS!, produced and directed by JESSICA EDWARDS.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Unaccountably Odd’

'Unaccountably Odd': a musical and sexual adventurer, possibly a racist, and a composer ahead of his time, PERCY GRAINGER led a most unusual life, and now lives on in a new album by the BILDER DUO. A reconsideration is in order.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Make Way for Lucky Ducklings & Yu Byun’s ‘Diminutive Paradise’

JULES declares Eva Moore's LUCKY DUCKLINGS, illustrated by NANCY CARPENTER, to be one of 2013's great picture books, and introduces us to DREAM FRIENDS by an impressive debut artist, YOU BYUN.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Ready for the Long Haul

J.D. Crowe has retired, but his last incarnation of the New South soldiers on, quite impressively, as American Drive. The quartet's self-titled debut album shows it to be ready for the long haul.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Dad, I Think We Got One’ : Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart Craft A Seasonal Classic

EDDIE COCHRAN's manager and co-writer JERRY CAPEHART remembers the day he and Eddie, in search of a hit, wrote a certified seasonal classic, 'Summertime Blues'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Finding the Fountain of Youth

Chicago blues veteran BILLY BOY ARNOLD teams up with producer DUKE ROBILLARD and band for a powerhouse set on THE BLUES SOUL OF BILLY BOY ARNOLD, one of 2014's finest blues releases.
by David McGee
 

 
 

On The Street Where She Lived

Continuing to advance the art of jazz harp and her own compositional skills, CAROL ROBBINS is joined by Billy Childs' Jazz Chamber Ensemble and others on nine cool new tunes on TAYLOR STREET.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Staying the Course

On CARTER STANLEY'S EYES, PETER ROWAN journeys into his deepest roots in bluegrass and folk. That's what happens when you stick with it.
by David McGee