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‘It’s Like Someone’s Speaking Through Me’

Jamaican singer-songwriter BRUSHY ONE-STRING (so named because he plays a one-string guitar) evokes the likes of Percy Sledge and Louis Armstrong on his first studio album, DESTINY. 'It's like someone's speaking through me,' he...
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Heat Wave

Two outstanding HOT CLUBs--one of SAN FRANCISCO, the other of the mythical COWTOWN--occupy similar turf on their new albums, both being tributes to the gypsy jazz legacy of DJANGO REINHARDT and STEPHANE GRAPELLI.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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On Down the Line

After a year of personal misfortune, siblings ELAINE and LEE ROY, aka THE ROYS, have transformed their miseries into art on their new album, GYPSY RUNAWAY TRAIN, another stone-cold winner for the duo.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Christopher O’Riley at the Top

CHRISTOPHER O'RILEY, host of NPR's popular 'From the Top,' offers his own bold takes on Liszt on his acclaimed new solo piano album, O'RILEY'S LISZT.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Pastor Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago: Inspiring People

PASTOR CHARLES JENKINS of FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO reflects on on the impact of his choir's smash hit single, 'AWESOME,' and looks ahead to new challenges. An exclusive interview with Gospel Editor BOB MAROVICH
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Surf in Verse

SURF IN VERSE: Our annual feature marking summer's arrival. This month we spotlight, exclusively, the poetry of BRYAN KNOWLES, who has posted a wealth of his original poetry at the website Surf Poetry.com. Also: some choice SUR...
by David McGee
 

 

 
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What If?

Remembering STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and Canned Heat's ALAN WILSON, on the 30th anniversary of SRV's debut, TEXAS FLOOD, and the release of a long-awaited Wilson retrospective.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Under the Skin, Into the Heart

Nashville's McCrary Sisters--progeny of Fairfield Four founding member Rev. Samuel McCrary, have issued one of this year's most uplifting and stirring statements with their second album, ALL THE WAY. They'll take you there.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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The City in Rags

Ragtime is alive and well and ever more vibrant when pianist-composer DAVID CHESKY brings some new, contemporary twists to the style in his love letter to New York City, THE NEW YORK RAGS. Scott Joplin is up there smiling, and ...
by David McGee