Stranger On the Shore

In 1962 British jazz clarinetist ACKER BILK penned a haunting instrumental for his daughter Jenny, changed its title and saw it sell a million copies. Here's how YouTube commenters remember it.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Awesome Images from Hubble & New Insights into Coma Galaxies

Amazing pictures from the constellation Antlia (aka The Air Pump)and activity in the dwarf galaxy ESO 540-31 courtesy Hubble + new findings in the Coma galaxies.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Equal Opportunity Vibe

Vintage Calypso is alive and well...in Berlin, where LORD MOUSE AND THE KALYPSO KATZ are packing 'em in with their swaying beats, hot horns and bold lyrics. Go Calypso is the group's new album, explained herein by Lord Mouse hi...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Realizing the ‘Dream’

On his new album, XALAM, Israel-born virtuoso drummer BEN AYLON teams with an all-star assemblage of West African musicians to cast the traditional music and instruments of Senegal and Mali in a fresh, contemporary setting.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Harpsichord In a New World

MAHAN ESFAHANI continues to break new ground for the harpsichord on his latest CD, TIME PRESENT AND TIME PAST. Review by ROBERT HUGILL.
by David McGee
 

 
 

An Influential Recording Returns, And Then Some

Under the direction of JOHN RUTTER, the CAMBRIDGE SINGERS bring fresh vitality to works by SIR CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD and HERBERT HOWELLS in an expanded reissue of a 1992 classic, STANFORD AND HOWELLS REMEMBERED.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Music of Nature

From his outstanding 1878 book MUSIC AND SOME HIGHLY MUSICAL PEOPLE, the distinguished African-American author JAMES M. TROTTER exults in 'the music of Nature'
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Spiritual Side Of The Singer’s Art

An interview with opera singer MORGAN KINGSTON, circa 1917, in which he holds forth on 'The Spiritual Side of the Singer's Art'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Bryan Collier’s Trombone Shorty Moment

TROMBONE SHORTY is releasing a picture book autobiography next month, with superb illustrations by BRYAN COLLIER. JULES has the lowdown, and some pics.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Hug’: Paws For Patriots Dogs Ease Wounded Veterans Passage Into Post-Combat Life

Since 2006 the non-profit organization PAWS FOR PATRIOTS has been training and providing, free of charge, guide dogs to veterans with visual impairments. DUNCAN STRAUSS has the inside story on this invaluable effort.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Talking Animals: Feral, And a Friend of Animals

She's 30 years into her Presidency of FRIENDS OF ANIMALS, an international animal advocacy organization, and her name really is PRISCILLA FERAL. 'I'm wired for this kind of confrontational work,' she says.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Free and Easy (1967)

DEEP ROOTS THEATER features a surf movie gem, FREE AND EASY, along with a BEATLES surfing cartoon; JOSEPH AHLMAN's 'Oceantics'; and GOOFY surfing in 'Hawaiian Holiday'
by David McGee