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
 

 
 

Christmas Stocking Stuffers 2022

DARYL MOSLEY offers a rustic 'An Old-Fashioned Christmas' and gospel artists ANTHONY FAULKNER and THE WARDLAW BROTHERS bring forth uplifting Yule messages.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Deep Roots Yuletide Baedeker 2024

A holiday celebration of the best of seasonal music, movies, cartoons, literature, poetry--behold the 2024 Yuletide.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘I Try To Write a Terrific Song’
Hal David: In His Own Words

Saluting the magnificent artistry of the late HAL DAVID, who, with and apart from Burt Bacharach, spoke volumes about the human condition in his captivating, unforgettable lyrics—truly a voice for all time.
by David McGee
 

 

 

NASA to Advance Unique 3D Printed Sensor Technology

Awarded a $2 million technology development award, NASA technologist MAHMOODA SULTANA and her team are developing technology that could benefit efforts to send humans to the Moon and Mars
by David McGee
 

 
 

Heart, Homeland, Overtones

'When you talk about the accordion you talk about the identity of Galicia.' So says Galician accordion virtuoso VICTOR PRIETO, who explores unexpected dimensions of tone and texture on his new album, THE THREE VOICES.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Exploring Celestial Harmony

On 'Spheres,' his new album, violin great DANIEL HOPE explores Music of the Spheres, the junction between philosophy, mathematics and music. Blame Pythagoras.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The ‘Circular Music’ of Pellingmans’ Saraband

On its new album, TWENTY WAIES UPON THE BELS, PELLINGMANS' SARABAND explores 'circular music' from the 16th and 17th centuries, including a tune with verses written by imprisoned Anne Boylen.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Inhabiting a World Between

On AURA, RUTH McGINLEY and NEIL MARTIN take ten traditional Irish tunes into new and hauntingly evocative territories.
by David McGee
 

 
 

My Own Field Trip

A field trip with her students to Hawaii's Hoa 'Aina O Makaha reminds TOUTKA WONGSE-ONT of some eternal truths about nature--strong, spontaneous feelings that nonliving things could not evoke.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Mozart’s ‘Requiem’

'Requiem,' Mozart's final masterpiece, was written in late 1791, while the composer lay dying. In 1893 George P. Upton published this detailed account of the composition's creation.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Featuring Frank Morrison

Illustrator FRANK MORRISON catches JULES's attention this month with his work in PAT ZEITLOW MILLER's THE QUICKEST KID IN CLARKSVILLE, in which Olympic great WILMA RUDOLPH makes a cameo and the story makes a point.
by David McGee