Samantha Fish, In Progress

SAMANTHA FISH has sidestepped the sophomore jinx on her outstanding MIKE ZITO-produced second album, BLACK WIND HOWLIN'. Still a work in progress, she's showing admirable growth both vocally and instrumentally, and is becoming ...
by David McGee
 

 
 

And Lo, She Flies

Violinist, guitarist and master of the cwrth, EMERALD RAE emerges as a serious singer-songwriter on IF ONLY I COULD FLY.
by David McGee
 

 

 

They Only Come Out at Night

NOCTAMBULE (MARLA FIBISH and BRUCE VICTOR) have fashioned a number of poems by ROBERT SERVICE and others into an intriguing journey through the wee small hours
by David McGee
 

 
 

And A Proud Mama She Would Be

AUTUMN IN AUGUSTA, the blues-jazz-folk combo led by the wondrous LUCY SMITH, has a winner in SONGS MY MAMA WOULD LIKE. It's Ms. Smith's tribute to the music her mother loved. Mama, Ms. Smith writes, 'had awesome taste.' We agree.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Lost Gospel

Describing themselves as 'battered veterans of punk-rock-art damage,' the trio known as THE BOOK OF AMY retreat to the early 20th Century Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountain ranges.
by David McGee
 

 
 

AJ Being AJ

For more than a decade ALAN JACKSON has been musing about making a bluegrass album. Well, he finally did it, and produced a certified AJ classic in THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Her Songs, Her Voice, Her Guitar…Her Life

On Stage: MARY GAUTHIER came solo acoustic to Hill Country in New York City and mesmerized a near-sellout audience.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Yes, Everybody Does Love John

AVALON, the fourth album in blues woman RORY BLOCK's acclaimed Mentor Series, honors the music of MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT
by David McGee
 

 

 

Special Delivery

The U.S. Postal Service has honored RAY CHARLES with a Forever stamp, and Concord has marked the occasion with an interesting anthology, FOREVER.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Exquisite

Jazz pianist THOMAS SNOW goes Americana on his memorable new album, FRIENDS, and gets a major assist in his efforts from singer-songwriter JONATHAN EDWARDS and mandolin master JOE WALSH. This is one of 2013's major roots finds.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Into the Heaven-Sent Light

Between grieving for her deceased son and celebrating the birth of a new daughter, REBECCA FRAZIER wrote a batch of meaningful songs and walked into the light with WHEN WE FALL.
by David McGee
 

 
 

You Got the Silver, Sandy

BIG SANDY and HIS FLY-RITE BOYS are celebrating a silver anniversary this year with a new album of reworked gems from the band's 25-year recording history. It's really good stuff.
by David McGee