Wherein Murph Lights Out for the Horizon, Yet Again

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY, collaborating with son RYAN MURPHEY, rises to every challenge he sets for himself on ROAD BEYOND THE VIEW, a standout among many in his extensive catalogue.
by David McGee
 

 
 

You Can’t Do That? You Can Do That.

Jazz improvisation meets Lennon-McCartney in tasty fashion on LOREN DANIELS's TICKET TO RIDE.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Always More Love to Be Had

The TWANGTOWN PARAMOURS are back with their third album, DOUBLE DOWN ON A BAD THING, with well-wrought songs, sparkling musicianship, affecting vocals and a deeper exploration of the nuances of relationships. It ain't over 'til...
by David McGee
 

 
 

In Heavy Rotation: Roots & Blues

Rounding up a quartet of must-hear recent releases: NORMAN BLAKE, Day by Day; MARK O'CONNOR, Markology II; MIKE ZITO, Resurrection; and TIFFANY POLLACK, Bayou Liberty.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing

Herein a dozen smokey, sensuous and often ambivalent discourses on love and passion delivered with the breathy tenderness and sublime understatement of someone defining love not as a many-splendored thing, but rather as a many-...
by David McGee
 

 
 

In Heavy Rotation: Blues

A potpourri of recent blues albums worthy of attention. Behold the diversity and soulfuness of what's being wrought by MIKE ZITO, BOB CORRITORE AND FRIENDS, MARIA MULDAUR and SUE FOLEY.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Mad Scientist Deep in Experimentation

'Good, not great,' says our DHRISTOPHER WALSH in in his deep dive into Sir Paul McCartney's McCARTNEY III, adding: '...it shows an artist still reaching, ideas still flowing.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

To Shine Is Why You Came

VALERIE JUNE seems to have stepped out of some sort of enchanted forest, spreading powerfully delivered but gentle-spirited songs that are so filled with whimsy and wonder they seem to be borne more of pixie dust than musical n...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Worthy of It All

Twelve Grammy Awards and 23 GMA Awards into her towering career, CECE WINANS returns with her first non-holiday release in four years, and she does so in grand style on BELIEVE IT ALL. Gospel editor BOB MAROVICH calls it the be...
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Quiet Storm of Guitar Mastery

Guitarists LARRY NEWCOMB, with his son JAKE on bass, and DAVE STRYKER lead their combos on scintillating jazz-oriented journeys on their new albums, whereas on his reissued masterpiece, CAMINANDO, guitarist JUAN CARLOS QUINTERO...
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Fresh Perspective on the ‘African Mahler’

CATALYST QUARTET, a young American ensemble, explores the chamber music of SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR, works whose sophistication belies their early date
by David McGee
 

 
 

Considering Historical Conflict & Conflicted History

JASON RINGENBERG offers a reckoning with history on his 18th solo album, RHINESTONED, featuring the Freedom Riders, Crazy Horse, Jesus Christ and, in spirit, Hank Williams, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, the Carter Family and T...
by David McGee