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
 

 
 

Music Connecting People, Wherever They May Be

BILLY ALTMAN on the FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL UNLOCKED FESTIVAL: 'a week of discovery of a lot of worthwhile music (and) a valuable reminder of the power of music to connect people, wherever they may be.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Bluegrass Speaks to The Moment

A bluegrass trifecta: three new albums, by DALE ANN BRADLEY, THE DILLARDS and PHIL LEADBETTER AND THE ALL STARS OF BLUEGRASS (featuring Steve Gulley) all speak to the moment, addressing a variety of current hot-button issues in...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Thirst No More

The world-weariness welling from deep within the Nashville-based singer-songwriter SUSAN McCRACKEN's soul expresses not helplessness but hopefulness on PATIENT KINGDOM, as if giving testimony to the cyclicality and potentiality...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Somewhere Between Heartache and Redemption

Balancing personal misfortune with spiritual redemption, CRYSTAL SHAWANDA is making a major movie with CHURCH HOUSE BLUES, her fourth blues album.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Places in The Heart

Find yourself in THE UNENDING ALTERATION OF THE HEART if you will, but GABRIELLE LOUISE is addressing herself in unvarnished interior monologues, leading by example in facing head-on hard truths about life, love and loss. Behol...
by David McGee