Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 
niles featured

‘I WONDER AS I WANDER’

STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS: JOHN JACOB NILES's own account of writing 'I Wonder As I Wander,' plus an online discussion of the meaning of 'on'ry' in the first verse.
by David McGee
 

 
 
cool yule featured

Baby, It’s Hot in Here!

A vintage pick from 2009: The HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO in various configurations performing unique and often witty transformations of Yule classics.
by David McGee
 

 

 
fa la la la

‘Deck The Hall’

It's really titled 'DECK THE HALL' (singular) and dates to 16th century Wales. Behold the story behind the song and versions by NAT KING COLE, THE ROCHES, JAMES TAYLOR and MITCH MILLER
by David McGee
 

 
 
collins keys to christmas

The Key Man Claus(e)

On his all-instrumental Yuletide offering, KEYS TO CHRISTMAS, pianist-producer JEFF COLLINS offers seasonal delights with a twist, and engaging thoughtful moments as well.
by David McGee
 

 

 
kisses featured

Christmas Kisses from Glenna, Serena & Leslie

Four outstanding Yuletide performances by four outstanding singer-songwriters: GLENNA BELL, LESLIE COURS MATHER, SERENA MATTHEWS & LISA MILLS. Christmas kisses all around!
by David McGee
 

 
 
rhonda vincent christmas

‘Tis the Season To Be Rhonda

With four original songs, RHONDA VINCENT keeps Christmas well on her new Yuletide CD, CHRISTMAS TIME, featuring a moving vocal-and-piano 'Christmas Medley'
by David McGee
 

 

 
holy night featured

The Anti-Slavery Roots of ‘O Holy Night’

Attacked for his opposition to inequality, slavery, injustice and other kinds of oppression, French poet PLACIDE CAPPEAU insinuated his unpopular thoughts into an 1847 poem that became 'O Holy Night'
by David McGee
 

 
 
setzer rockin rudolph

The Man With All the Toys

BRIAN SETZER and his ORCHESTRA return for his sixth Christmas blowout, ROCKIN' RUDOLPH, which lives up to the warm , virtuosic and rockin' high standard the Stray Cat has set for himself at Yuletide
by David McGee