dancing day saint thomas

Angels We Have Heard on High

DANCING DAY: MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS, the last recording JOHN SCOTT made with the SAINT THOMAS CHOIR OF MEN & BOYS before his tragic death this past August, is a reverent seasonal classic.
by David McGee
 

 
 
song of banjo

The Big Land

Ever more ambitious, ALISON BROWN returns with THE SONG OF THE BANJO, with KEB' MO outstanding on 'What's Going On,' and our reviewer likening the instrumental portions to Smetana's 'The Moldau.' Really.
by David McGee
 

 

 
silver lining

The Common Language of the Heart

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap are together again, now in a relaxed, refined, reflective and altogether classy survey of the songs of Jerome Kern, 'the angel at the top of the tree.'
by David McGee
 

 
 
duke acoustic

Deep Roots

Deploying his vast collection of acoustic guitars, Duke Robillard and some high-profile friends (such as Maria Muldaur and Jay McShann) work out on some classic tunes from the '20s through the '40s.
by David McGee
 

 

 
sam butler raise

Tested In the Furnace of Affliction

SAM BUTLER, former lead guitarist with the Blind Boys of Alabama, makes his solo debut with a most unusual spiritual album--with songs by Springsteen, Waits, Curtis Mayfield, Johnny Cash, et al.
by David McGee
 

 
 
buddy guy guiar

A Master In His Element, On Key, On Time & Wed To the Truth

Buddy Guy has been playing hot guitar for decades now, but the irony of his BORN TO PLAY GUITAR album is that it may well be his finest-ever set of end-to-end vocal performances.
by David McGee
 

 

 
jeff healey vintage

Like the Music, He Lives On

JEFF HEALEY, a remarkable artist by any measure, exercised his passion for vintage jazz and swing in his latter years and made memorable music. A new retrospective offers a stirring overview of some peak moments.
by David McGee
 

 
 
ulisse hard cry

Journey To the Healing Moment

Bluegrass singer-songwriter DONNA ULISSE maintains the glide in her stride with another strong album, HARD CRY MOON
by David McGee
 

 

 
joyce werner poesia

Beautiful Restraint

POESIA by JOYCE MORENO & KENNY WERNER, and MÉLANGE by KARIN & MIKE KELLEHER are cross-cultural explorations that demonstrate the power of the less-is-more approach
by David McGee
 

 
 
dial oatts music

Fanning the Flames of Whitman’s ‘Subtle Electric Fire’

Enlisting the support of some 64 musicians and choir/session singers, GARRY DIAL and DICK OATTS have delivered a stirring, jazz-oriented musical interpretation of Walt Whitman poems.
by David McGee
 

 

 
al basile expression

Quoth the Bard…

AL BASILE, one of contemporary music's most literate artists, reaches new heights of eloquence and musicality on B'S EXPRESSION, with production, for the 12th time, by DUKE ROBILLARD.
by David McGee
 

 
 
bob malone mojo1

Of the Earth and In the Spirit

Stepping away from the JOHN FOGERTY camp, master of the keys BOB MALONE offers MOJO DELUXE, a solo effort infused with gospel, soul and rock 'n' roll stylings and soul searching lyrics.
by David McGee