Deep Roots Magazine

Deep Roots Magazine

Roots Music and Meaningful Matters

 
 

 
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
 

 
 
024

Talking Turkey and Radiating on the 88s

Mitch Woods and the Rocket 88s got the crowds in Turkey all shook up on the Efes Blues Festival tour in October 2010. A new CD/DVD set preserves a record of the boogie woogie flu and rockin' pneumonia the fellows infected the c...
by David McGee
 

 

 
022

Kind Of, Sort Of…No, Really Good. Exceptional, Even.

Joanne Shaw Taylor’s artistic growth continues unabated since her dramatic debut in 2008 with White Sugar. Her third solo long player, Almost Always Never, is another triumph,. one of the best blues albums of 2012.
by David McGee
 

 
 
howlin sun featured

Union Avenue Communiqué

THE HOWLIN' BROTHERS went to Memphis's legendary SUN STUDIOS and cut an impressive six-song EP as a stopgap between their acclaimed debut album, released earlier this year, and their new CD, due in Feb. 2014.
by David McGee
 

 

 
magic sam live1 260x152 1399645005

Do You Believe in Magic?

A recently unveiled 45-year-old tape recorded in a tiny Milwaukee club in 1968 gives us a powerhouse live performance by MAGIC SAM in prime-time mode, both in voice and with his guitar, on LIVE AT THE AVANT GARDE.
by David McGee
 

 
 
thomas snow friends

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
 

 

 
bill evans company

A Hoot For The Age

The hootenanny lives! Banjo master/educator Bill Evans’s In Good Company has that feel of an informal gathering of musicians playing exactly what they want to play, complementing each other to a T and having a great time doin...
by David McGee
 

 
 
st charles american

Where Day is A-Breakin’ in The Soul

The ST CHARLES SINGERS' AMERICAN REFLECTIONS imbues the listener with a sense of being on hallowed, holy ground, closer to the essence. Texts by RAINER MARIA RILKE, OCTAVIO PAZ, AARON COPLAND and others.
by David McGee
 

 

 
fannie lou songs

Indomitable

A Civil Rights Movement leader and powerful gospel singer, FANNIE LOU HAMER'S authenticity comes through most clearly on SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME.
by David McGee