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Informal, Intimate and Memorable: Edie Adams Celebrates the Season

Pieced together from audio clips Edie Adams paid a transcription service to record so she could tweak her performances on The Ernie Kovacs Show, The Edie Adams Christmas Album is informal, intimate and memorable--a raft of char...
by David McGee
 

 
 
cesaria evora last

A Final Communiqué, Tough and Tender

The late Cesaria Evora, the 'barefoot diva' who put Cape Verde's morna music on the global map, is fully present on Mãe Carinhosa, a newly released collection of her final recordings.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Essential Sondheim

STEPHEN SONDHEIM's life and music, inextricably linked, are explored in captivating fashion in the new HBO documentary, SIX BY SONDHEIM, airing through December. Review herein.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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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
 

 

 
soul stirrers joy

Soul Stirring Joy

Gospel editor BOB MAROVICH weighs in on a new Soul Stirrers retrospective from the group's SAR Records years. Recommending this double-CD set: four previously unreleased Stirrers sides.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Right Where You Need To Be

On TURN TO JESUS, the newly minted DAVE ADKINS TRIO explains what it means to be known by God, to be held in God's gaze, to be 'right where you need to be.'
by David McGee
 

 

 
Eric Bibb Live cover

In Heavy Rotation: LIVEr Than Ever

Appraising new live albums by ERIC BIBB, JENNIFER LYNN and GROOVE REVIVAL and CHRISTINE SANTELLI
by David McGee
 

 
 
adkins steel thats

Roll On

DAVE ADKINS and REPUBLIK STEEL make an impression on their debut album, That's Just the Way I Roll, as a new bluegrass band to be dealt with. Secret weapon: Adkins himself, a formidable vocalist.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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‘Daddy G,’ In Full

GENE 'DADDY G' BARGE, saxophonist and vocalist par excellence, made his first record in 1955 and went on to accompany some of the greatest names in blues and soul. His new solo album, OLIO, demonstrates all his gifts in full.
by David McGee
 

 
 
ian tyson carnero

Of Life and Hearts in the Balance

The earth and the hearts of people living on it are in the balance in the potent songs on IAN TYSON's memorable new album, CARNERO VAQUERO. It's a Tyson classic.
by David McGee
 

 

 
sarah betty bandit

Songs From The Heart and The Headlines

In laying out challenges and rewards for even a casual singer-songwriter fan, SARAH BEATTY'S 'BANDIT QUEEN' says much about her confidence in herself and in her audience.
by David McGee
 

 
 
keb mo featured

Rise Above, Find More Peace, Make More Love

KEB' MO' delivers the finest Christmas album of the 2019 season in MOONLIGHT, MISTLETOE & YOU. Highlights include a duet with MELISSA MANCHESTER on 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.'
by David McGee