costello magic shop

Sean Costello, Fully Present

Finally seeing the light of day after being recorded in 2005, SEAN COSTELLO's IN THE MAGIC SHOP is more than a fitting final tribute--it's a masterpiece by an artist who is fully present in all dimensions.
by David McGee
 

 
 
ray charles forever 260x152 13820460421

Special Delivery

The U.S. Postal Service has honored RAY CHARLES with a Forever stamp, and Concord has marked the occasion with an interesting anthology, FOREVER.
by David McGee
 

 

 
earl brothers1

Of Dark Hearts and Lethal Consequences

The Earl Brothers are back with their dark-hearted bluegrass--like no other bluegrass known to humankind--on Outlaw Hillbilly. Our Album of the Week selection chronicles the Bay Area band's continuing crafting of one of the mos...
by David McGee
 

 
 
mcartney111

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
 

 

 
carol robbins taylor

On The Street Where She Lived

Continuing to advance the art of jazz harp and her own compositional skills, CAROL ROBBINS is joined by Billy Childs' Jazz Chamber Ensemble and others on nine cool new tunes on TAYLOR STREET.
by David McGee
 

 
 
freshlyground spotlight 880x385 1368157672

Pushing the Boundaries

South Africa's FRESHLYGROUND enlisted Los Lobos's STEVE BERLIN as its producer and came up with a border crossing Afropop gem in TAKE ME TO THE DANCE
by David McGee
 

 

 
darin brooke live

Showtime, With an Edge

A scintillating interpretation of Neil Young's harrowing folk tale 'Powderfinger' is one of many delights of DARIN and BROOKE ALDRIDGE's Live at Red, White and Bluegrass album
by David McGee
 

 
 
0

The Truth of the Blues, Simple and Direct

Two veterans aging gracefully in the blues field get together with their voices, their instruments and a general aim to honor the late, great piano master Pinetop Perkins, and proceed to make a thoroughly delightful album of ea...
by David McGee
 

 

 
Nick Moss Band Get Your Back cover

Coasting With the Blues

THE NICK MOSS BAND with DENNIS GRUENLING spans the continent on one of its finest outings.
by David McGee
 

 
 
delta reign sky

Extra-Savory Bluegrass

The finest in contemporary bluegrass is coming to you from Mobile, Alabama's DELTA REIGN. The band is back, following up its superb Calm Before the Storm with another top-notch outing, NOTHING BUT SKY.
by David McGee
 

 

 
mccutcheon ghost light 1

The Inner Light

The thirty-ninth album of his career may be JOHN MCCUTCHEON's finest yet. The storytelling is vivid and moving, the music is appropriately nuanced, the singing heartfelt and engaging. Let GHOST LIGHT take hold.
by David McGee
 

 
 
A4 1865

A Final Flowering

ANONYMOUS 4 is closing out its near-30-year career with one of its finest albums, 1865--SONGS OF HOPE AND HOME FROM THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, the final installment of its Americana Trilogy.
by David McGee