The Elite Half-Hundred of 2020, Part 1

THE ELITE HALF-HUNDRED OF 2020, Parts 1 and 2, is topped by the REV. LUTHER BARNES and THE RESTORATION WORSHIP CENTER CHOIR’s LOOK TO THE HILLS.
by David McGee
 

 
 

On Saving Mortal Souls

“Having not played in this style in the past is a huge disadvantage, but I am willing to stretch and fight to get it under control. Those pesky chords! Those finger positions, those slides, those finger-thumb rolls, those cou...
by David McGee
 

 

 

She’ll Take You There

RORY BLOCK returns in celebration of "power women of song" on AIN'T NOBODY WORRIED--a thoroughly captivating outpouring of signature songs by female artists from the '60s through the '80sl
by David McGee
 

 
 

Something Old, Something New, Lots of Blues

MARIA MULDAUR's 40th album, one of her best yet, is a tribute to a woman who was one of her early inspirations, Memphis Minnie. Guest performances include solid turns by BONNIE RAITT, RORY BLOCK, KOKO TAYLOR and PHOEBE SNOW.
by David McGee
 

 

 

DEEP ROOTS ALBUMS OF THE YEAR, 2022

Honors for 2022 go to JOHN PRIMER, MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY & RYAN MURPHEY, RORY BLOCK, THE TWANGTOWN PARAMOURS, CORKY SIEGEL'S CHAMBER BLUES and six others.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Yes, Everybody Does Love John

AVALON, the fourth album in blues woman RORY BLOCK's acclaimed Mentor Series, honors the music of MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT
by David McGee
 

 

 

2013’s Elite Half-Hundred – Part II

Part II of 50 keepers from the year since passed: Selections include albums by CLAIRE LYNCH, FRANK SOLIVAN & DIRTY KITCHEN, BOBBY RUSH, MARY J. BLIGE, SAMANTHA FISH, et al.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Skip James Made Manifest

In the fifth and final volume of her Mentor Series, RORY BLOCK makes SKIP JAMES manifest on HARD LUCK CHILD: A TRIBUTE TO SKIP JAMES.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Elite Half Hundred of 2014 (Part 2)

THE 442s and FARMER JASON bookend Nos. 26-50 of the ELITE HALF HUNDRED OF 2014.
by David McGee