Voices of The Gilded Age: The Christmas Album arrived on November 6th from Concord Theatricals Recordings, and it shimmers with exactly the sort of holiday glamour you’d hope for from the cast of HBO’s Emmy-winning series. Produced by Grammy-winning songwriter Desmond Child, the fifteen-track collection pairs beloved Christmas classics with two new original songs. One … Continue reading
Some albums announce themselves politely, and some kick the door open. Down in Honky Tonk Town kicks the door open, then holds it for you and waves you in with a grin. From the first bars of “Sensation Rag” to the last fireworks of the closer, this is a record that radiates joy. It feels … Continue reading
Not a Given is the new album from Dutch blues guitarist and singer Mark van Mourik, released in October 2026 and marking, in his own words, a new chapter in his musical life. Van Mourik handles guitar and lead vocals, joined by Wolfgang Roggenkamp on Hammond organ, Wurlitzer and backing vocals, Dave Breidenbach on bass … Continue reading
Dylan Hayes Octet, Volume 1 is the debut octet recording from Seattle pianist and arranger Dylan Hayes, released recently on Pinch Records. Recorded in 2024, it features a band Hayes formed in 2019 around his own arrangements, developed while studying big band writing with Jim Knapp. Joining Hayes on piano are Michael Van Bebber on … Continue reading
Dustin Lynch – Clean Slate Country music star Dustin Lynch returns with Clean Slate, his seventh studio album, released through BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. The 12-track collection explores love, heartbreak, second chances, and the perspective gained through experience, blending Lynch’s established contemporary country sound with more introspective material. The album’s central theme is reconciling the … Continue reading
Released on the Bear in the Chair label, Drivin’ Home to Carrie’s Cafe is the new electric blues and blues rock record from Project Blues, the volunteer-run nonprofit based in Columbus, Ohio, now celebrating its 15th anniversary. Recorded in Austin, Texas, and produced by guitarist Anson Funderburgh, the twelve-track album runs just over 51 minutes … Continue reading
Boston-based guitarist Peter “Hi-Fi” Ward has spent decades as one of the blues world’s trusted sidemen, so it’s a pleasure to hear him so comfortably out front on Hanging On to the Blues, released on Natural Records. Raised in Lewiston, Maine, Ward and his brother, bassist Michael “Mudcat” Ward, wore out blues records as teenagers … Continue reading
“No Holding On Anymore,” is the first preview of the fourth album, Four (due early 2027 on Mule Kick Records) from Nashville husband-and-wife duo Goldpine, Benjamin and Kassie Wilson. The pair have built a loyal following on tightly woven harmonies and emotionally honest songwriting, and this single arrives with a rollicking edge. Inspired by Benjamin’s … Continue reading
Frogs in a Pond is the fifth studio album from Surprise Chef, the Melbourne instrumental outfit whose core lineup is guitarist Lachlan Stuckey, keyboardist Jethro Curtin, bassist Carl Lindeberg, and drummer Andrew Congues. Three of them share a house in Coburg, which also hosts their self-built analog studio, the College of Knowledge, and a decade … Continue reading
Furiositee!, released on EJC Music, is the latest outing from the Elliott Caine Quintet. The Elliott Caine Quintet is a Los Angeles group that, on this album, is clearly devoted to the soulful, swinging small-group jazz of the early 1960s, the golden age of hard bop, with a healthy dose of boogaloo and Latin flavor … Continue reading
