Singing duo Anne Burnell & Mark Burnell have released a new album, This Could Be the Start of Something Big. The album is the follow-up to their 2022 acclaimed CD Two For The Road. It is a generous offering from the Chicago-based pair, featuring consummate musicianship. The songs cover plenty of territory (from “Song Sung … Continue reading
If you think Gunhild Carling was born too late, you haven’t considered the possibility that she might singlehandedly bring back the jazz age in our time. If her original songs seem somehow familiar, they’re successfully bringing you back to a glorious era celebrating melody, harmony, rhythm, and syncopation. Her recent album, Jazz Is My Lifestyle, … Continue reading
Albert Castiglia‘s latest album, Righteous Souls, displays the guitar slinger at his best. The contemporary blues album explores (and delivers) deeply within each song. The album features an abundance of skilled and dexterous guest artists, including Rayne Castiglia (vocals), Joe Bonamassa (guitar), Josh Smith (guitar), Danielle Nicole (vocals), Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram (guitar), Popa Chubby (guitar), … Continue reading
Blues Hall of Fame inductee Matt “Guitar” Murphy’s legacy, including his last three studio recordings, is honored on this double album, True Blues Brothers. Featured artists include Doyle Bramhall II, Fran Christina & The Original Roomful of Blues, Steve Cropper, Ronnie Earl, Sax Gordon, Jaimoe, Bill Kirchen, Chuck Leavell, Bob Margolin, James Montgomery, Tracy Nelson, Johnny … Continue reading
They’re just about the most consistent band out there. Fans of contemporary blues and blues/rock are in luck: The Fabulous Thunderbirds have released their first new studio album in eight years, and yes, it’s another solid album. Founder Kim Wilson leads the way (vocals and harmonica) on Struck Down, the band’s 50th anniversary release, which … Continue reading
It’s an ambitious project, exceedingly well carried out. The Pony Boy All-Star Big Band is a gathering of some of the best musicians in the Pacific Northwest. They have come together to play challenging (and exciting) new arrangements, and to raise the bar as far as new jazz compositions are concerned. They really are all-stars, having … Continue reading
Daryl Mosley‘s, Long Days & Short Stories, is an opportunity to be reminded that somehow it will all be alright. What a pleasure to hear the songs, instruments, voices, and sentiments that make up the album. It’s seldom the case that the music and lyric are equally as strong as the performers—especially when Daryl Mosley … Continue reading
Silver Bullet Bluegrass – Various Artists Thirteen of Bob Seger’s rock classics get new life on Silver Bullet Bluegrass (on Lonesome Day Records). They are given the bluegrass treatment and it’s remarkable the degree to which they stand up successfully in the style. Seger’s compositions have always been smart—in subject matter and, especially in their arrangement—and these … Continue reading
Just when you might have thought that authentic country music might have disappeared for good, along comes Alex Miller and his recent release, My Daddy’s Dad, and suddenly there’s hope once again. How exciting to discover Miller and his bonafide rural sound in this 5-track collection that is inspired by his raising. Whether it’s 4-H, … Continue reading
If sweet vibes sound good to you, then pay attention to Nowhere To Hide, the upcoming release from soul/blues dynamo Ollee Owens. The album delivers eleven tracks that cover a range of emotional territory, and, in doing so, allow Owens to display her gift for conveying present ideas with classic soulful undercurrents. Owens successfully offers … Continue reading
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