Warm. As in “at a comfortably high temperature.” As in just right. As in the sound of Tori Martin’s tempting, comfy voice on her new single, “Warm For December.” It’s a sexy, fun number that is perfect for staying in during the current winter freeze, and it pairs well with her previous release, the energetic … Continue reading
This is a very special album. It’s a tribute to the versatility of an instrument—the acoustic guitar. It’s also a lineup of songs where you swear whatever track is currently playing is your favorite. That is, until the next track plays. I was not prepared to be so thoroughly entertained, included, and comforted at the … Continue reading
When you open a CD and the inside cover reads “This album was recorded over two afternoons, one year apart at Bigtone Records in New Orleans, Louisiana. The songs were recorded live off the floor directly to tape using vintage analogue equipment. The sounds were captured with all the musicians in one room playing together, … Continue reading
Listening to the self-titled debut album by The Roamers, it occurred to me that like literature, music is an expressive art where the antihero can thrive. And this collection of songs is proof. Asking questions that reject the typical perspective, and answering those questions with wisdom gathered from experience polished by a clear affinity with … Continue reading
These are songs I love to hear. It’s as simple as that. Of course it helps that Doug Ferony, given his gutsy and joyful exploration of them, also likes them too. His new album, Alright Okay You Win, is the traditional pop vocal album that your ears have been longing for. The arrangements live up … Continue reading
Soliloquies, Unaccompanied Pizzicato Violin Improvisations For the children of war survivors there are conversations with our parents we wished we had and could not. I often wonder about my parents’ vague allusions to atrocities they survived in China during World War II because their trauma was far greater than I can imagine, even now, over … Continue reading
Proof that the human voice is one of the most effective instruments of all, Rose Mallett‘s latest album—Dreams Realized— is a remarkable collection of performances. These are songs you might think you know well, but until you’ve experienced Rose Mallett’s interpretation, you don’t. Think again. Her range, her dynamics, her decision of when and just … Continue reading
(release date: November 15, 2024) Keyboardist Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne (having received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jus’ Blues Foundation, among several others) has assembled another highly engaging album that will, no doubt, earn him more acclaim. His new release, Ooh Yeah!, is one of those discs where each track could easily be twice … Continue reading
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
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