gospel Archive
13 Aug 2025
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Highlight Reel
Note: This roundup refers to an event that took place last weekend, Aug. 8-10. Celebrating its 35th year, the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is an institution. When the festival […]
15 Jul 2025
30 Days Out, July 2025 #2: Abacab, U.S. Christmas, Budos Band, Psycodelics, Amanda Anne Platt
The highlights of live music in the coming 30 days Asheville-wise lean in a decidedly progtastic, indiefied and psychedelicized direction, with a bit of country for flavor. Three of the […]
03 Jun 2025
Album Review: Kid Ramos – Strange Things Happening
As a general rule, I steer clear of reviewing gospel or gospel-informed music. I have nothing against the style; it’s simply that the perspective of the core messages don’t resonate […]
25 Feb 2023
Album Review: Ruthie Foster – Healing Time
It’s the rare artist capable of creating a body of work that transcends genre. True, Ruthie Foster has been recipient of many, many awards in the blues idiom. Foster has […]
24 May 2022
Hundred-word Reviews for May 2022, Part 1
It’s time for some more hundred-word reviews. These quick capsule reviews get to the point quickly, and readers should note that all come recommended. Don’t be misled by the lack […]
18 Apr 2022
Hundred-word Reviews for April 2022, Part 2
Picking up where I left off yesterday, here are five more brief capsule reviews of new albums. This is a remarkably eclectic assortment. Speedfossil – No Anesthesia If you like […]
17 Nov 2021
Album Review: Various Artists – Sacred Soul of North Carolina
The culmination of a sequence of events put in motion by two music business leaders, Sacred Soul of North Carolina is an audio document of the current state of a […]
10 Oct 2021
Album Review: Elder Jack Ward – Already Made
Growing up as a suburban white kid, my preconceptions regarding gospel music were fairly well-formed. I wasn’t especially receptive to the messages conveyed in the music, and – on the […]
20 Jun 2021
Same Roots, Separate Sounds
New exhibit highlights Gospel’s role in our region’s music In 2020, the Tryon (North Carolina) Fine Arts Center launched its Illuminations Through Music and Heritage exhibit, shining a light on […]
28 Mar 2021
Album Review: Elizabeth King — Living in the Last Days
It’s important that I admit this right up front: I’m not inclined toward the spiritual messages contained in gospel music. I’m not hostile toward them in any way; the whole […]