review Archive
06 Nov 2021
Album Review: Dave Liebman Expansions — Selflessness
Selflessness isn’t saxophonist Dave Liebman’s first tribute to John Coltrane, but as Lewis Porter’s liner notes explain, it’s the first of those in which he works with his current band […]
02 Nov 2021
Hundred Word Reviews for November 2021: Five New Jazz Releases
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done a roundup of capsule reviews. It’s time. So here’s my take on five new releases, all in the jazz idiom. Chuck Owen and […]
31 Oct 2021
Album Review: Andrew Gold’s Halloween Howls
Musician, singer and songwriter Andrew Gold combined a commercial (read: broadly accessible) sensibility with superb songwriting chops. With so many years having passed, many forget (if they knew at all) […]
29 Oct 2021
Album Review: Loveland Duren — Any Such Thing
If you know the name Van Duren, it’s likely that you’re familiar with him as part of the musician/songwriter axis of Memphis, Tennessee, a scene that also gave us Big […]
24 Oct 2021
Album Review: Alison Faith Levy — You Are Magic
Disclaimer: My children are in their late 20s and early 30s, so I am by no means the primary target demographic for this release. But I know good music when […]
23 Oct 2021
Album Review: Richie Mayer – The Inn of Temporary Happiness
Richie Mayer is a clearly a student of classic pop. His breezy melodies are irresistible. They sound jut familiar enough to invite comparisons to The Beatles and like-minded artists, but […]
21 Oct 2021
Album Review: Seth Lee Jones – Flathead
Seth Lee Jones aims for a live-in-the-studio vibe on Flathead, and the Tulsa guitarist hits the bullseye. Leading a trio that features bassist Bo Hallford and drummer Matt Teegarden, Jones […]
20 Oct 2021
Album Review: Eric Bibb — Dear America
Born, raised and immersed in the musical culture of New York City, these days guitarist-songwriter Eric Bibb is better described as a world citizen. He moved to Europe at the […]
19 Oct 2021
Album Review: Mr. Sipp — Sippnotized
Mr. Sipp is the nom de blues of Castro Coleman. The 2014 International Blues Challenge winner is also known as “The Missisippi Blues Child.” Sippnotized is the fourth long-player from […]
18 Oct 2021
Album Review: Altered Five Blues Band – Holler if You Hear Me
Jeff Taylor has a big voice. In the tradition of the great blues shouters, Taylor is a commanding presence. But he’s merely one of five ingredients in the recipe that […]