Why Wayne Shorter Matters
Sean MurphyWayne Shorter is, for my money, possibly the most underrated genius in any genre of music. To be sure, he certainly received plenty of props within jazz circles and the people…
David Lindley: Jackson Browne’s Right Hand Man
One of the more unheralded "guy behind the guy" guys, David Lindley did plenty of amazing stuff, but he shined brightest backing up Jackson Browne on some of the '70s…
I’ll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon: Rock Music’s Apex at 50
It doesn't matter whether Pink Floyd's masterpiece is the best rock album of all time (just as we can agree that there are other worthy contenders for the imaginary throne,…
David Crosby: Born to be That Guy
Not sure if anyone was dedicated to being that guy as long or at the same level as David Crosby: decades being that guy: band killer, friendship ender, high-end harmonizer,…
Jeff Beck: The Guitar Grandmaster
As impossible at it is to believe Jeff Beck has died (aged 78), it’s just as difficult to fathom that he was with us in the first place. If you’re…
Christine McVie: RIP, Songbird
She was beautiful, preternaturally cool (has any singer of so many incandescent and indelible hit singles sounded so effortless and laid back?), and her graceful vibe was crucial to this…
The Killer: He Didn’t Want to Miss Out on Great
“If I had it all to do over, I'd do the same thing again. I think I would, because if I didn't, I'd miss out on something great. I've had…
Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ at 40
Perhaps because of what followed—the next album, the acclaim—Springsteen’s decision to make the ultimate lo-fi album seems even more prescient, appropriate, and perfect. If Darkness on the Edge of Town was a,…
Steadfast and Inimitable: The Sound & Vision of Pharoah Sanders
Not a fan of Led Zeppelin, The Clash’s Paul Simonon once opined: “Just looking at their album covers makes me want to throw up.” When it comes to Pharoah Sanders,…
Yes: Close to the Edge at 50
Listening to Yes is like listening to opera: the words are, or may as well be, in a different language. It’s all about the sounds: that voice, those instruments, that…