Five From Sonny Boy Williamson
Sean MurphySonny Boy. Another harp player, arguably the greatest of them all (some would vote for Little Walter, but not many people would argue that anyone else belongs in the same…
Five From Junior Wells
Junior. They didn't break the mold when they made him; he broke it himself. This was an era when being street-smart actually involved streets and a type of smarts that…
They’ll Never Put Me in Their Bag: The Continuing Story of Syd Barrett
When he died in 2006, after decades of cult-figure status and willful anonymity, Syd Barrett was arguably better known as the person who inspired one of Pink Floyd’s best albums,…
Beethoven, Barenboim, Bliss
Beethoven again. It seems impossible to believe that Daniel Barenboim is only 68 years old. It feels like he has been around forever. Possibly it’s because the music he plays–the…
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain?
Yer daaaaamn right! On a Friday afternoon it doesn't get too much better than this (huge h/t to Mickey G. and Karen M.): And, in case you needed a double…
William Parker: The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield
A Match Made in Heaven Turns Into a Near Miss This review should be prefaced by a simple acknowledgment: William Parker has few peers in contemporary music. For the better…
Little Anthony’s Falsetto: The Gift That Keeps Giving
Goosebumps, bliss and gratitude. That is all I can (or want to) say regarding the instant classic performance of the recently-inducted Little Anthony (and his "new" Imperials) from last year's…
Gregory Isaacs, Cool Ruler R.I.P.
A fond adieu to one of reggae music's silken voices. Certainly not as known or celebrated as many of his peers, Isaacs has always been a reggae-lover's reggae icon. Those…
Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures (Classic Albums Series)
The Album Rush Was Meant To Make (Both of Them) It’s difficult to imagine how music might have sounded in the ‘70s and, by extension, today, if Rush had not…
He knows changes aren’t permanent, but change is…
Catch the mystery, catch the drift. Is this guy the Energizer Bunny or what? Holy shit but the licks keep coming. I had the extreme pleasure of reviewing the new…