Posts by Jim Hynes

[rating=8.00] Multi-Grammy nominee John Daversa brings us a deeply personal, emotionally stirring and timely project that gives voice to young undocumented people known as ‘Dreamers,” children who were brought to America through no fault of their own and raised with American culture and values. There are 53 Dreamers featured on this recording, representing 17 states […]

[rating=8.00] John Scofield is one of today’s most versatile guitarists, accumulating accolades and prestigious awards in contemporary jazz, jam band, and popular music. Heck, he’s even made an excellent gospel album. For Combo 66, coinciding with his 66th birthday on September 28 he enlists the support of long-time drummer Bill Stewart, bassist Vincente Archer and […]

[rating=8.00] Ivan Neville of the famed New Orleans Neville Family and leader of Dumpstaphunk collaborates with Baltimore-based Cris Jacobs, bandleader (The Bridge) and songwriter to form a quartet and release their first album, Neville Jacobs. The duo reached out to veteran Louisiana players Tony Hall (bass) and Brady Blade (drums) to form their band. Hall […]

[rating=7.00] Danny Bacher is a new voice in jazz, comparable vocally to Harry Connick Jr., but rather unusually, he’s not a pianist but a soprano saxophonist. Whether singing or playing his delivery is clean, smooth, and invigorating. His approach is eminently accessible, especially because he’s purposely bringing uplifting tunes. He’s an entertainer who approaches his […]

[rating=8.00] This is the third leg of the stool. Readers of this site have seen the film review by James Roberts and an interview with Ethan Hawke also conducted by James Roberts. Ah, maybe this is the fourth leg, as there is also a one-on-one interview with Ben Dickey who plays Foley in the movie. […]

[rating=7.00] This self-titled debut brings us seven ladies who take their cue from the mythic worker who labored in the factories during World War II. Of course, the original Rosie the Riveter was a rallying figure on a propaganda poster urging American women to work for the good of the cause. She became legendary mostly […]

[rating=8.00] Gregg Allman’s guitarist and Musical Director for ten years, Scott Sharrard, has been immersed in soul and blues since he first started playing as a teenager. Knowing that Saving Grace was recorded at Electraphonic Recording in Memphis and at FAME in Muscle Shoals immediately tags it as a soulful album. Yet, one listen to […]

[rating=8.00] Ever since the documentary on the Drive-By Truckers – The Secret to a Happy Ending many of us have been wondering why we’ve never heard anything from the first band that Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley formed, Adam’s House Cat. Now, the wait is thankfully over as Adam’s House Cat’s Town Burned Down, recorded […]

[rating=8.00] Some will naturally think that this is simply a reaction to 2016’s Rolling Stones’ Blue and Lonesome where the English band covered many of their favorite Chicago blues songs. Yet, this project, Chicago Plays the Stones, was envisioned before that album was released. It was inspired by the Chicago residency of the Rolling Stones’ […]

[rating=8.00] The last time this writer described Malcolm Holcombe for his 2017 release Pretty Little Troubles, the phrase used was – “a troubadour seemingly from another age.” Holcombe is back with Come Hell or High Water and the phrase, of course, still fits. This is, rather unbelievably, his 13th studio album. Somehow his vivid imagery […]

[rating=8.00] Two weeks ahead of the 120th anniversary of George Gershwin’s birthday, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall come together for their first full album project to honor the music of the Gershwins with Love Is Here to Stay. Tony Bennett, incredibly, is still singing at the young age of 92.  He and Krall have been […]

[rating=8.00] The press leading up to the album is all about an empowering statement for females to rise to the top but the bigger news, considering so many artists across multiple genres have plied the same turf this year, is that this, Like It On Top, is a collaboration between the guitarist/vocalist/producer and multi-Grammy winner […]

[rating=8.00] Covering Ray Charles would be a risky endeavor for any band or artist. Arguably, Charles is the greatest soul singer ever. Yet, Austin’s Band of Heathens, though not evoking the same soul as Brother Ray because that’s just not possible; do instill a very comforting and, in its own way, soulful feeling to this […]

[rating=9.00] Richard Thompson was a mere 18 years old when he made his debut with Fairport Convention in 1967.  Unbelievably, it seems, that was 51 years ago. Thompson hasn’t lost a bit of his vitality. His songwriting and guitar playing just keep getting better. This return to New West, 13 Rivers, is every bit as […]

[rating=9.00] Following his rather stunning Grammy win for 2015’s Shine for All the People, Mike Farris is obviously riding high, this time applying his signature heartbreaking voice and emotional approach to what is ultimately a terrific soul album, Silver & Stone. The title refers t his wife’s ring, and the uplifting album is a celebration […]

[rating=8.00] When Eric Lindell was first signed to Alligator for whom he made three records, some fell into the trap of conveniently dubbing him a bluesman. That’s only one of the styles this genre-defying artist is adept at, however, as throughout his twenty-year plus recording career he’s touched on soul, country, doo-wop and authentic roots […]

[rating=8.00] Think back to the great female singers who could meld R&B, blues, pop, and jazz into one coherent statement and likely the names Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Nora Jones come to mind.  Enter emerging Nashville-based talent Kandace Springs, only in her late twenties, making her second album on the Blue Note label. She […]

[rating=8.00] Five years in, St. Paul & The Broken Bones have just released their third album, with each thematically different from the other.  While 2016’s acclaimed Sea of Noise stamped them as a socially conscious outfit, this Young Sick Camellia, looks deeply inward with leader, Paul Janeway’s most personal lyrics yet. As with previous efforts, the […]

[rating=7.00] Even his name sounds like he’s from a couple of centuries ago. His gravelly, well-worn voice fits the part too. And, so does the cover art for that matter. William Elliott Whitmore is an Iowa-based singer-songwriter/banjoist/guitarist that doesn’t easily fit into one box. For this effort, his seventh album, Kilonova, he’s turned song interpreter. […]

[rating=8.00] Joanne Shaw Taylor’s (JST) final Ruf recording was the terrific live CD/DVD Songs from the Road. After leaving Ruf, JST made two albums that received little distribution in the U.S. – The Dirty Truth (2014) and this one, Wild (2016). Now that JST has signed with Sony and their newly relaunched Silvertone imprint, she’s […]