Posts by Jim Hynes

We often liberally use the term artist in a one-dimensional sense when referring to musicians. Phil Madeira, on the other hand, is as multi-dimensional as one could be. He is by turns multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, illustrator, painter, producer, sideman, frontman and could probably do just about anything with his creative mind.  Madeira, by his own admission, […]

[rating=8.00] This is the fourth release, a self-titled one for Steve Gadd’s own band, following closely the release of Gadd’s collaboration with Chick Corea just two months ago. The album features Steve Gadd on drums and handling the producer role, joined by Walt Fowler on trumpet/flugelhorn, Kevin Hays on keyboards, vocals; Jimmy Johnson on bass […]

[rating=9.00] Every so often a voice will come along that just completely bowls you over. One publication described Courtney Marie Andrews’ voice as “midway between Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston.” Perhaps an even better descriptor was the one that said, “one that can only be understood by being heard.” Combine Andrews’ remarkable twangy expressive vocals […]

[rating=8.00] Here’s a fresh new voice, singer-songwriter Logan Magness making his first full-length recording, Memphis on My Mind.  Magness recorded the album in San Francisco, where he lived for several years, before returning to his hometown of Memphis. Prior to this recording, he can claim only the EP Magnolia Demos   One of the first […]

[rating=9.00] This one has been in the works for some time and now it’s here in all its resplendent glory. Working with the Blind Boys of Alabama, The McCrary Sisters, the Preservation Hall Jazz Horns, and Bonnie Bishop, Paul Thorn delivers his life-long dream, a full gospel album, Don’t Let the Devil Ride. If you’re at […]

[rating=8.00] Dulcie Taylor has been making increasingly better records now for 18 years. This, her seventh, Better Part of Me, may be her best yet. Working with her long-time collaborator George Nauful, a multi-instrumentalist and terrific guitarist, along with 15 musicians across select tracks, including cellos and string orchestration factoring into the mix. Taylor, as […]

[rating=8.00] This is a different gig than the solo Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack projects. Together as Daddy on Let’s Do This, their third album as a duo, they stay in the Daddy groove, meaning cranking it up and letting loose.  Their witty songwriting is still very evident but is commentary on serious social issues, while […]

[rating=9.00] This is a different gig than the solo Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack projects. Together as Daddy on Let’s Do This, their third album as a duo, they stay in the Daddy groove, meaning cranking it up and letting loose.  Their witty songwriting is still very evident but is commentary on serious social issues, while […]

[rating=8.00] There are times when an artist is so talented and interested in so many diverse styles of music that it takes some time to focus the disparate elements into one compelling package. That statement applies to Nova Scotia’s Erin Costelo, who writes, sings , arranges, and produces. This album, Down Below, The Status Quo […]

[rating=8.00] There are pretentious artists and certainly plenty of blues rockers who sing in such an overwrought way, that they fail to connect. And then there’s the Atlanta-based southern rocker, singer-songwriter Michelle Malone who rings true in equal parts as a guitar slinger and vocalist with the songs to match. On this, her sixteenth album, […]

[rating=8.00] Chris Smither could have easily called it quits after his last release, the double -CD career retrospective Still on the Levee. Instead, Smither explores some new sounds, radically arranges some cover tunes, and makes another terrific record, playing with a full band on his 18th album, Call Me Lucky. Yes, we are still listening […]

[rating=8.00] When Levon Helm passed, his fervent wish, as expressed to his close friends like Jim Weider and Jimmy Vivino, was to “keep it going.”  In that spirit, Levon’s famed barn, home of the Midnight Rambles, still hosts gigs. His daughter, Amy, is forging her own successful career. The Midnight Ramble Band continues as the […]

[rating=8.00] This is a rather pleasant surprise, never having heard of Patrick Coman. Yet, when the producer credits denoted guitarist Peter Parcek and drummer Marco Giovino, Coman’s Tree of Life certainly seemed worthy of a listen. It’s an eclectic mix of roots and blues material that did not disappoint. Parcek also plays lead guitar and […]

[rating=9.00] J.D. Wilkes has always been an experimentalist.  True to form, this, his solo debut, Fire Dream, doesn’t easily fit into any one genre of music. There is just too much going on. It’s as if Tom Waits was held prisoner by a bunch of hillbillies insisting he blends his own vintage vaudeville type jazz […]

[rating=8.00] This clever line from Jamey Johnson – “You’ll find me between Jennings and Jones” is applicable not alphabetically, but musically to Craig Gerdes on his debut Smokin Drinkin & Gamblin. Gerdes echoes many of the best classic country outlaws like Haggard and Johnny Paycheck too but six of the nine tunes here are his […]

[rating=8.00] Equal parts Tom Waits, Professor Longhair, Warren Zevon and Randy Newman, Texas-based pianist and singer-songwriter Harvey McLaughlin brings a bizarre set of tunes, zany attitude, and plenty of sarcasm on his first solo outing Tabloid News. McLaughlin is at heart a roots-rocker with punk sensibilities who seems less interested in musical mastery than he […]

[rating=8.00] When you think of female rock n’ rollers perhaps Joan Jett or Chrissie Hynde come to mind.  Enter Columbus, OH-based Erica Blinn who is releasing her second album, Better Than Gold. Those two ladies, among many others, certainly forged a path but Blinn is far from an imitator. She has her own DIY style […]

[rating=8.00] Riding the success of last year’s critically acclaimed Chris Hillman’s Bidin’ My Time (produced by Tom Petty), Omnivore Records now weighs in with their 20-track compilation of Hillman’s first two solo albums from the mid- ‘70s. This, of course, was after Hillman had made his mark with the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, and […]

[rating=9.00] Nina Simone is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April. Hardly a rock ‘n roller, Simone’s influence stretches across multiple genres and awareness of her work is probably as strong today as it ever was given some recent highly acclaimed documentaries. For this occasion, and to mark the 6oth […]

Charles Lloyd & The Marvels created layered harmonies and spontaneous interplay that far exceeded their work on their studio album I Long To See You in their ninety plus minute performance at Williams Center of the Arts at Lafayette College in Easton, PA on January 27. This is a jazz supergroup, featuring guitarist Bill Frisell, pedal […]