Posts by Joey Willis

In Austin, Texas, the name David Ramirez is fairly ubiquitous on the local public radio station, KUTX. Ramirez has played countless shows in the “Live Music Capitol” over the past two decades and was even named “Songwriter of the Year” in 2020 by The Austin Chronicle. David Ramirez has long been an artist unafraid to […]

By the early 1970s, Joe Pass had already built a strong reputation as a jazz guitarist, but his career was nearly derailed by a long struggle with heroin addiction. After completing rehab at Synanon, he found a second wind, and Virtuoso was the perfect vehicle for his resurgence. Joe Pass’ “Virtuoso” is a landmark jazz […]

Celia Cruz’s Tremendo caché is a brilliant showcase of the remarkable partnership between the legendary “Queen of Salsa” and visionary producer Johnny Pacheco. Their collaboration represents a pinnacle moment in salsa music, illustrating a dynamic partnership rooted in mutual respect and undeniable chemistry. Originally released in 1975, the album beautifully captures the synergy of Cruz’s […]

To mark the centennial of the birth of the “Queen of Salsa”, Celia Cruz, Craft Latino is celebrating by reissuing some her best-loved and most influential albums throughout 2025. The celebration kicks off with a reissue of Cruz’s North American solo debut Son con guaguancó. By the time Son con guaguancó was released in 1966, […]

Wes Montgomery’s The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery is a masterclass in jazz guitar playing. What immediately sets Montgomery apart is his signature technique: instead of using a pick, he played with the soft pad of his thumb. This wasn’t just a stylistic quirk but a practical solution, he wanted to practice without disturbing […]

For a band whose music often feels like an emotional storm passing through a city at night, Constellations For The Lonely finds Doves at their most fragmented and, at times, their most triumphant. The Manchester trio has always excelled at painting grand, melancholic landscapes, and their sixth album continues that tradition, albeit under unusual circumstances. […]

For over half a century, Fania Records has been synonymous with Latin music’s evolution, tracing the heartbeat of salsa, boogaloo, and Latin soul from New York’s barrios to dance floors worldwide. Fania Records: The Latin Sound of New York (1964–1978) is a definitive collection that encapsulates the label’s immense cultural and musical impact. Featuring 16 […]

Denison Witmer has carved out a quiet but profoundly resonant niche in the folk world for over two decades, crafting songs that shimmer with intimacy and introspection. On Anything At All, his latest album, Witmer, refines that delicate artistry even further, finding profound meaning in life’s smallest, most routine moments. Produced and arranged by longtime […]

Over the past decade, Maribou State has carved out a unique space in electronic music, blending warm, organic textures with deep, intricate production. The UK duo—Chris Davids and Liam Ivory—first gained attention with their 2015 debut Portraits, which fused downtempo electronica with live instrumentation, followed by 2018’s Kingdoms in Colour, an album rich with global […]

Hootie & The Blowfish are undeniably an essential part of the 90s musical landscape. Stretching across rock, pop, and adult contemporary radio, their unpretentious, feel-good songs were as ubiquitous as conversations about the newest episode of Friends or Seinfeld. Whether they love, hate, or feel indifferent, one would be hard-pressed to find someone born between […]

W4RP Trio has already made their mark as one of the most daring chamber groups in the game, blending elements of modernist classical, tango, and jazz into something wholly their own. On Sermon of the Matriark, W4RP Trio—pianist Mikael Darmanie, violinist Josh Henderson, cellist Ju-Young Lee and drummer/percussionist/composer Rick Martinez—team up with spoken word artist […]

Founded in Austin, TX almost two decades ago, White Denim has always been a band driven by transformation. Once known for their raucous, genre-blurring live shows and feverishly tight musicianship, the Texas-born group, now led almost entirely by James Petralli, has taken a sharp turn with 12. This album was written and produced by Petralli […]

Joe Bataan’s Riot! is a landmark in the history of Latin soul, a genre that captures the cultural hybridity and restless energy of late 1960s New York City. Already a rising star in Fania Records’ roster with the release of his debut album, Gypsy Woman, the sophomore release of Riot! saw Bataan solidifying his reputation […]

In 1994, Born Jamericans burst onto the scene with their debut album Kids From Foreign, an electrifying blend of dancehall reggae and hip-hop that not only captured the essence of the duo’s Jamaican heritage but also redefined cross-genre collaboration. Comprising Mr. Notch (Norman Howell) and Edley Shine (Horace Payne), the American-born duo created a sound […]

For over two decades, Norma Jean has been a trailblazer in the metalcore scene. Originating in Atlanta, Georgia, the band emerged in the early 2000s with a sound that blended unrelenting aggression, chaotic arrangements, and introspective lyricism. Taking their name from Marilyn Monroe’s birth name, Norma Jean quickly gained a reputation for their fearless experimentation […]

When Sixteen Stone hit the shelves in December 1994, it catapulted Bush into the stratosphere of alternative rock fame. Their mix of post-grunge aggression, melodic accessibility, and Gavin Rossdale’s brooding charisma made them an international sensation. Despite not gaining much traction in their native Britain, Sixteen Stone was certified 6x Platinum in the U.S. and […]

Blind Gary Davis, also known as Reverend Gary Davis, was a towering figure in the world of American music. Born in 1896, Davis lost his sight at a young age but developed a remarkable ability to channel his experiences into music. Self-taught on the guitar, he mastered the intricate fingerpicking style of the Piedmont blues […]

Jimmy Reed’s I’m Jimmy Reed is the kind of record that feels less like a debut and more like a mission statement. Released in 1958 on Vee-Jay Records, this collection of blues standards laid the groundwork for a musical career that would stretch far beyond the boundaries of its genre. Reed’s unassuming style, a hypnotic […]

When Hallowed Ground was released in 1984, Violent Femmes were already known for their self-titled debut’s raw, stripped-down punk-folk energy. But rather than serving more of the same, the band took a sharp left turn, delivering an album that is darker, more complex, and undeniably polarizing. With Hallowed Ground, the band embraced a more experimental […]

Finally!, the debut from Jake Sherman and Abe Rounds (Jake and Abe), feels like an intimate jam session where the magic of groove and melody takes center stage. This project, seven years in the making, leans heavily into funk, jazz, and soul, but what sets it apart is the dynamic way these genres are deconstructed […]