Album Reviews
Memphis Retro-Soul Combo Southern Avenue Return With ‘Keep On’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
Southern Avenue returns with their highly anticipated second album, having become a popular act at festivals worldwide since their self-tilted 2017 Stax release, which was honored with a Blues Music Award for “Best Emerging Artist ...
Kevin Morby Goes “‘Not Religious in the Slightest Way’ With Stark ‘Oh My God’
On Kevin Morby’s most recent, and by far his most ambitious release, he deals with religion (all be it a very limited Protestant Christianity view) in his own self-described ‘not religious in the slightest’ way. ...
Seattle Guitarist/Singer Billy Brandt Channels the Dark in Jazz, Soul and Blues on ‘City Noir’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
The robust vocalist Billy Brandt sings about his adopted city, Seattle, on City Noir, his third CD. Using the film noir genre as a backdrop, he fashions an album of jazz, blues, and soul as ...
Hamish Anderson Strikes Big With ‘Out Of My Head’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
With Out of My Head, Hamish Anderson carefully mixes in elements of folk and pop with the blues-rock roots at the heart of a style that garnered him an opening slot on tour with the ...
Thrilling Vibraphonist Joel Ross Makes His Blue Note Debut with Quintet on ‘King Maker’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
You’re probably tiring of the “resurgence of jazz,” “jazz now in the hands of creative, young talents,” and phrases that try to capture the excitement of what jazz is right now. Surely, though, the beat ...
Philadelphia Heritage Art Ensemble Honors Tradition While Preserving Philly Legends Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley on ‘Crossing the Bridge 2’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
The Philadelphia Heritage Art Ensemble (PHAE) was co-founded by current contributor trumpeter Fred Adams who composed four the seven tunes here. The others are from influential Philadelphia jazz artists Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley. The ...
The Felice Brothers Deliver Purposeful Ambiguity On Colorful New LP ‘Undress’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
On their new album Undress, the Felice Brothers waste no time pursuing the implications of the album’s title. But, to hear Ian Felice almost immediately call out both Democrats and Republicans and America at large ...
Little Steven Delivers First New Album in 20 Years with 14-piece Disciples of Soul on “Summer of Sorcery” (ALBUM REVIEW)
Little Steven created a stir with his 2017 Soulfire release, followed by last year’s 3-CD live version. This momentum, and this strong 14-piece band, were primed to do more and have now delivered Van Zandt’s ...
Rhiannon Giddens Teams with Italian Multi-Instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi On ‘There Is No Other’ (Album Review)
The photo on the back of the jacket provides a strong indication of what this collaboration between Rhiannon Giddens and Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi sounds like. The two are encircled by an array of string ...
Wannabe Reviews the Yawpers’ ‘Human Question’
In the latest Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle offers his illustrated commentary on Human Question, the new album from bluesy rock and rollers the Yawpers, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):
