Guitarist Stew Cutler merges blues, soul, and jazz with the best of them. But he's never done a covers album before.
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Music Review: Alejandro Flórez – ‘Beaches of Riches’
Guitarist-composer Flórez is uniquely skilled at interlocking written music with group improvisation in song-length tracks that leave us bopping our heads and scratching them at the same time.
Read More »Music Reviews: An Anthology Collects Hits from 1960, plus San Francisco Salsa, and CDs from Lance Cowan and Antonio Andrade
1960 is not exactly considered a peak year for popular music, and there's no shortage of drivel in this collection, but there are also dozens of great songs from the likes of Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles.
Read More »Concert Review: Parlando Chamber Orchestra – ‘Sidewalk Tango’ (Piazzolla, Schulhoff, Unsuk Chin)
The juxtaposition of Astor Piazzolla's Nuevo Tango, featuring a master bandoneonist, with Erwin Schulhoff's volatile cultural milieu and the explosive expressionism of Unsuk Chin made for a crackling good concert experience.
Read More »Music Reviews: Multilingual Latin Jazz on ‘Somos’ from Julia Vari + Negroni’s Trio; Ron Rieder’s ‘Latin Jazz Sessions’
Vari is at the top of her vocal game, flawlessly artful whatever the language, and with a daring sense of fun.
Read More »Music Reviews: Pink Floyd’s ‘Atom Heart Mother’ Expanded, plus Sarah McKenzie, Big Country, Uncle Lucius, and a ‘Doo-Wop Christmas Party’
Reviews of an expanded edition of Pink Floyd's 'Atom Heart Mother,' plus Big Country live, a doo-wop Christmas anthology, and more.
Read More »Interview: Nani Vazana, Ladino Songstress – Part Two
Part Two of an interview with Nani Vazana, the wonderful Ladino singer and songwriter. Reviving an endangered language.
Read More »Interview: Nani Vazana, Ladino Songstress – Part One
Interview with Nani Vazana, Ladino songstress, who breathes new life into a beautiful and endangered language.
Read More »Jazz Reviews: Dimitri Landrain Sets Up on ‘Astor’s Place’; Albare Celebrates ‘Freedom’
Full of harmonic subtleties, suggestive moods, and deep grooves, these nine original Landrain compositions shine with craft and reflect the international influences the pianist has absorbed in his travels.
Read More »Music Interview: Amoraa on ‘Infinite Love’
"Going to the grocery with your significant other can be the time of your life."
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