Samara Jade weaves a tapestry of ethereal, jazz-tinged Americana, grounding medicine for these wild and shifting times where every day seems like Halloween. Originally from the Hudson Valley, Jade moved … Read more
Kind, stubborn, smart, talented, eight-fingered, much-married, Christian, loyal, no-bullshit Billy Joe Shaver embodied the country outlaw persona—and why not? He helped define the “outlaw” man, and outlaw music. Shaver wrote … Read more
More than a triple threat, singer/writer/pianist Jarrod Lawson also delivers on-point social commentary mixed in with his love songs and reminiscences. Reinvigorating the soul/jazz genre, Lawson swings, scats and—above all—grooves, … Read more
The aptly-named Starlight and Tall Tales, Bart Ryan’s most intimate album to date, is a collection of “stories told over a bottle of wine under the stars,” as Ryan described … Read more
An American treasure, Bettye LaVette’s a blues-soul singer with a truly remarkable background and heritage. “I’ll be 75 in January,” she told me, and she has weathered countless twists and … Read more
Created in the documentary-oriented and storytelling tradition of Folkways and Vanguard folk records, veteran songwriter Will Kimbrough’s Spring Break crystallizes the global COVID-19 pandemic that changed the globe. The title … Read more
South Carolina’s band of amplified roots-rockers E.Z. Shakes play songs grounded in epic Americana, shimmering twang, swooning pedal steel, atmospheric guitars, and rolling reverb. Collectively, they turn frontman Zach Seibert’s … Read more
With Gudbye Stoopid Whirled, Lisik and his longtime songwriting partner, Steve Norgrove, finally release an all-acoustic album populated by inscrutable instrumentation. Rocker Lisik boasts a decidedly early-rockabilly/60s garage punk/Stax soul … Read more
Anyone who knows keyboard whiz Dave Keyes—as a solo artist, producer, arranger, musical director for Broadway and TV, and sideman to everyone from Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, David Johanson, Ronnie … Read more
A social activist, John “Pops” Dennie connects with people through his music, reaching others through common experiences, despite any differences of opinion. In today’s world, those strengths are more important … Read more
