> *** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** Blues-rock guitarslinger Rick Derringer is probably best known for his 1974 hit “Rock ‘N Roll Hootchie Koo,” a boogie rock anthem that still gets me fired up today. Before that, he was in Edgar Winter’s White Trash band and produced Winter’s hit album They Only Come Out At Night in 1972. Somewhere in [...]

by Mark Saleski How many times have you heard somebody say that they were never able to get into jazz because “I don’t understand it?” Maybe you are that person? Well, I want to let you in on a little secret

by Tom Johnson Nick Cave seemed to have found his lighter side on this double-release (packaged in the same box), shunning a bit of the dark murder themes he’s been known for. In fact, this is a downright uplifting album, a complete anamoly in his catalog, full of gospel choirs and upbeat, energetic songs that verge on Christian in subject [...]

Inspired by an early Cachao album, “Tin Marin” is the rousing closer on Mongorama’s new self-titled project on California-based Saungu Records. A thrilling exposion of classic charanga-jazz, the album features a nine-piece all-star band

by Mark Saleski Firstly, credit must be tossed in the direction of my former guitar teacher. Jerry Adams turned me on to piles of great jazz (and loaned me actual LPs). Jerry’s favorite guitarist was Jim Hall. I’m not sure I’d use the word “obsessive,” though Jerry did relate a story about how he got tickets to attend a taping [...]