Lena Prima centered this project with a pair of songs by her father, Louis Prima. But she didn’t settle for the simple goal of glowing tribute, either to this legendary New Orleans-born purveyor of post-war jump blues or to his era’s great American songbook. You May Also Like: Joni MitchellRead More

The risks in dealing with things that nobody wants to deal with not only suit Rob Morsberger’s art here — they are helping him define his concluding days with a terminal brain tumor. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Feel good music, I’ve been told Good for your body, and it’s good for your soul Ever since the Meters first sang that in “Hey Pocky A-Way,” one of their best all time tunes, vintage funk to me has been my “feel good music.” You May Also Like: Paul LevinsonRead More

If you resided in the Washington D.C. area in the 1960s and attended shows, you probably remember the Mad Hatters and the Fallen Angels, as they regularly played the local circuit. They also cut some great discs, and this swinging set contains the entire Mad Hatters catalog, along with aRead More

It’s a given that show tunes and Tin Pan Alley songs have provided plenty of fodder for jazz interpretations, especially in the decades before there were enough quality standards written specifically for jazz to fill up a fake book. You May Also Like: Why Keith Jarrett’s Reunion With Charlie HadenRead More

Formed in 1964, the Beau Brummels were not only America’s first successful response to the British Invasion that changed the entire complexion of pop music that historic year, but they were also the first successful rock group from San Francisco, California. Most people tend to believe the City by theRead More

Bruce’s relationship with his father, described elliptically with Biblical imagery and tense, angry music. When I first heard Darkness, the LoudGuitarNerd™ in me totally dug the distorted guitar lines that this song is built around. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E StreetRead More

This album is a musical security blanket of sorts. Actually, that’s how I feel about Greg Brown’s music in general, even the really ugly stuff. Oh yes, there is ugly stuff. You May Also Like: Greg Brown’s ‘In the Hills of California’ Finally Reproduced His Nervy Live Sound Greg ‘Stackhouse’Read More

“Don’t Take Me Alive” is one of last of Steely Dan’s songs that’s truly “rock,” and the narrator’s portrayal as a deranged killer daring the cops to take him out also makes it one of Becker and Fagen’s least ambiguous songs. You May Also Like: Steely Dan, “Kid Charlemagne” fromRead More