Archive for December, 2020

Rick Wakeman, David Benoit, Blackmore's Night + Others: 2020's Seasonal Sounds

Rick Wakeman, David Benoit, Blackmore’s Night + Others: 2020’s Seasonal Sounds

There are maybe thousands of holiday songs from years past. So let’s look for something new from Rick Wakeman, David Benoit, Blackmore’s Night and others.

Ikue Mori, Satoko Fujii + Natsuki Tamura - 'Prickly Pear Cactus' (2020)

Ikue Mori, Satoko Fujii + Natsuki Tamura – ‘Prickly Pear Cactus’ (2020)

A global pandemic hasn’t quelled the creative fire of Ikue Mori, Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura, and their long-distance collaboration ‘Prickly Pear Cactus’ doesn’t sound at all like musicians trying to just ‘make do.’

Dan Markell, "Comin' Up On Christmas" (2020): One Track Mind

Dan Markell, “Comin’ Up On Christmas” (2020): One Track Mind

Glistening with finger-clicking rhythms and a cheery vibe, Dan Markell’s catchy “Comin’ Up On Christmas” makes it impossible not to look forward to the holidays.

Yes, "Subway Walls" from 'Heaven and Earth' (2014): YESterdays

Yes, “Subway Walls” from ‘Heaven and Earth’ (2014): YESterdays

“Subway Walls” doesn’t quite match what we have come to expect from albums of all eras, but make no mistake: This is still good Yes music.

Wayne Escoffery, Gary Husband, Nick Finzer + Others: Preston Frazier's Best of 2020 Jazz

Wayne Escoffery, Gary Husband, Nick Finzer + Others: Preston Frazier’s Best of 2020 Jazz

Preston Frazier’s Best of 2020 Jazz list includes Wayne Escoffery, Gary Husband and Markus Reuter, Nick Finzer and Wolfgang Muthspiel, among others.

Richard Sterban: The Albums That Shaped My Career

Richard Sterban: The Albums That Shaped My Career

Richard Sterban of Oak Ridge Boys and J.D. Sumner’s Stamps fame joined Ross Boissoneau to discuss career-shaping moments – and what he’s listening to now.

Tim Berne's Hardcell [Berne, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] - 'The Cosmos' (2020)

Tim Berne’s Hardcell [Berne, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] – ‘The Cosmos’ (2020)

Individually and collectively, Tim Berne’s Hardcell trio was amazing and the live souvenir ‘The Cosmos’ confirms that.

Prezens [David Torn, Tim Berne, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] - 'xFORM' (2020)

Prezens [David Torn, Tim Berne, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] – ‘xFORM’ (2020)

‘xFORM’ is one of the snowflakes from a David Torn/Prezens live performance that’s thankfully been captured for posterity and now, available for the public.

Chicago, "Who Do You Love" from 'Twenty 1' (1991): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Who Do You Love” from ‘Twenty 1’ (1991): Saturdays in the Park

Sometimes, as the Bill Champlin-sung “Who Do You Love” from Chicago’s ‘Twenty 1’ makes clear, less is more and more is less.

Nick Millevoi - 'Streets of Philadelphia' (2020)

Nick Millevoi – ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ (2020)

‘Streets of Philadelphia’ might ostensibly be about a certain American city, but it speaks more to the boundless talent and imagination of outsider guitarist and composer Nick Millevoi.