For many of the most familiar names in blues music, their careers began in the church: Stars like B.B. King, Etta James and James Brown debuted as youngsters performing gospel music. For Lurrie Bell, the journey went in reverse. You May Also Like: Pink Floyd, “Wearing the Inside Out” fromRead More

Don’t look for the lip-smacking blues licks that have become associated with Duke Robillard for so long. Instead, the former co-founder of Roomful of Blues settles into an infectiously listenable, decidedly in-the-pocket tempo You May Also Like: Tomi Malm – Walkin’ on Air (2017) Matthew Shipp Trio – ‘New ConceptsRead More

Bunny Sigler, an architect of the classic Philly sound, is back with a blast of straight-forward funk and sweet soul, following his gospel-themed 2008 release The Lord’s Prayer. You May Also Like: Richard Turgeon, “Wanna Make Love” (2020): One Track Mind Maceo Parker’s Roots and Grooves was half genius, halfRead More

Curtis Salgado, a former sideman with Robert Cray, Roomful of Blues and Santana, drops by to discuss a handful of key career moments.

Curtis Salgado drops by for a talk on the enduring power of grease-popping, shotgun-shack rattling, ass-wagging soul music.

Everybody remembers “Don’t Fear The Reaper” — Blue Öyster Cult’s No. 12 hit from 1976 — and I admit, I’ve always been a fan of the song’s false ending You May Also Like: Blue Oyster Cult – ‘The Symbol Remains’ (2020) The Stalk-Forrest Group, “What Is Quicksand?” (1970): One TrackRead More

Jon Cleary is a big enough fan, and an accomplished enough musician, to mix it up on this forthcoming tribute record — which is smartly subtitled “Having Fun with the Songs of Allen Toussaint.” You May Also Like: No related posts.

The Staves arrive as the very image of a twee sibling act — and you prepare yourself for another sweetly unthreatening batch of folk tunes. But this is an aptly titled EP, full of musical (and emotional) surprises. You May Also Like: Jenny Scheinman – Here on Earth (2017) JacksonRead More

Todd Rundgren’s once out-of-this-world vision for Utopia – prog-pop? proto-new wave rock? – was coalescing into a provocative and powerful musical conception.

Bluesman Curtis Salgado, over a career that’s included stops with Robert Cray, Roomful of Blues and Santana, has always had an abiding love for R&B, hard soul and nasty funk. Soul Shot brings all of that together You May Also Like: Robert Randolph & the Family Band – Got SoulRead More