by Mark Saleski Do things in music always have to go smoothly? Does it bother you when your expectations are upset? I’ve always enjoyed it when a song takes an unexpected left turn. You May Also Like: No related posts.

When I think of all the members of the young, exciting roster that the fledgling Brooklyn Jazz Underground Jazz Records has in its ranks, one of the first names I think of is Anne Mette Iversen. She is a serious talent at both acoustic bass and compositions. You May AlsoRead More

by Mark Saleski Ronnie Earl is one of the most soulful blues guitar players out there. Though he’s played with vocalists (Sugar Ray Norcia being my favorite), he specializes in instrumental recordings like the ones found on Hope Radio, a live recording put together at Wellspring Sound in Acton, Massachussetts.Read More

You don’t see me cover a lot of jazz vocalist or smooth jazz records, so you may wonder what is up with this piece about a record from smooth jazz’s premier vocalist, Michael Franks? When I informed our own Mark Saleski my intention to cover Franks his reaction was toRead More

by Mark Saleski To the neophyte, microtonal music can seem less than accessible. Yeah, tones show up that the western ear just isn’t used to. On Stick Man, Haverstick takes microtonality and uses it in many contexts, not just ‘jazz.’ This is important because I’ve heard albums that focus soRead More

by Tom Johnson When Tool’s Lateralus came out a few years back, there was much talk about how intense it was going to be, how it was going to be all about building tension and sudden release. I ran out and scarfed up a copy You May Also Like: HowRead More

Liam Finn’s second solo record is different, something far more conventionally pop-infused than his 2007 debut, a thrilling but almost confusingly complex outburst of creativity called I’ll Be Lightning — and that can, at first, sound like a step backward. It starts with his noticeable drift back into the shadowRead More

by Mark Saleski Sorta like Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music, Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman’s Song X has long been a strange attractor for all sorts of hyperbole, rumor-mongering and dismissal. You May Also Like: Why You Should Give Pat Metheny’s ‘Rejoicing’ Another Listen Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: ShowsRead More

Joey Molland discusses a few Badfinger moments, both good and bad, as well as sitting in with the Beatles – and taking it, yes, day after day.

by Mark Saleski Blame this one on Irwin Chusid and his book Songs in the Key of Z. His chapter on Jandek drove me to seek out Jandek’s CDs — much to the displeasure of TheWife™. I’ve been hooked ever since. Don’t let the fact that the man can’t eitherRead More