S. Victor Aaron’s Mid-Year Best of 2014 (Non-Jazz): Jack White, Me’Shell Ndegéocello, Drive-By Truckers, Lucinda Williams
Here are the seven best albums outside of realm of jazz so far in 2014. So says me.
Other News
Jeff Beck’s ‘Happenings Ten Years Time Ago,’ ‘People Get Ready,’ others: Gimme Five
On Beck’s birthday, we select five examples of his frisky genius.
Intelligent Music Project II, with Joseph Williams, Simon Phillips and John Lawton (2014): Something Else! exclusive premiere
Joseph Williams and Simon Phillips worked together in Toto for four years.
Peter Van Huffel’s Gorilla Mask – Bite My Blues (2014)
From a punk attitude comes jazz aptitude; Gorilla Mask does it again.
The Beatles reunite! (Well, kind of): More Perfect Playlists
With Lennon and Harrison’s untimely passings, this is as close as we’ll ever get again.
‘He’s like our hidden weapon’: Neal Schon on the overlooked vocal talent of Journey’s Deen Castronovo
A Castronovo-sung single from Schon’s new solo album shot into the Top 5.
Melissa Aldana and Crash Trio – Melissa Aldana and Crash Trio (2014)
Ready or not, here comes 2013’s Monk International Competition saxophone winner Melissa Aldana. ‘Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio’ marks a solid first step in the post-Big Win phase of her young career.
‘I’m going to go out on a limb’: Steve Cropper on how technology is ruining modern music
Cropper is set for another European tour with the Animals later this year.
Forgotten series: Bob Carpenter – Silent Passage (1984)
In the melancholy wisdom of his lyrics, this lost singer-songwriter has very few rivals.
Gene Segal Quintet – Mental Images (2014)
It was a long stretch between Gene Segal’s first and second albums but ‘Mental Images’ assures that the intervening time was time was spent.
