by Mark Saleski Back in the mid-1980s, the arrival on the jazz scene of a trumpeter named Wynton Marsalis marked the start of the so-called “young lions” period. You May Also Like: Marcin Wasilewski Trio feat. Joe Lovano – ‘Arctic Riff’ (2020)

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of posts to both Twitter and Facebook gently reminding people that they might be able to change their lives if they do something about them rather than merely kvetch. You May Also Like: Denise LaSalle, Soul-Blues Belter (1939-2018): An Appreciation

I’m sure you’re familiar with that cliché about a voice so beautiful, you wouldn’t mind hearing it sing the phone book. Well, sometimes there’s a whole lot of truth in that concept. When I heard her take on “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” I temporarily forgot who I was.Read More

by Mark Saleski When R.E.M. toured on the Murmur record, they were the darlings of college radio. That’s certainly where I first heard them. “Radio Free Europe” and “Catapult” were getting a lot of airplay, and the band received some enthusiastic press reports You May Also Like: Why R.E.M.’s ‘LiveRead More

by Mark Saleski Most people think of the mandolin as being a rootsy, countrified kind of instrument. Surely there is no denying the rich history of the bluegrass side of the mandolin. You May Also Like: Mike Baggetta, mike watt + Jim Keltner – ‘Everywhen We Go’ (2022) Tyler MitchellRead More

by Mark Saleski Elliott Sharp does two things very well: construct very thought-provoking compositions and make scary, scary noise in the realization of those compositions. Larynx is a reissue from 1988. You know, the holiday season is in full swing. Maybe you need some music to block out the stress?Read More

by Mark Saleski Singaporean singer Jacintha (full name Jacintha Abisheganaden) takes on the songbook of the Hollywood of my youth: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “Que Sera Sera,” “California Dreaming,” “Windmills Of Your Mind.” It’s funny, I hated these songs back in the day. Now? The concertina/acoustic guitar introductionRead More

I love to read negative reviews of albums put out by aging rock stars. They’re predictable in a comforting sort of way. A big chunk of them say that the artist hasn’t been any good since the “blah blah” release. You May Also Like: How Neil Young’s Complex, Hypnotic ‘Greendale’Read More

by Mark Saleski If they had a jazz big band playing on that old TV show “Lost In Space,” this would be the one. Take a sort of big band lineup, but then mix in some 1960’s spacey keyboards and some truly wacky vocals. Sun Ra and his Arkestra wereRead More

If you ever get a chance to see the movie “Dazed And Confused,” you’ll be treated to a pretty accurate depiction of a typical weekend in late 1970’s America. The bad hair, the hiphuggers, the muscle cars, the 8-tracks. You May Also Like: ZZ Top’s “El Diablo,” “Thunderbird,” “Rough Boy”Read More