Tom Paxton & John McCutcheon

Together

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to Together

The legendary folk artists Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon get together for the first time on this Covid and Zoom fueled effort that brings us songs about history, sports, America and love.

The eloquent storytelling of “Ukrainian Now” opens the listen with warm guitar and soft drumming, and “This Campfire” could certainly soundtrack a campfire thanks to the gentle melodies and gorgeous vocal harmonies alongside JT Taylor’s bass.

Closer to the middle, the frisky “Same Old Crap” benefits much from Jon Carroll’s bouncy keys, while the glorious “The Fan” allows Stuart Duncan’s stirring fiddle to emit much beauty alongside the poetic singing.

The romantic “Life Before You” arrives near the end, and is a heartfelt duet with graceful keys and moody strings, and “Together” exits with the pretty key progressions amid the smooth singing of the emotive finish.

The duo have shared a lengthy and deep friendship, and this collaboration is certainly another genuine, timeless and friendly folk listen that will always be relevant.

Travels well with: Tom Heyman- 24th Street Blues; The Waymores- Greener Pastures

Somni

Gravity

Friends Of Friends, 2023

8/10

Listen to Gravity

The UK native and now Los Angeles resident Somni, i.e. Leo Shulman, brings a diverse set of influences to these 11 tracks that fuse indie-folk, lo-fi hip-hop and electronic beats with much skill and creativity.

“Fleeting” begins the listen with a unique dreaminess that’s quite mesmerizing in its soft and ambient textures, and “Hold Tight” follows with a cozy intimacy that radiates a soulfulness amid the crisp beats.

In the middle, “Restless” carries a glitchy and atmospheric appeal that uses warm guitar as well as the unpredictable electronica, while “Lost” recruits Harris Cole for the waves of sparkling instrumentation and well placed beats alongside the expressive singing.

Close to the end, the gentle cooing of “Cracks” is met with melodic gestures and agile, synthetic exploration, and “Everything” exits the listen with a charming mashing of indie-folk and surreal hip-hop flourishes.

An extremely prolific artist, Somni has released music consistently since 2018, and the nods to legends like Elliott Smith and Modest Mouse help make his modern version of pop quite alluring.

Travels well with: The Seshen- Nowhere; Wolf Eyes- Dreams In Splattered Lives

Vonneumann

Johnniac

Ammiratore, 2023

8/10

Listen to Johnniac

A Roma, Italy band who use zero overdubs or editing on this live recording, vonneumann make for a highly experimental and electronic focused 5 tracks.

“el Carinebo” opens the listen with Fabio Ricci’s fluid drumming alongside Toni Virgillito’s playful guitars for the thick rock delivery, and “oblivioli” follows with 8+ minutes of buzzing and crisp ideas that uses odd time signatures and some post-rock ideas for the unpredictable climate.

Halfway through, “asciugaDramm” balances a distinct lightness with no lack of avant-garde exploration from the synthetic sounds, while “fuBecurity” is beat driven and frisky in a modern electro-pop sort of way. The final track, “il Daughter Brother”, recruits animated math-rock ideas for a very artistic and melodic exit that employs Filippo Mazzel’s animated guitar.

On the electronic side, there’s Digitakt, iPad, modular synth and programming present, and it all complements the distorted guitars, deconstructed rap lines, strategic noise and stoner-rock nods that you’re not going to hear anywhere else.

Travels well with: you.guru- UNtouchable; TYTO- Mirai

Ole Lonesome

Tejas Motel

Gulf Coast, 2023

8/10

Listen to Tejas Motel

The Texas blues rockers Ole Lonesome bring an impressive 10 songs to this first album on the Gulf Coast label, where Zachary Feemster, J. Wesley Hardin, Gregory Mosley, Jimmy Devers and Greg Achord are in fine form.

“Yvette” opens the listen with Feemster’s soaring vocals amid Devers’ playful drums and the spirited guitars, and “Gold Chevy” follows with a booming presence that uses grooves and rhythm in between the dense rock.

Halfway through, “Easy Street” brings plenty of grit and melody thanks to Hardin’s well timed bass and Achord’s swirling guitar, while “Lo Key” recruits Mike Zito for the great balance of calm versus firm gestures, where Feemster’s expressive voice is front and center.

Close to the end, “Natural Fact” benefits much from the dynamic rhythm section for the textured album highlight, and “Tejas Motel” exits with a breezy approach of bright blues ideas that uses Mosley’s keys superbly.

An outstanding performance of timeless and fluid blues, Ole Lonesome certainly fit in well with the exceptional roster that is Gulf Coast Records.

Travels well with: Popa Chubby And The Beast Band- Live At G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC; Albert Castiglia- I Got Love

My Sister, My Brother

My Sister, My Brother II

Self-Released, 2023

9/10

Listen to My Sister, My Brother II

The duo of Sean McConnell and Garrison Starr, as My Sister, My Brother the pair return with a sophomore release of their pretty folk/Americana formula.

“Cry Me A River” opens the listen with warm piano and gorgeous vocal harmonies in the poetic and intimate climate that eventually brings in strings, too, and “Another Life” continues with a crunchy folk-rocker that’s gritty yet melodic and soars with a rugged radiance.

The middle tracks belong to “Almost There” and “More Than You Could Give”, where the former recruits a stirring atmosphere and soulful quality that’s emotive, and the latter strums with a powerful Americana presence that carries a heartfelt demeanor. The last track, “Maybe There Are Angels”, is piano focused, where both McConnell and Starr showcase their expressive and eloquent singing.

A listen that contains heartwarming balladry just as it does animated rock tunes, the addition of strings gives us another avenue of their sincere vision to enjoy, and further solidifies My Sister, My Brother as a standout band in the modern Americana pool.

Travels well with: Edie Carey- The Veil; Ellis Paul- 55

John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy

Evenings At The Village Gate

Impulse!, 2023

8/10

Listen to Evenings At The Village Gate

Recorded in 1961 during John Coltrane’s residency at The Village Gate, these never before heard recordings bring two of the most legendary artists in the area of jazz for the 5 involved pieces that also hosts McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Art Davis and Elvin Jones.

“My Favorite Things” opens the set with Dolphy’s meticulous flute playing alongside Jones’ frisky drums and Coltrane’s well timed sax for the unpredictable 16 minutes, and “When Lights Are Low” follows with Dolphy handling clarinet amid Workman’s playfully plucked bass.

In the middle, “Impressions” spotlights Coltrane’s stunning brass prowess as the rhythm section unleashes a furious display, while “Greensleeves” benefits much from Tyner’s precise piano playing that complements the busy yet controlled climate.

“Climate” finishes the listen with a dizzying execution with Dolphy on alto sax, Coltrane on soprano sax, and Art Davis on bass for the unique and dreamy exploration of timeless jazz.

No one is going to complain about 80 minutes of lost music from Coltrane, and this documents the only performances of the Village Gate collaborations with Dolphy, who passed away 3 years later. A must for fans of Coltrane, the packaging includes insightful words from Workman, the recording engineer Rich Alderson, Branford Marsalis and Lakecia Benjamin.

Travels well with: Charles Mingus- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus; Max Roach- We Insist!

Hannah Gill

Everybody Loves A Lover

Turtle Bay, 2023

8/10

Listen to Everybody Loves A Lover

This debut from the NYC jazz vocalist Hannah Gill interprets 11 swing-era tracks with some of the East Coast’s finest for the abundance of melodies and rhythm.

“Moonlight Savings Time” starts the listen with Gill’s flowing pipes alongside the bright horns and Gordon Webster’s frisky keys, and “You Were Only Fooling” follows with a playful demeanor thanks to Ben Zweig’s skilled drumming and Greg Ruggerio’s creative guitar that complements the expressive singing.

Elsewhere, the intimate “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me” uses Ryan Weisheit’s soothing clarinet to accent the warm beauty, while the title tracks bops and shakes with an uncontainable energy that employs Tal Ronen’s bass strategically.

Landing near the end, “This Will Make You Laugh” showcases another dimension to Gill’s pipes in the sultry and dreamy album highlight, and “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie” exits with a Big Band approach that’s sure to get your body moving to the swift keys, animated drums and dynamic brass interaction.

Danny Jonokuchi (trumpet), Weisheit (sax) and Sam Chess (trombone) hold down the brass on the listen, and they do a great job of illuminating Gill’s diverse and colorful vocals for this impressive first album.

Travels well with: Angie Wells- Truth Be Told; Chloe Jean- Fairy Tale Fail

Popa Chubby And The Beast Band

Live At G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC

Gulf Coast, 2023

8/10

Listen to Live At G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC

The New York City guitarist and blues wizard Popa Chubby fleshed out these tracks live on October 24th and 25th, 2022, where Mike Merritt, Mike Dimeo and Stefano Giudici, AKA, the Beast Band, helped pump much energy into the sets.

The dense and raw “Motorcycle Mama” opens the listen with Chubby’s firm guitar alongside Giudici’s thumping drums, and it isn’t long before “Hey Joe” brings plenty of grit and playful riffs to the lively spirit.

Deeper into the night, “Dirty Diesel” spotlights Merritt’s superb bass playing amid the meticulous guitar licks, while “I Don’t Want Nobody” is full of melody and rhythm thanks to Dimeo’s well timed keys and Cubby’s animated guitar progressions.

Further still, “I Don’t Want Nobody” brings a more intimate appeal to the emotive landscape, and “Sympathy For The Devil/Chubby’s Story” exits with 10+ minutes of flowing and driving blues rock that really allows the robust vocals to shine.

The sound here is excellent, as are the songs, and Chubby and company sure do put a lot heart and soul into these hard hitting yet thoughtful blues gems that are easy to enjoy.

Travels well with: Albert Castiglia- I Got Love; Mike Zito- Blues For The Southside

Anthony Rosano And The Conqueroos

Cheat The Devil

Whiskey Bayou, 2023

8/10

Listen to Cheat The Devil

The singer-songwriter and guitarist Anthony Rosano is well versed in the sounds of the blues, but his formula certainly isn’t easy to classify, as he brings Kyle McCormick and Jake Fultz along for these powerful and diverse 10 tracks.

“Sweet Little Devil” opens the listen with Rosano’s spirited guitar alongside McCormick’s thumping drums in the dense blues rocker, and “My Baby Gets Around” follows with soaring guitar licks and Fultz’s precise bass for the soulful climate.

Halfway through, the crunchy and dynamic “Sin City” is full of soaring riffs and expressive singing that’s not short on melody, either, while “Jonesboro Road” trims the pace back with thick grooves from the skilled rhythm section.

Close to the end, “Shook” spotlights Rosano’s guitar acrobatics amid the vivid storytelling of the darker delivery, and “King Bee” exits with a timeless and energetic version of the blues that comes with a hint of cautiousness, too.

A listen that goes along well with artists like ZZ Top, Gov’t Mule or Tab Benoit (who produced the album), Rosano and company make the sorts of blues that will resonate globally and always be relevant.

Travels well with: Alastair Greene- The New World Blues; Chickenbone Slim- Damn Good And Ready

The Seshen

Nowhere

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Nowhere

The project of San Francisco’s Lalin St. Juste and Akiyoshi Ehara, as The Seshen the duo plus others make music that blends electronic, R&B and indie-pop into songs about loss, estrangement and approaching the unknown.

“Nowhere” opens the listen with playful beats and an electronic haze alongside the soulful, comforting singing from St. Juste that shifts into lively electro-pop, and “Hold Me” follows with Chris Thalmann’s playful drumming suiting the expressive vocals that enters dreamy territory.

Landing near the middle is “Gone Under”, where Mirza Kopleman’s agile percussion and Ehara’s precise bass make for much exploration, while “Nothing Left To Say” is quite intimate and flows in waves of beauty and gentle pop ideas.

Close to the end, “Watching The Rain”, the best track, showcases St. Juste’s gorgeous and radiant vocals amid the R&B backdrop, and “Walking Away” exits with a mesmerizing buzzing thanks to Mahesh Rao’s moody keys and the both soft and firm gestures.

A raw body of work that’s very much rooted in love and loss, and production certainly illuminates the sonic glow of the sextet’s powerful and often reflect formula.

Travels well with: Wolf Eyes- Dreams In Splattered Lines; Lesley Mok- The Living Collection

Dimitri Landrain Trio

Astor’s Place

Zoho, 2023

8/10

Listen to Astor’s Place

The globally revered French artist and composer Dimitri Landrain brings his piano playing to these 9 original pieces, where Jim Robertson and Keith Balla are in attendance for the songs that tell Landrain’s life story.

The frisky title track gets the listen off to an animated start, where the spirit of tango is present via the agile drums and precise keys, and “Hotel Bar” follows with no lack of melody and rich song craft thanks to Balla’s meticulous bass plucking.

In the middle, “Lovers In The Rain” carries much intimacy in the cautious balladry that tugs on the heartstrings, while “De Buen Tono” is groove oriented in rumba sort of fashion that’s as stylish as it is elegant.

Approaching the end, the introspective nature of “Nostalgia” displays a cozy rhythm section amid the mature keys, and “Waltz For Billy” exits with a nod to Billy Strayhorn by way of its intricate progressions and harmonic demeanor.

A highly cultured and thoughtful listen, Landrain’s work is nothing short of luminous, and the tremendous beauty he possesses makes each selection here memorable.

Travels well with: Ben Sher- Samba For Tarsila; Marco Pignataro- Chant For Our Planet

Soft Punch

Above Water

Bad Friend, 2023

8/10

Listen to Above Water

The brainchild of the Washington D.C. multi-instrumentalist Rye Thomas, the 13 songs here bring plenty of guests to a diverse listen that thematically points at coping with loss and the search for beauty.

The appropriately titled “Let’s Begin” opens the listen with Ben Thornewill’s well timed keys amid the hazy pop that’s heavy on atmosphere, and it isn’t long until “My Head” welcomes Ricardo Lagomasino’s drums and Matt Dowling’s bass to the swirling climate of lush and melodic indie-rock.

Elsewhere, “My Aim Is True” puts Ed Dickerson on violin for the indie-folk delivery, while “Still Song” benefits much from Gordon Withers’ eloquent cello across the intimate and dreamy delivery.

Later on, horns make an appearance on “Here Comes The Chorus” thanks to Tom ‘Bones’ Malone and Don Godwin in a thicker display, and “Now’s The Time” exit with violin and no lack of electronica bouts for the spacey finish.

Thomas formerly played in the bands Pash and Tereu Tereu before severe health problems kept him at home. His creative spirited never dwindled, though, and as he became better, he started fleshing out these variations of indie-pop that are quite easy to enjoy.

Travels well with: Miniaturized- miniaturized; Fotoform- horizons

Hery Paz

Jardineros

577, 2023

8/10

Listen to Jardineros

The New York resident and Cuban multi-instrumentalist Hery Paz makes an impression on this debut, where Francisco Mela and Román Díaz are on hand for the poetic and improvised ten tracks.

The warm flute of “Calle Libertad” opens the listen with Mela’s frisky drums entering the unique climate, and “Jardineros” follows with a strong emphasis on the acrobatic drumming, as Paz’s soulful sax enters the cozy delivery.

Halfway through, “Conga Espirituana” explores Paz’s suona prowess amid the crisp drums and Díaz’s percussive gestures, while “Miel de la Tierra” brings the flute back for a dreamy album highlight that meshes the drums with much creativity.

The last two tracks are among the best, where “Pensamiento” showcases a more straightforward jazz appeal thanks to the elegant sax, and “Barrio del Jobo” uses Díaz’s spoken word amid thumping drums and strong attention to mood.

An excellent and unpredictable first album, Paz’s unique and cultured vision makes each track here worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Max Gerl- Max Gerl; Matt Ulery- Mannerist

Old Crow Medicine Show

Jubilee

ATO, 2023

9/10

Listen to Jubilee

The Americana legends Old Crow Medicine Show celebrated their 25 years together with this Grammy Nominated 8th studio album that meshes their folk, bluegrass and rootsy ways with the co-founder Willie Watson, soul singer Mavis Staples and up and coming artist Sierra Ferrell in attendance.

The vocally harmonic and warm spirit of “Ballad Of Jubilee Jones” opens the listen with flowing banjo and spirited fiddle, and “Miles Away” follows with Watson present for the breezy melodies and poetic singing that tugs on the heartstrings.

Further along, the rowdy “I Want It Now” showcases bright piano and lively group vocals via the mountain rocker, while “Belle Meade Cockfight” features Ferrell’s expressive pipes for the swift, rural song craft.

Arriving near the end, the howling “Wolfman Of The Ozarks” spotlights dynamic string interaction that suits the vivid storytelling, and “One Drop” exits with Staples’ inimitable vocals complementing the gospel hints of the rhythmic climate that could soundtrack a barnyard dance.

Whether this is your first time or you’ve been following all along, you’re going to be impressed with the unparalleled attention to songwriting and rugged yet tuneful delivery of a record that certainly warranted Grammy attention.

Travels well with: The Devil Makes Three- Chains Are Broken; Steep Canyon Rangers- Out In The Open

Scott Hepple And The Sun Band

Ashes To Wildflowers

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Ashes To Wildflowers

The Newcastle, UK outfit front by Scott Hepple bring plenty of psychedelic flavor to these 9 well crafted tracks that embrace analog recording and often touches on the ideas of the ‘60s/’70s.

“Letting Go” opens the listen with Hepple’s soaring guitar and flowing vocals being complemented by Tom Waterworth’s crisp drumming, and “Warm Night” follows with spirited harmonica and a dense climate that balances power and melody with a nostalgic feel.

“Caligula” lands in the middle and uses meticulous acoustic guitar and plenty of tambourine from Jennifer MacDermot for the unique folk textures, while “Spirit Animal” enters dreamy areas thanks to the wordless backing vocals from Sophie Keith.

Close to the end, the rugged “Wildfires” finds a lush place to reside thanks to the expressive singing and layered song craft, and “Chosen” exits with a raw folk strummer that’s jangly and timeless.

An excellent debut that interprets ideas from the past and takes in influences as wide as Black Sabbath and Neil Young, it will be exciting to see what Scott Hepple And The Sun Band do next.

Travels well with: Caleb Nichols- Let’s Look Back; Tele Novella- Merlynn Belle

Dave Desmelik

There And Then

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to There And Then

The multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Dave Desmelik brings along an excellent cast for these 5 meticulous and genuine songs that thematically surrounds a young man trying to find his way in the world.

“Me And Bob Marley” opens the listen with Desmelik’s swift acoustic guitar playing alongside the flowing vocals of the folk influenced climate, and “Rand McNally” follows with Bow Thayer’s zither banjo and baritone guitar giving the melodic delivery a very rootsy feel that’s warm and harmonic.

The middle spot belongs to the atmospheric and intimate “Risking”, where Josh Gibbs’ well timed lap steel guitar and Ron James’ crisp drums make an indelible impression, while “Crazy Life” emits a poetic quality thanks to Steve Mayone’s glowing electric guitar that suits Desmelik’s expressive singing. The final track, “New Chapter”, is full of genuine and memorable Americana that spotlights plenty of grit amid Desmelik’s tuneful formula.

Desmelik plays several guitars, bass, piano and Hammond here, and his timeless song craft should be require listening if you’re familiar with names like Tweedy and Louris.

Travels well with: Amanda Anne Platt- The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea; Malcolm Holcombe- Bits & Pieces

Graham Parker & The Goldtops

Last Chance To Learn The Twist

Big Stir, 2023

10/10

Listen to Last Chance To Learn The Twist

One of Britain’s finest, the legendary Graham Parker is back with the Goldtops for 13 new tracks that are never short on grooves and soulfulness.

“The Music Of The Devil” opens the listen with Geraint Watkins’ moody key alongside Jim Russell’s frisky drums for the roots friendly rocker, and “Grand Scheme Of Things” follows with a pretty intimacy that showcases Parker’s warm pipes amid Martin Belmont’s cozy guitar lines.

Closer to the middle, “Wicked Wit” welcomes the Easy Access Orchestra, who lends their horns to the melodic and soul rooted album highlight, while “Cannabis” is a dreamy ballad that allows Parker’s impressive range to shine via a calming atmosphere.

Some reggae ideas enter near the end, where “Them Bugs” is full of rhythm and backing vocals from the duo of The Lady Bugs, and “Since You Left Me Baby” exits with a rowdy and playful rocker that’s dense, precise and just so much fun.

A diverse outing that comes with a wealth of talent and experience, whether this is your first time with Parker or you’ve been following all along, you’re going to be impressed with this honesty, passionate and ability to shift from vulnerable moments to upbeat anthems with ease.

Travels well with: Arthur Alexander- …Steppin’ Out; The Bablers- You Are The One For Me/Mr. King/Holding Me Tight Tonight

Marc Copland

Someday

Inner Voice Jazz, 2023

8/10

Listen to Someday

The world revered pianist Marc Copland returns with his first quartet effort in awhile, where Robin Verheyen, Drew Gress and Mark Ferber are along for the 8 timeless jazz tracks.

“Someday My Prince Will Come” opens the listen with Copland’s fluid, warm keys that are complemented by Verheyen’s soulful sax, and “Spinning Things” continues with frisky drumming from Ferber that aligns well with the glowing brass.

“Let’s Cool One” occupies the middle spot and spotlights Copland’s stunning finger acrobatics on piano on the Thelonious Monk original, while “Round She Goes” gets intimate, mesmerizing and cinematic, where Gress’ strategic bass won’t go unnoticed.

The last two tracks, “Day And Night” and “Nardis”, don’t disappoint either, where the former enters dreamy territory thanks to the moody sax, and the latter meshes the brass, keys, drums and bass into a cautious and adventurous finish of precise interaction.

Now well into his 70’s, Copland influence is wide and unending, and his profound familiarity with the piano plus the esteemed help on hand makes for another first rate jazz listen.

Travels well with: Bellbird- Root In Tandem; Will Clements- Compass

Sonum Unum

Signals From The Sun

Negative Gain, 2023

8/10

Listen to Signals From The Sun

The duo of Craig Douglas and Michael Goldberg, as Sonic Unum the pair blend their rock template through a hazy, electronic and cinematic filter that makes for 10 creative tracks.

“Rescue” opens the listen with a radiating synth presence, low buzzing and soulful vocals in the warm version of electro-pop, and “Surrender” follows with a dreamy intimacy that uses beat friendly ideas for the club friendly presence.

The middle spot belongs to the synthetic drums and expressive singing of “Know It All”, while “Misinterpretation” recruits some post-punk influence to the melodic and rich textures of modern indie-rock flavor.

Residing near the end, the soaring vocals of “Take Me Away”, flowing beats and agile synth makes this one of the album’s best, and “Holding On Forever” exits with an emotive and vocally strong finish that’s bare, mysterious and ambient.

You may detect influences like M83, Peter Gabriel or even Depeche Mode here, and this is an excellent debut from two artists with a wealth of talent and much imagination.

Travels well with: Negative Gain Artist Compilation- Obey The Noise V6; Bestial Mouths- R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)

The Lilacs

Endure

Pravda, 2019

9/10

Listen to Endure

It’s been pretty quiet in the The Lilacs’ camp for two and a half decades now, but the early ‘90s Chicago power-pop champions are back with 4 never recorded tunes here, with half penned by Ken Kurson and half by David Levinsky.

“Monica” gets the album off to an energetic start with loud hooks, oozing melodies and a power-pop punch that you won’t be able to get off your mind, and “Shadow Of Doubt” follows with sturdy rhythm in a cautious yet thundering blast of gigantic rock sounds.

The last 2 tunes are just as strong, though a bit more subdued, including the bluesy swagger of “Blue Spark”, which is both vocally expressive and musically moving with a Hammond B3 appearance, and “I Saw Her First” ends the EP with an anthemic, punchy exit of fun synth, thumping percussion and slick guitar licks.

A record that was created after The Lilacs played a reunion show in 2017, while it’s unlikely The Lilacs will be a full time band anytime soon, let’s hope occasional tunes pop up, as the songwriting is still top notch, as is the delivery.

Travels well with: The Replacements- Tim; Material Issue- Destination Universe