ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Ears of the People’ Spotlights the Ekonting, Banjo’s Ancestor
If you are not an ethnomusicologist and/or from West Africa, you may well read the title Ears of the People: Ekonting Songs from Senegal and the Gambia and wonder, “What on earth is an ekonting?”
The collection, and its extensive, well-written liner notes, answer that question at great
ALBUM REVIEW: Hardship and Triumph Sing Together on Sunny War’s ‘Anarchist Gospel’
With her new album, Anarchist Gospel, talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist Sunny War continues to acknowledge the effects of anxiety, grief, and social alienation while accessing a notable equanimity. The album stands as a testament to life’s hardships and a declaration of triumph.
Opener “Love’s Death Bed” shows
ALBUM REVIEW: A Tribute to Honky-Tonk Pianist Moon Mullican
Dubbed king of the honky-tonk piano players, Aubrey “Moon” Mullican's output was an eclectic mix of styles and genres. The rowdy pianist called his sound East Texas rock, but it's a bit more complicated than that, a jumbled-up collection encompassing Western swing, rockabilly, blues,
BONUS TRACKS: Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Bash and a Senate Beatdown for Ticketmaster
Every Willie Nelson concert is a party, but at the Hollywood Bowl in April, the party is for him. A two-night concert dubbed “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90” will celebrate Nelson’s 90th birthday with a jaw-dropping lineup that spans genres and musical eras, including Allison Russell,
ALBUM REVIEW: JD Clayton Follows His Heart for ‘Long Way From Home’
Like so many artists, JD Clayton went to Nashville to make his music dreams come true. But it was his Arkansas roots that ultimately helped him home in on his sound: no-frills and anchored by his true-blue twang. On his debut full-length album, Long Way From Home,
ALBUM REVIEW: Eddie 9V Channels Classic Sounds Into New Soul on ‘Capricorn’
Eddie 9V is a soulful minister, delivering the goods like a man who's seen his musical calling writ large and is broadcasting it loud and clear. But even though he's looking skyward, don't be sidetracked by the title of his latest record. Capricorn ain&