Why the epic "Monk's Dreams" by Frank Kimbrough & Co. is the year's best jazz album
Frank Kimbrough – Monk’s Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk (Sunnyside) (6-disc-set) *
I happened to meet pianist Frank Kimbrough last February, after a concert in Illinois by the Maria Schneider Orchestra, for which he plays piano. Affable and approachable, he chatted with me a bit and, learning I
Nashville Songwriters Tell the Stories behind Their Songs
Books by and about songwriters are too few and far between. There are notable exceptions, such as Steve Dorff’s recent I Wrote That One, Too: A Life in Songwriting from Willie to Whitney (Backbeat Books). Dorff’s engaging memoir focuses not just on the details of his life; he
Featured Photographer: cowtownchad and His Camera
One of my new year’s resolutions is to feature more individual photographers. First up is Chad Cochran, better known in the music photography world as cowtownchad, whom I first met several years ago at an Ohio festival. Since then we have also caught up with each other at AmericanaFest
Sam Bush Shares Photos from His Personal Collection
It's hard not to smile when you watch Sam Bush play. Joy pours out of his body and shines through every note, lifting up everyone around him, whether they're on stage, front row, or deep into a vast festival audience. He's played with just
Through the Lens' Artist of the Year: John Prine
"Bewildered, bewildered, you have no complaint. You are what you are, and you ain't what you ain't." — John Prine
1971
In the fall of 1971, just as the Central Park leaves were turning, I was sitting in the A&R offices of Atlantic
In Memoriam: 2018
Some of the musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, managers, agents, broadcasters, journalists, industry executives, and studio and club owners who passed away in 2018.
Listen to a selection of these artists on Spotify.
January
Robert Mann, violinist and member of the Juilliard String Quartet
Betty Willis, soul singer
Tony Calder, record