Music that I have recently heard that I think is noteworthy.
“The eminent guitarist Bill Frisell improvises in smoky ringlets of melody, drawing the influence of classic jazz guitar into a palette based on early American folk music. He has been a noted bandleader since the 1980s, but has never released an album for Blue Note Records, jazz’s most illustrious label. That will change with “Harmony,” … Continue reading Bill Frisell’s Harmony
Éliane Radigue (b. 1932) is a pioneering French composer of undulating continuous music marked by patient, virtually imperceptible transformations that purposively unfold to reveal the intangible, radiant contents of minimal sound—its partials, harmonics, subharmonics and inherent distortions. As a student and assistant to musique concrète pioneers Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry in the ‘50s and … Continue reading Eliane Radigue – Occam Ocean
Mandolin Orange is an Americana duo based out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group was formed in 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and consists of the group's songwriter Andrew Marlin (vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and Emily Frantz (vocals, violin, guitar). Mandolin Orange has produced five albums of Marlin's original works. Their music draws … Continue reading Mandolin Orange : always firmly grounded in the South
May Erlewine is a musician from Big Rapids, Michigan. She sings and plays the guitar, piano, violin, and other instruments. She is also a songwriter, with over 15 albums of original work published since the beginning of her career, in the early 2000s. Her songs have been covered by other artists, on the local and … Continue reading May Erlewine : prolific and passionate songwriter
Chris Coole got his first banjo when he was 17 years old after falling in love with the sounds of folk and early country music. Today, Chris is known internationally for his clawhammer banjo style, songwriting, and singing. Early on, Chris discovered the joys of busking. His practice halls were the streets and subway of … Continue reading Chris Coole : Clawhammer banjo and more
On his first album of new songs in over 13 years, John Prine’s new songs on The Tree of Forgiveness are presented with ragged simplicity and homey cheer. Then the veteran tunesmith moves to songs of stark resolve. But, just as you think his world has gone off the cliff, Prine ends the record with … Continue reading John Prine’s latest is among his best
You’re Driving Me Crazy is the third album Van Morrison has released since September of 2017, when he delivered the hard-charging blues of Roll With the Punches. In December, he put out Versatile, an amiable collection grounded by standards that found him moving toward jazz. Morrison’s newest release delves even deeper into the genre, pairing the 1960s legend with jazz … Continue reading Van Morrison : You’re Driving Me Crazy
The latest recording by Canada's The Wailin' Jennys, Fifteen, continues their distinctive take on a traditional, folk, old-time stylistic mix with a group of covers. The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse. Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop … Continue reading The Wailin’ Jennys : Fifteen
To the accompaniment of the wind buffeting the church of St Jude-on-the-Hill, London, the Hilliard Ensemble here solemnly perform what must surely be the bleakest, most ritualistic Passion to be composed since Heinrich Schutz's settings of the mid seventeenth century. Never one to dress up his religious work in ostentatious garb, Arvo Part has selected … Continue reading Passio by Arvo Pärt : Paul Hillier’s recording
Tim Berne: alto saxophone; Oscar Noriega: clarinet, bass clarinet; Ryan Ferreira: guitars; Matt Mitchell: piano; Ches Smith: drums, vibraphone, percussion, timpani. With David Torn: guitar on Hora Feliz (intro) and Sideshow (outro) Hora Feliz - 10:26 Stingray Shuffle - 7:36 Sideshow - 26:01 Incidentals Contact - 10:48 Prelude One / Sequel Two - 9:18 Incidentals … Continue reading Tim Berne’s Snakeoil: Incidentals
Musica Kaleidoskopea 