Category Archives: Music

The Handsome Family’s Singing Bones (deluxe reissue)

It’s such a cliché to say “I can’t believe it’s been x years since y happened,” but seriously, sometimes that’s all you can say. Witness this reissue of The Handsome Family’s Singing Bones, an expanded edition of their sixth album … Continue reading

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Jane Yolen’s Ring Out!, Tam Lin, Mother Goose Songbook, The Sleeping Beauty, and Touch Magic

Used bookstores are great places to find those books that you never expected to locate. A recent trip down a street near where we live yielded three books by Jane Yolen, a writer who has been called the American Hans … Continue reading

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Benny Bleu’s When I Am A Fossil

New York native Benny Bleu is something of a Renaissance man and also something of a Luddite, two states of being that don’t generally mix. But he’s been a geologist and is now a full time singer songwriter and banjo … Continue reading

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Andrew Sa’s American Rough

Andrew Sa grew up listening to ’90s country music in Fremont, California, learned to sing in front of a crowd at a young age for his mom’s karaoke business, got a taste of queer performance and presence through the music … Continue reading

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Helga Myhr’s Slåttespel

Helga Myhr has had a remarkable recording career considering she’s just barely in her early 30s. Remarkable in terms of both volume and variety. The Norwegian Hardanger fiddle player and singer has been a part of many projects across the … Continue reading

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Kenny Barron’s So Many Lovely Things: Live in Brecon

I welcome any new release featuring pianist Kenny Barron, be it new or old. This generous live set from 1995 is no exception. Here Barron plays with his go-to trio of the era, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Ben Riley, … Continue reading

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Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet

This inaugural self-titled record by saxophonist Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet would get a high rating just on the strength of its two covers, both of them warm slow ballads: Charlie Haden’s “First Song” which appropriately opens here, and Wayne Shorter’s … Continue reading

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Trio Tsuica, Rose City Book Pub, Portland, Oregon, May 31, 2026

I was a member of a trio that trekked to North Portland on the last night in May 2026 to enjoy the ambience of the Rose City Book Pub and the music of Trio Tsuica, which bills itself as Portland’s … Continue reading

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Kris Tiner & Cathlene Pineda’s Sung

Kris Tiner & Cathlene Pineda’s Sung is a deeply intimate record by this trumpet and piano duo from Southern California; every moment of this chamber jazz recording reflects a close personal connection between the two musicians. Trumpeter Tiner and pianist … Continue reading

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John Mailander’s Forecast’s Little Wheel // Hope Looming EP

I let John Mailander slip off my radar since his 2019 leader debut, which was in hindsight a bit confusingly titled Forecast. He has recorded a couple of additional full lengths since then under the moniker of John Mailander’s Forecast, … Continue reading

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