Category Archives: Music

Björn Meyer’s Provenance

The energetically strummed funk of a tune called “Squizzle” is more or less what I expected when I approached an album of solo bass guitar music. It’s a quick in-and-out of a tune, just the electric bass and some subtle … Continue reading

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The Raggedy Rawney

The Raggedy Rawney is based on traditional Rom folklore — something I personally found fascinating. This adaptation of folk tradition to contemporary times makes it more fully comprehensible, compared with portraying it in the ancient long, long ago time. At … Continue reading

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Red Clay Ramblers’ Yonder

Tim Hoke penned this review. I first started listening to the Red Clay Ramblers when vinyl albums weren’t antiques. I was hooked upon first hearing their infectious string band sound, blended with Dixieland, early 20th century pop, Irish, and blues. … Continue reading

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Saffron Ensemble’s Will You?

I can’t get enough of the music made by Shujaat Husain Khan and Katayoun Goudarzi. Fortunately, they make a lot of music, whether as a duo or in ensembles with other musicians. The thread that runs through their music is … Continue reading

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Richard Thompson’s Acoustic Rarities

Richard Thompson has always been a fairly prolific musician, but these past few years have been extraordinary. In addition to regular studio releases with his trio, solo and band tours, cruise tours and arts camps, he keeps popping out solo … Continue reading

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Christine Primose’s Gràdh is gonadh – Guth ag aithris (Love & Loss – a Lone Voice)

This is a hard one to review. I usually listen for nice arrangements, how the instrumental backing fits to the song’s temper and the style of the singer. I am also very interested in good lyrics, clever lines and unusual … Continue reading

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Mike Carver’s Shining Down

Judith Gennett penned this review. This season, independent CDs by Former Red Clay Ramblers are popping up everywhere. This one, Shining Down, is by Mike Craver, whose forte is piano, but who also plays guitar, percussion, and theramin. The subtitle … Continue reading

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NYConnection’s Urban Griot

A griot is a member of a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa. A bit presumptive, perhaps, for a quartet of white guys from Finland and Israel … Continue reading

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Lost Bayou Ramblers’ Kalenda

You know that moment when you hold your breath as you start up a record by a group whose previous record is one of your favorites ever, and you hope this new one is still just as great and maybe … Continue reading

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Billy Strings’ Turmoil & Tinfoil

If you love acoustic guitar playing, or if you love bluegrass music — or both — you have to check out the duet that Billy Strings plays with Bryan Sutton on a traditional tune called “Salty Sheep,” on Billy’s new … Continue reading

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