Category Archives: Music

Vedan Kolod’s Birds

The Russian folk music ensemble Vedan Kolod has created a triumphant album in the midst of personal and national upheaval. Birds, their tenth album since forming in 2005, is a master work of world music combining traditional Siberian folk songs … Continue reading

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Noah Haidu’s Standards II

Standards are standards for a reason. They’re such classic, durable, memorable pieces of music with catchy melodies and emotional hooks that they can be adapted to any setting and still stir the listener’s heart. And they catch the players’ heartstrings, … Continue reading

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Interview: Crooked Still

I was unprepared for my interview with members of Crooked Still. By that I mean that I was unprepared for how genuinely nice these young musicians were. Friendly and accommodating in the middle of a busy weekend of music, in … Continue reading

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Crooked Still’s Still Crooked

Green Man Review’s Cat Eldridge gave a rave review to the previous release from Crooked Still, Shaken By a Low Sound. One of their biggest selling points, he found, was the lack of drums in their non-traditional string band lineup … Continue reading

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Ezra’s Ezra

Remember back in the early 2000s when you first heard and were awestruck by the youthful virtuosity of Crooked Still? Or perhaps, a decade or so later, by the stringband supergroup vibe of The Goat Rodeo? I sure do, and … Continue reading

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Otava Yo’s Loud and Clear

The Russian folk rock band Otava Yo is dealing with the turbulence facing their part of the world by doing what they do best — making music. And what music! Their latest album Loud and Clear is full of stirring … Continue reading

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Hulbækmo & Jacobsen Familieorkester’s Rundsnurrknurr


Rundsnurrknurr is pure musical fun. The music of Hulbækmo & Jacobsen Familieorkester is based on Norwegian folk dance music, but the proclivities and unbounded creativity of the four multi-talented players take it in too many wild directions to count. This … Continue reading

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Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow with Fathieh Honari

Canadian Grdina is a Vancouver-based guitarist, composer, improviser, and master oud player who is incredibly active in improvisational and experimental music of many kinds, most of it based around Middle Eastern and specifically Persian themes. On The Marrow he and … Continue reading

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Wonder Women of Country’s Wonder Women of Country: Willis, Carper, Leigh

The other morning someone in one of my social media feeds posted the question “What are your ‘comfort’ albums?’ with four album cover photos in a simple grid that showed theirs. My reply turned out to have two of what … Continue reading

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Tom Lehrer’s The Remains of Tom Lehrer

I have been waiting for this CD box for many years, in fact ever since I bought a CD player in 1987. It took 13 years but it was worth the wait. For those of you who are not aquainted … Continue reading

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