Category Archives: Music

Gisle Torvik’s Tranquil Fjord

Norwegian guitarist Gisle Torvik’s Tranquil Fjord is indeed for the most part tranquil, but like any Norwegian fjord it is also dramatic. Sometimes in small, subtle ways, sometimes in large, obvious ways. Torvik is a prolific young musician who doesn’t … Continue reading

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Oscar Peterson & Stephane Grappelli’s Skol

Stephane Grappelli is one of my favorite musicians in any style from any era, so this live recording of him performing with a top-notch jazz band was bound to be a winner. This record was among a number that producer … Continue reading

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The Psycho Sisters’ Up On The Chair, Beatrice

Susan Cowsill and Vicki Peterson go back a long way as friends and artistic collaborators. Cowsill has been singing on record since the 1960s when she was the tyke in the family band The Cowsills. She and Peterson, guitarist in … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash’s Bitter Tears Revisited

Just the other night I was pondering the question, “which musical act has been most influential on you?” It was asked by a member of an online music community I belong to. I had to say The Beatles, because they … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Sing Me The Songs: Celebrating The Works Of Kate McGarrigle

After Kate McGarrigle died of cancer in 2010, her children Rufus and Martha Wainwright and her sister and longtime singing partner Anna McGarrigle organized a series of tribute concerts in London, Toronto and New York. This album presents on two … Continue reading

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Dick Gaughan’s Outlaws & Dreamers

This is the 11th solo album from Dick Gaughan and to my mind it’s his best in years. I should perhaps qualify that statement by pointing out that there’s absolutely no such thing as a poor Dick Gaughan album. I’m … Continue reading

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JP Nyströms’ Stockholm 1313 Km

Mike Stiles wrote this review. Aha, another Nordic CD to review. First cut is “Spel Nisses Vals,” a lovely waltz with just a hint of the Germanic oompah influence. I’d better head out to the beer garden for the rest … Continue reading

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Doug Sahm and Band’s Doug Sahm and Band

I remember buying this album in 1973 when it first came out. It had such a cheesy cover, although I notice now that the cartoon portraits were drawn by Gilbert Shelton, underground comics genius and creator of The Fabulous Furry … Continue reading

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Libana’s A Circle Is Cast, and Night Passage

Naomi de Bruyn wrote this review. Founded in 1979 by artistic director Susan Robbins, Libana came together with the intention of exploring and performing pieces that reflect women’s musical heritage. Unfortunately, much of this heritage is undocumented, and it becomes … Continue reading

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Dave Evans’s The Words In Between

No’am Newman wrote this review. The year 1971 found me as a dewy-eyed teenager sitting agog at the Bristol Troubadour. I had just discovered that my adopted home city had a strong “folk scene,” and that good music was always … Continue reading

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