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I Am a Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
by Pedro Keul
Doc Watson died in 2012 but his influence on American music was undeniable. Master of flatpicking--the technique of striking the strings of a guitar with a pick (also called a plectrum) held between the thumb and one or two fingers--Watson released nearly 30 albums; solo and with relatives (The Watson Family) and numerous bluegrass and blues ...
Hania Rani: Hello
by Geno Thackara
Hania Rani is never one to let a few layers of electronics get in the way of some feelings. Whatever gadgets are involved, the overall experience is natural as much as otherworldly (like her voice itself, really). This surprisingly danceable example crosses a fuzzy heartbeat pulse with the weird dreaminess of a bout of insomnia--the state ...
Michael Landau: Untitled
by Mike Jacobs
Guitarist Michael Landau carved out a legendary niche for himself as an L.A. studio ace and an in-demand touring sideman. He created this in part by being able to bridge the divides between Hendrixian power, jazz harmonic savvy and session man finesse. As is evident here on this live track featuring drummer Toss Panos and bassist ...
Michelle Lordi: Only Love Can Break Your Heart
by John Chacona
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart," a minor 1970 Neil Young hit, was ostensibly written for Graham Nash after the latter's split from Joni Mitchell (a claim Young later walked back), a breakup song then. It's a lilting waltz with a simple melody more sweet than sad. Cycling eight-bar verse and chorus sections without a bridge ...
Nguyen Le: Encanto
by Mike Jacobs
It's a rare thing to have two bassists playing together on one track let alone two at the top of opposite ends of the acoustic/electric bass spectrum, but that's exactly what guitarist Nguyen Le managed on his enthralling tune, “Encanto." From Le's album Bakida (ACT, 2000), he is joined by bass titans Carles Benavent on electric ...
Tim Garland: Sama'i For Peace
by Mike Jacobs
Ever completely miss an album that has a bunch of guys that you expressly keep an ear to the ground for? Well, it even happens to music writers. Just in case you missed out too, here's a fine track from Tim Garland's One (Edition, 2016) featuring Jason Rebello, Asaf Sirkis and Ant Law. ...
Grant Green: Idle Moments
by Geno Thackara
Idle moments can so often be the most inspiring ones--the kind that are not about doing nothing, exactly, but rather leaving space for who-knows-what to happen. In the case of this session, what happened was a slight chart-reading mixup that had everyone taking solos twice as long as planned. For such a patient and dreamy piece, ...
Adam Holzman and Brave New World: Iron Curtain
by Mike Jacobs
Keyboardist Adam Holzman may be known more these days for his work with the sometime Porcupine Tree progressive mastermind Steven Wilson but the biggest thing on AH's resume prior to his working with Wilson was his stint as keyman for one Miles Davis. Dropping the needle on “Iron Curtain," this all becomes crystal clear as it's ...
Eran Har Even: Rise
by Mike Jacobs
As the title might suggest, the music on guitarist Eran Har Even's album 20/21 sprang from the depths of the pandemic years, when musicians somehow found ways to live and express themselves in the absence of being able to perform live. The opening “Rise" as well as others from this album are indelibly marked by the ...
