Number 20 on the list of Top 25 American musicians played at my house over the last six decades is Red Garland, who was famous for a block chord style of piano playing similar to that of George Shearing. Red played the melody with his right hand. With his left, he played four-note chords that […]
A Brand-New Star on the World Music Scene.
Debbie and I recently had the privilege of catching a number of performances by young Brazilian samba singer and piano wiz Daniel Santos at the wonderful historic Hotel Lutetia on Paris’s Left Bank. I can see Daniel striking gold on many fronts, from the best musical venues in the world to Broadway, Hollywood, and Las […]
Top 25 American Musicians: #22
I have lived in Key West for nearly two decades, and no musical artist in the history of this great, eclectic little island city has done more to provide terrific musical entertainment than Jimmy Buffett. He richly deserves his place of distinction. Buffett is truly a master of both lyrics and music. He does it […]
Top 25 American Musicians: #23
First, a little housekeeping: I’d like tell you a bit about the scope of my Essential Music list and the criteria for making the list. The series is confined to American musicians. It doesn’t include blues and country musicians or musicians primarily from the ’50s—for example, the doo-wop crowd or pioneers of rock ’n’ roll […]
Top 25 Musicians
Dick Young’s essential 25 musical artists, ranked in order from #25 to #1. Check back each week for the latest listing and an essential album or three from each. Click here for #25. Number 25 on my list of 25 essential musical artists is the group I rate as America’s second-best rock-and-roll band, Little Feat, […]
RIP Jerry Garcia 9 Aug 1995
It was hot and strangely quiet when we rode into Bertucci’s in Amherst, Massachusetts, on our Harleys. Once inside it quickly became clear that we were the only customers. The waiter finally came around and, when I inquired where everyone was, his downer of a response was, “Oh, man. Jerry died.” “That’s too bad,” I […]
Where I Come From
Where I Come From is the New Riders Of The Purple Sage 2009 CD release, they’re first in years. Featured are long time Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead cohort David Nelson and steel guitar wiz Buddy Cage. Great tunes from Nelson and Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Enjoy!
Front
The most popular form of jazz in the ’60s was not avant-garde or even hard bop, but soul jazz. The organ groups (which usually featured guitar, tenor and drums) emphasized blues, ballads and soulful renditions of standards. Guitarist Randy Caldwell revives that style in lively fashion for this CD. Joined by the underrated but talented […]
Do That Thing!
An excellent set from Willie recorded in the years before he moved to Verve, with a sound that’s a bit more Latin, but still inflected with all the sense of groove and jazzy inflection that you’ll find on Willie’s best work. There’s not as much singing or cover versions on the album as on Willie’s […]
September of My Years
From the evocative cover painting to the impeccably chosen songs within, this 1965 album harkens back to Sinatra’s great Capitol-era concept albums like In the Wee Small Hours and Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely. The theme revolves around a man approaching his 50s, looking back with a mixture of nostalgia, regret, and uncertainty; […]