MUSIC_DIRECTOR for Pickin'
Paonia, Colorado, United States
Andrea "Dre" Castillo joined the KVNF staff in June, 2022. With a strong passion for music and people, Dre serves as the Music Director & DJ Coordinator. She is originally from the West Coast and moved to the Western Slope of the Rockies in 2016. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, rafting, drawing and going to see live music. You can catch her on the KVNF airwaves.
Latest Album Reviews
Review of Giants
Album Info: Giants
Barry Greene Album: Giants Label: Origin Genre(s): Contemporary Jazz Posted
By: Robert Silverstein
May 2, 2026
Review
The name Barry Greene might not be immediately recognizable by a majority of guitar fans yet he’s just released one of the finest instrumental jazz albums of the year. Backed by an alternating quintet and organ trio, Giants finds the Northern Florida based musician and guitar educator stretching out on a well-tempered, 10-track 68 minute album.
Having already released several albums and a range of jazz-guitar study books, Giants is Greene’s 2026 release for Seattle-based Origin Records. Musically and from a studio standpoint, Giants features the guitarist in the company of some top musicians, including album producer / drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., David Kikoski (piano), Steve Nelson (vibes), Marco Panascia (bass) and B-3 organist Pat Bianchi—the latter appearing on four tracks here.
Rotating the players throughout the Giants set, from the quintet to the trio, Barry
These previously unreleased 2010 tracks stand as evidence that Taj Mahal’s signature Delta/Caribbean/NOLA/Harlem/Muscle Shoals/et al blend maintained their flavor, potency and consistent warmth at that time. Satisfying fare abounds here including the leadoff “Life Of Love”, the reggae-seasoned reading of “Wild About My Lovin’” and the jazzy, Latin-flavored “You Put The Whammy On Me”.
Isabella Isherwood Album: The Sweetest Sounds Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Contemporary Jazz Posted
By: Joe Ross
Apr 26, 2026
Review
Jazz vocalist, pianist, actor Isabella Isherwood’s debut album, The Sweetest Sounds, features her carefully cultivated, expressive alto ideally suited to the classics and contemporary material she’s chosen to present her vocal radiance. With a stripped down approach that is very accessible, the 23-year-old singer is joined by three outstanding Chicago musicians, guitarist Mike Allemana, bassist Joe Policastro, and drummer Alejandro Salazar. A spare setting of her voice with only drums on “Till There Was You” is rather unique, and her warm, conversational style on “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” is affable and self-assured. She takes on “My Buddy” with just her own piano accompaniment, and Thelonious Monk’s “’Round Midnight” is performed with only bass support. When joined with the full
Tom Griesgraber Album: The Split Label: Self-Release Genre(s): New Age Posted
By: Robert Silverstein
Apr 25, 2026
Review
Back in 2014, the multi-talented composer and Chapman stick ace Tom Griesgraber released an album with Bert Lams called Unnamed Lands. Filled with all manners of instrumental guitar sounds, Unnamed Lands was a sleeper hit among guitar aficionados. In recent years, Tom joined Bert Lams as a member of California Guitar Trio. Tom also has a number of other album releases that music fans can see featured on his website. Putting out new music once again in 2026, Tom has released The Split, an instrumental guitar-based CD soundtrack to the film “Prairie Prophecy”. Based around key issues in industrial farming amid 21st century ecological issues including climate change, the movie is starting to make headway on public television.
Like many film soundtracks seeing the movie would be great, but either way the CD offers an engrossing spin that stands tall as an entertaining sonic
Lester Winchester McKendree Album: They Got It All Label: Times Three Genre(s): Roots Rock Posted
By: Duane Verh
Apr 25, 2026
Review
While the leadoff track may declare “I’m No Amateur”, and though the players involved are Nashville vets, there is an appealing garage-band vibe that permeates the proceedings here. Engaging lyric sets and melodies that range from ear-catching pop to raucous roadhouse rock are delivered in an unvarnished fashion that makes for a listener’s buy-in in short order. In addition to the afore-mentioned “Amateur”, standouts include “Down The Same Street”, “Baby’s Carburetor” and the title track.
Jan 16, 2026 -
AVAILABLE NOW: THE NEW BOOK FROM AUTHOR TAD RICHARDS
Listening to Prestige: Chronicling Its Classic Jazz Recordings, 1949–1972
A... Read Full Article
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New Christmas Music by from Marcus Goldhaber “I Can’t Wait For Christmas” (digital only single) and Margee Minier-Tubbs &... Read Full Article
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Putumayo Discovery's new album, Instrumental Odyssey, out on September 5th, 2025 is a journey across cultures, continents, and musical... Read Full Article
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For fans of Beirut, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor and Keren Ann. The lush bucolic folk of ‘Season to Season’ is the first... Read Full Article
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Indiana based Singer Songwriter Abbie Thomas to release eagerly awaited second album Sept 27
The candid creative spark behind Abbie... Read Full Article
