MUSIC_DIRECTOR for KTEP 88.5 FM
El Paso, Texas, United States
Sam Cassiano is a native Californian who spent his formative years in the Bay Area. An army brat, his family toured Germany and Japan before settling in El Paso in 1973. Initially a Communications Major at UTEP, a radio internship at KPAS-FM 94, the PASS launched his broadcasting career.
Latest Album Reviews
Review of Uni Vers Elle
Album Info: Uni Vers Elle
Sultana Album: Uni Vers Elle Label: Trilogie Halexander Genre(s): World Posted By: Joe Ross
Dec 2, 2022
Review
The chirping of birds in the opening track, “Tierra Madre,” of Sultana’s third album, Uni Vers Elle, shows how the French author, composer and singer has a strong reverence for nature, femininity, love, and our Mother Earth. Sultana’s evocative and alluring mood pieces invoke strong links to her feminine side with heart, intuition, introspection, creativity and power. Alluring jazzy folk-pop with je ne sais quoi takes listeners into a world music universe set with island rhythms and warm, sensual vocals sung in French and Spanish with a touch of Arabic.
“Coeur Quantique” features a formidable duet with Hervé Bartolomé, embellished with Douglas Marcolino’s accordion. “Confidences” is a delicate ballad sung only to Fernando Prima’s guitar, while “”Passeuse de vie” presents her conversation with
Estampes is a riveting album, from Guillaume Barraud & Mathieu Bélis, that presents a stripped down, yet carefully cultivated, dialogue between bansuri and piano. Both musicians approach their instruments with intelligence, and their creative energies are channeled together to develop a meaningful flow of music, smooth and without hesitation. Composers Barraud and Bélis have worked together for over a decade, and Estampes came about in the midst of the pandemic. Their series of improvisations result in a variety of intimate musical pieces with considerable emotional depth, including different tones and instrumental relationships in selections like “Major Minor,” “Jarrett,” “Procession,” “Douce Ivresse” and “Parade of Stars.”
Each track has a distinct coloring of sound, and the bansuri
Momi Maiga Album: Nio Label: Segell Microscopi Genre(s): World Posted By: Joe Ross
Nov 30, 2022
Review
The debut album Nio (meaning “Soul” in Mandinka) from kora-player Momi Maiga clearly establishes the now Barcelona-based composer/musician as a force to be reckoned with for his splendid fusion of ethnic jazz, flamenco and Senegalese roots music. With the help of high quality audio engineering, mixing and mastering, Nio fuses the ethereal 22-string African harp-lute with effervescent tracks of violin, cello, guitar, percussion and vocals. The soulful results capture many moods, while presenting each melodic dialogue with impeccable vocal fluency and surprising musical sensitivity.
The songs’ messages reflect on human values and salient issues of our time, while awakening a range of emotions from deep meditative sadness to uplifting joy of life. An underlying theme is the importance of preserving the purest human values such as solidarity,
Jureesa The Duchess McBride Album: My Time to Shine (feat. paul Nelson) Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Classic Blues Posted By: Duane Verh
Nov 27, 2022
Review
Mississippi-bred vocalist Jureesa McBride and crew serve up a satisfying set of old school, deep-dish blues laced with a nice touch of contemporary sheen. Ms. McB’s powerhouse vocals are a pleasing constant on a set that includes a most convincing cover of Koko Taylor’s “I’m A Woman” and a moving original, “Don’t Mind The Rain”. Guitarist Paul Nelson provides tasty work atop a solid small-group backup band.
Yates McKendree Album: Buchanan Lane Label: Qualified Genre(s): Classic BluesBlues Posted By: Duane Verh
Nov 20, 2022
Review
Yates McKendree’s upbringing in father Kevin’s recording studio is likely key to the Nashville-bred singer/guitarist/keyboardist’s casual confidence when taking on period gems and turning out simpatico original fare. Mr. McK is convincing covering early B.B. King- “Ruby Lee” and a Dr. John co-write- “Justified”, matching them in spunk and savvy on collaborations including “Wise” and “No Justice” on which he nearly functions as a rock-solid one-man rhythm section to boot.
Nov 30, 2022 -
A new book called "Rock on Film: The Movies That Rocked the Big Screen" by Fred Goodman is now available, just in time for the... Read Full Article
Oct 17, 2022 -
Ukubonga [Gratitude], the new recording from South African singer Lorraine Klaasen and South African guitarist, composer, arranger, musical director... Read Full Article
Oct 11, 2022 -
With his signature world-weary, raspy vocals and a penchant for epic, power-ballad guitar licks, Florida-based singer-songwriter, and... Read Full Article
Jul 26, 2022 -
Oslo-based American-Norwegian trio Buster Sledge released their first studio album Call Home in May 2022, following up on their self-recorded and... Read Full Article
Jul 16, 2022 -
PIONEERING INSTRUMENTAL SYNTH-POP BAND DELAY TACTICS REUNITES FOR 2022 ALBUM “ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE”
FIRST SINGLE “VIOLA’S... Read Full Article
Jul 6, 2022 -
Austin, TX - Of course, Lone Star State honky-tonkers The Western Express are aware of the renewed interest in the eras of country... Read Full Article
Jun 22, 2022 -
With the release of his sophomore album, Noli Me Tángere, saxophonist, composer and educator Matthew Muñeses magnifies the... Read Full Article
Jun 19, 2022 -
George Lernis is a drummer, percussionist and composer whose unique musical influences and upbringing meld to create a sound and vision that... Read Full Article
Jun 19, 2022 -
Drummer and composer Clemens Grassmann’s latest creation, Grass Machine, is a tale of the strength of community and support amidst the... Read Full Article
