Lee has experience in the radio and disc jockey world: She worked briefly as a club DJ in Toronto, also as a freelance commentator for a radio program in Barrie, and later as a mobile Disc Jockey for over 5 years with one of the largest DJ companies in Waterloo Region at the time. Lee is a graduate of Conestoga College’s 3-year Print and Broadcast Journalism program; and while writing for the college paper covered the local music scene, doing stories on such Blues... Read More
Latest Album Reviews
Review of From Texas to Tennessee
Album Info: From Texas to Tennessee
The Family Sowell Album: From Texas to Tennessee Label: Poor Mountain Genre(s): Contemporary Bluegrass, Traditional BluegrassProgressive Bluegrass Posted By: Joe Ross
Mar 20, 2019
Review
What a surprise it was to hear the debut release from this young, energetic Tennessee-based family bluegrass band. The material is nicely arranged, and the talented players have chops well beyond their years. We hear beautiful vocals, soaring harmonies and creative breaks. Their rendition of “Softly & Tenderly” is heart-warming. Besides a few nods to traditional bluegrass (e.g. Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Pen”), the album closes with the show-stopper “Orange Blossom Special” performed live at Dollywood with guest Klondike Katie. The Family Sowell also includes some original material on the project. “Dusty Gravel Road” is the story of their father John-Mark Sowell’s childhood life of playing, hunting, fishing, plowing fields, hauling hay and praying in rural Mississippi. “Pilgrim’s Prayer” is their personal tale
Carol Sudhalter Quartet Album: Live at Saint Peter's Church Label: Alfa Music Studio Genre(s): Traditional Jazz Posted By: Joe Ross
Mar 18, 2019
Review
Recorded live at a legendary New York City jazz venue, this CD features Carol Sudhalter (baritone sax, flute, vocal on her original “Colin Blues”), Patrick Poladian (piano), Kevin Hailey (upright bass), and Mike Campenni (drums). Poldain composed “Fun in the Alley.” The set also includes material by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sonny Rollins, Benny Golson, Tadd Dameron, Bill Evans, Hank Mobley, Don Redman. Those numbers with Sudhalter’s bari sax are deep, lissome and expressive. Being a live album, we hear applause, an occasional cough, or comments from the bandleader. Those, along with her vocals, are a little hard to hear. She switches to flute for Bill Evans’ “Time Remembered,” “Colin Blues,” “Fun in the Alley” and “Luiza.” Each accompanist gets plenty of chances to solo, with “Gee baby Ain’t I
Danny Schmidt Album: Standard Deviation Label: Live Once Genre(s): Contemporary Folk Posted By: Duane Verh
Mar 17, 2019
Review
To suggest that a songwriter’s rep could hang comfortably on a single song may be a high-risk proposition but in the case of the title track of Danny Schmidt’s current offering, it’s at least worth mulling over. That this vivid, highly visual portrayal of love in its birth stages will likely rank among this artist’s absolute best is a safe bet in any case. Birth plays a more literal role in the also charming leadoff track, “Just Wait Til They See You”. Also standing out here are “Blue-Eyed Hole In Time” and “Last Man Standing”.
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves Album: Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves Label: Free Dirt Genre(s): Traditional Bluegrass Posted By: Joe Ross
Mar 14, 2019
Review
Spirited old-timey sounds of Tatiana Hargreaves’ fiddle and Allison de Groot’s clawhammer banjo convey plenty of images of yesteryear. Each track has its own quaintness, saw’ed off in a rustic fashion with rosin a-flyin’ and frailed on banjo in a studio environment. A few rollicking favorites to get the toes tapping are “Eighth of January,” “Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Melinda.” Both Hargreaves and de Groot sing, and we hear them harmonizing on The Poplin Family’s “I Don’t Want To Get Married” and Blue Sky Boys’ “Who Wouldn’t Be Lonely.” Hargreaves sings solo, accompanied only by de Groot’s banjo, on “Beaufort County Jail” and “Willie Moore.” The young women use different tunings for their instruments, and those are clearly shown in the liner notes.
Alberto Pibiri Album: Jazz Legacy Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Contemporary Jazz Posted By: Joe Ross
Mar 11, 2019
Review
Jazz composer and superb pianist Alberto Pibiri is an Italian musician now based in New York. During his study of classical and jazz music in France and Italy, he became enamored by the music of Canadian pianist Oscar Peterson. Pianist Alberto Pibiri opens his “Jazz Legacy” album with a delightful tribute, “For Oscar.” The sparkling quartet also includes Paul Gill (bass), Paul Wells (drums) and Adrian Cunningham (tenor sax, clarinet). Guests on this delightful album include guitarist Dave Stryker and vocalists Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton and Miriam Waks. With all the songs composed and arranged by Pibiri, this is an impressive and entertaining undertaking. Each track is quite unique with a few highlights being “For Oscar,” “Kiss Kiss,” “New Bossa,” “Be Free” and “Oh Yeah.” (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)
Feb 18, 2019 -
Kids In A New Groove (KING) provides private, in-home, music instruction to Central Texas youth in foster care, allowing them to gain the benefits of... Read Full Article
Sep 25, 2018 -
Fitzsimon and Brogan have leaked two tracks featuring Mick "Woody" Woodmansey on drums. He is the last living member of Ziggy... Read Full Article
