Grace Morrison soars on perfect Americana roots album I’m The Apple
Grace Morrison’s latest CD I’m The Apple is a treat for the ears on every track. Morrison’s bright, chirpy timbre and vocal glide make her a winsome favorite in the local scene. Her songwriting prowess allows her to conjure many fine lyrical moments, and the instrumentation she and her support band lay out sparkle in their own special light during their special moments. This especially true of producer Jon Evans guitar work and the extra texture offered by backing singer John Baptista.
Evan Goodrow offers fine funk vocal and guitar performances on new album Burn
Evan Goodrow’s latest album Burn makes the most of this local blue eyed soul man’s electric guitar talents and svelte vocal ability. Goodrow keeps himself tighter with his trio than he’s ever played before, and he throws in a few pleasant surprises with his song selection.
Linda Marks shines on new Say Yes To Love album
Boston’s jazz chanteuse Linda Marks has been a fixture on the local scene for some time now. Her new release, Say Yes To Love, will have you saying yes to Linda Marks. Her voice is remarkably bright and tender, hitting the listener’s soft spot on every track. Her knack for arranging material from other artists and songwriters is unerring, always offering a fresh perspective that is likable and engaging.
Susan Cattaneo goes for broke with magnum opus The Hammer And The Heart album
There are times when an artist has to move forward in a big way. Boston’s roots singer-songwriter Susan Cattaneo went for broke and recorded a double disc CD set. This new album, The Hammer & The Heart, teeming with quality songs and high octane guest musician and singers, should be a huge artistic success, the kind that will gain her new respect and awe from listeners. From the larger movements of sound to the more subtle nuanced touches, Cattaneo paints a large, masterfully portrait of the American landscape while injecting her own personal points of view with an honestly that sometimes soothes and sometimes stings.
Yoko Miwa Trio outdo themselves with bopping Pathways album
Yoko Miwa Trio’s latest album Pathways finds the youthful Boston area jazz pianist, composer, arranger offering four of her original compositions as well as four thoughtfully considered arrangements of other artists’ work. Miwa and her band play these pieces with more crackling energy and with more of a bopping charge than they played on previous discs. Instead of offering merely a treat for the ears and minds with sophisticated jazz, the trio play jazz that can make one snap his fingers, tap his toes, and bob his head, all at the same time.
Rick Drost offers much to the heart, soul, and mind on debut album Turning The World
Rick Drost just dropped his engaging and interesting folk album Turning The World, and it’s hard to stop listening to his gently, quietly appealing songs. This Cambridge, Massachusetts-based folk songsmith has been writing and singing his own songs since his college days in the 1960s. Yet, this is actually his first solo album of his own material, and, as he’s no longer a young fellow, all we can wonder is what took him so long.
The GroovaLottos have a blast with Ask Yo Mama on “Black Ass Radio.”
The GroovaLottos’s debut album is called Ask Yo’ Mama, and the music, lyrics, and their humor between the music has as much attitude and spunk as that title. I’m not sure that the fictional radio station “Black Ass Radio” that ties most of the album together could ever get on the air in real life. But The GroovaLottos’s should certainly be getting some air play for these funky, jazzy compositions.
Mike Gacek offers fantastic material on The Music To The Words I Write
Mike Gacek’s honest, heart-felt reflections on his personal life result in his most lyrically and musically inspired work ever. Not only does everything on his new The Music To The Words I Write album sound good, it makes the listener feel good by reaching something deep inside the listener with its soulful depth and worldly wise perspective. A little help from fellow singer-songwriter Neal Ward goes a long way toward the fulfillment of these songs.
Adam Ezra Group, their fans make successful Hurricane Wind album
Adam Ezra Group’s latest album Hurricane Wind was an interactive recording project with their fans. AEG posted tracks as they were recording them during the various stages of development, and the fans chose which tracks made the album. It is not surprising that this very audience friendly band would let their fans choose the final tracks. As the fans are quite familiar with the bands music after years of faithful following, it’s also no surprise the fans did a fine job of winnowing the album down to the finest tracks. Having pop superstar John Oates along for the ride on three track certainly didn’t hurt. It’s one of the band’s best recordings ever.
Susan Ursprung dazzles the ear, soothes the soul with Cradle In The Waves album
Susan Ursprung recently released her Cradle In The Waves CD to a very appreciative fan base. This album has a lot to offer her listeners. Ursprung not only has a lovely voice that she displays with an artful, tasteful self-restraint and musical self-discipline, she fills in the colors of her original songs with a host of unusual instruments and some usual instruments used in usual ways. A beautiful voice augmented by beautiful melodies and engaging patterns fleshing out some very interesting lyrical themes makes for a fantastic listening experience.
