As serious a musician as he is, and as virtuosic as he can be, the naturally extroverted Christian McBride knows how to entertain, a talent generously evident in this live performance.
Music
Concert Film Review: Bruce Springsteen — “The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts”
From the pounded opening bars of “Prove It All Night,” it’s revelatory to see a young, lithe Bruce Springsteen as he prowls his domain, cocks his guitar, and belts his impassioned vignettes of blue-collar struggles and dreams.
Opera Album Review: Great Dane! A Revered Verdian Opera from Denmark
Peter Heise’s King and Marshal (1878), one of the most-performed Danish operas, is melodic and atmospheric, here sung and played persuasively.
Rock Album Review: The War on Drugs — Sticking to the Straightforward
The album is not so much a step forward as a distillation of what The War on Drugs has always done well.
Classical CD Review: Shostakovich & Arensky Piano Trios
A mightily played, deeply felt, and finely recorded album from Trio Con Brio.
Book Reviews: Two Books on Labels That Forged the Soul Revolution
Two recent books offer illuminating, behind-the-scenes looks at beloved soul music labels. .
Concert Review: Billy Strings — “A Big Ball in Boston”
Once again, Billy Strings pulled an exhilarating assemblage of musical influences under a big tent.
Film Review: “Karen Dalton: In My Own Time” – (One-of-a-kind musical find)
Singular folksinger Karen Dalton never made it to the big time. A new documentary suggests why.
Jazz Albums Review: “Skyline” and “A Love Sonnet for Billie Holiday” — Marching to the Beat of the Same Drummer
The presence of veteran drummer Jack DeJohnette ties together two new releases.
Rock Album Review: “Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal” — A Winning Tribute
The artists on this expansive tribute frequent different genres, but they find ways into these songs that play to their respective strengths while also deftly showcasing the underlying sturdiness of Neal Casal’s material.