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Rich Kienzle
“Spider” John Koerner
Minneapolis folk-blues pioneer “Spider” John Koerner, one-third of the celebrated ’60s blues-folk trio Koerner, Ray and Glover, died May 18. He was 86 and battled cancer. A native of Rochester, New York, Koerner arrived at the University of Minnesota in 1956 to study engineering, when folk music caught his attention. He became part of the…
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Rich Kienzle
George Ducas
Long Way From Home
Nashville singer/songwriter George Ducas emerged in the Garth Brooks era of the ’90s with two albums produced by guitar ace Richard Bennett that harkened to ’80s “new traditionalists” like John Anderson and Dwight Yoakam. After two indie albums in the past dozen years, Ducas returns with 10 songs, nine of them originals. Producer Pete Anderson,…
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Rich Kienzle
George Ducas and Pete Anderson
The Art of Collaboration
On two major-label albums in the ’90s, Nashville traditionalist George Ducas projected a honky-tonk sound with help from producer (and ace guitarist) Richard Bennett. Ducas’ new album, Long Way From Home, continues that direction, this time with help from Pete Anderson. Heavily influenced by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Wynn Stewart, Ducas – a longtime…
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Rich Kienzle
Bill Frisell
Expanded Horizons
Bill Frisell’s newest album, Orchestras, is a double set that pairs the guitarist and his seasoned trio with both the Brussels Symphony and the Italian jazz ensemble Umbria. The trio improvises as the ensembles play arrangements that allow them to move with – and react to – the Trio. Jazz guitar with orchestrations stirs memories…
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Rich Kienzle
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Live in France: The 1966 Limoges Concert
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-’73) became a musical fountainhead after emerging in the ’40s as a singing, guitar-picking firebrand performing pop and gospel. She was one of Johnny Cash’s favorite singers, and guitarists through the decades have admired her work. She was 51 when she performed this never-released gospel show, her sole accompaniment a Gibson Barney…
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Rich Kienzle
Mark Knopfler
One Deep River
Nearly 30 years ago, Mark Knopfler dissolved Dire Straits to launch a fruitful, substantive solo career centered on original tunes, his dusky voice, and stellar, melodic guitar. In a long career, he has also written film soundtracks, recorded with longtime hero Chet Atkins (and Emmylou Harris), and produced a notable Bob Dylan album (Infidels). He’s…
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Rich Kienzle
John Leventhal
Rumble Strip
After 45 years as a roots music sideman and record producer, winning six Grammys, Leventhal’s first solo effort is an expansive 16-track collection. Released on the label he owns with wife and frequent collaborator Rosanne Cash, he explores a variety of moods, his atmospheric visions ranging from reverent to contemplative, and occasionally, raw. Sparse accompaniment…
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Rich Kienzle
John Leventhal
Ready to Rumble
“I’ve been lucky enough to make a career co-writing and producing records with great singers and lyricists, John Leventhal explains. “But I’ve always had all this other music in me. I thought, ‘What are you going to do with it?’” Rumble Strip, his solo debut on the label he owns with wife Rosanne Cash, provides…
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Rich Kienzle
Jim Kweskin
Never Too Late: Duets with my Friends
The Jim Kweskin Jug Band was among the most-influential acts of the ’60s folk revival. Its free-spirited mix of retro jug band, jazz, blues, folk and ragtime inspired the Lovin’ Spoonful and Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks. After years away from music, Kweskin launched a solo career focused on his trademark style, centered around…
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Rich Kienzle
Chris Shiflett
Lost at Sea
Rock icons have made forays into country since the Everly Brothers paved the way in the ’50s, followed by Duane Eddy, Rick Nelson, and (in 2007) Bon Jovi with Lost Highway. Chris Shiflett’s affinity for Americana and California honky-tonk was unveiled on his 2017 album, West Coast Town. Nashville is the focus this time, where…
