Category: Reviews & Commentary

Hanging on a Hang

The Hang Drum is an instrument that looks like a flying saucer or two woks tuck together. With tuned indentations and/or bumps it makes the warmest most serene sound that’s found a following among world music players, jazz bands and New Age artists.

Wadada Leo Smith Live

Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith was a founding member of the AACM and he brings that sense of jazz freedom and possibilities to bear in a live performance at Philadelphia’s Clef Club with his Golden Quartet.

Big Ears Festival 2015

The Big Ears Festival in Knoxville brought together an array of musicians from the bleeding edge of the avant-garde to the cutting edge of rock and folk. Kronos Quartet presided over this meeting ground of Vanguard music that included Laurie Anderson, Wu Man, Terry Riley, Rhiannon Giddens and much much more.

Daevid Allen Sounds the Last Gong R.I.P.

Photo: Gino Wong

Daevid Allen was the court jester and master of madness for Gong, the European progressive rock group who formed and 1969. He left the planet on March 13, at 77. He was a scientist of spacerock, evangelist of glissando guitar, one of the earliest loopers and cosmic Dada philosopher.

Movie Music Song Credits

Songs may drive the emotional soul of a film. They might be the element that leaves the most lasting impression, but whether it’s The Rolling Stones or Brian Eno, they still get their acknowledgment last on movie credit rolls.

Echoes Winners at the Grammys

Congratulations to 2015 Grammy winners from the Echoes side of the music stream.  Beck‘s Morning Phase was the number one Echoes CD in 2014.  We were as shocked as anybody, except Kanye West, who of course, had to be the MOST shocked, because he’s, you know, fucking Yeezus.  He bum rushed the stage during Beck’s…

Picking the New Age Grammy 2015 & More

The New Age Grammy category is always the hardest to figure out. Every year there are obvious choices I think should win. Yet last year, in what had been one of the best collection of nominees in a while with Brian Eno, Kitaro, R. Carlos Nakai and Peter Kater, an unknown and relatively unheard nominee, Laura…