Damon Locks’ Black Monument Ensemble offers a unique sensory experience. The group’s live performances, often comprised of over a dozen artists, combine choral singing, recorded samples, live instruments, costume, and dance to form a beautiful, immersive whole. In March 2021, during one of the pandemic lock-downs, I interviewed Locks by… Continue Reading
I wrote about Manny Cuevas, better known as DJ M-TRAXXX for the December 2022 issue of The Wire. What follows is an extended history. Be sure to check out his collection of over 550 house and techno mixes. Manny Cuevas was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, a small city… Continue Reading
Here are my favorite releases of the year in alphabetical order. I’m skewing jazz these days, and I am slightly biased towards artists I’ve been lucky enough to see live. Another caveat: there will likely be a handful of additional 2022 releases trickling into my collection in the coming week…. Continue Reading
Weeks is a prolific singer, songwriter, and producer. Between 1977 and 1979, disco legend Patrick Adams installed Weeks in the studio and sent him a series of talented musicians and singers. Continue Reading
Favorite albums of the year Continue Reading
Out this month on Jerome Derradji’s Past Due Records is a collection of all of Horizon’s rare, sought-after 45s along with 10 previously unreleased songs and a history of the band written by me. Continue Reading
Out this month on Jerome Derradji’s Past Due Records is an official reissue of Netwerk’s lost boogie album “I Need You” on gatefold double LP or CD with booklet. Both include 8 unreleased songs and the story of the band written by me. Continue Reading
Every superhero has an origin story, and I am excited to share the one-of-a-kind tale of Captain Sky via reissues of his first two albums. Continue Reading
Lowe’s modular synthesizer pieces are textured yet precise. There’s something soothing and familiar about this entire album. Continue Reading
Powerful electronic bass, exquisite wind tones, squawking free jazz horns, and Moor Mother’s poetry as instrument of a welcome future. Continue Reading
