In my November 2018 review of Defractor, the official solo debut of offbeat, iconoclastic indie-pop singer/songwriter Paul Jacks - after years as frontman of the Anchorage based band Smile Ease - I had a lone criticism amidst reveling in its magical electronic “beat swirling” twists on the classic Gary Numan/OMD/Joy Division vibe. I loved the overall vibrancy, the bright grooves, atmospheric melodies and soaring production values. Yet I also felt his ethereal vocals, while em

Artfully blending gritty, heartfelt folk/Americana with a seductive, atmospheric dream pop vibe, Nicholas Altobelli launches his second decade an indie artist with the release of Vertigo. He’s been through a lot of cool life changes in the four too long years since his previous album. 2015’s Searching Through that Minor Key. He left music full time to return to college to pursue a degree in literature, and in 2016 started his ideal “day job” as a high school English teacher.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE AND REDEMPTION OF FAMED ELTON JOHN GUITARIST CALEB QUAYE, SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON ‘ROCKETMAN’, FUSING FASCINATING ROCK HISTORY WITH SPIRITUAL HOPE AND REDEMPTION 49 summers after Elton John rocked The Troubadour on his way to international superstardom, the iconic rocker is as popular and relevant as ever. In the midst of his three-year global Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, he’s the subject of one of the most successful, critically acclaime

Blending elements of her church and gospel music upbringing with shimmering pop and adventurous R&B, blues and jazz sensibilities, actress, world traveling vocalist and songwriter Deb Bowman’s pays soulful homage to her beloved sister Patti on her musically and spiritually transcendent new album Fast Heart. The timing of its release is not coincidental. as this marks the 10th anniversary of Patti’s passing from breast cancer. Patti loved butterflies, which just so happen to b

With 2019 being the 60th anniversary of the Bossa Nova, there’s a clamoring for all musical things Brazilian that should spark keen interest in Scary Beautiful, the latest eclectic ensemble album by former Terra Sul leader, adventurous composer and versatile guitarist Ricardo Peixoto. While the polyrhythmic, globally conscious album – co-produced by veteran producer and Bonnie Raitt drummer Ricky Fataar - has its magical soft-spoken romantic moments, it’s pretty much a celebr

Besides having one of the most intimate, inviting and exquisitely sensual voices in the Latin jazz realm, New York based artist Lauren Henderson is quite the international over-achiever, musically and otherwise. She’s earned degrees in music and Hispanic studies, studied the traditional music of the Yucatan in Mexico and flamenco and jazz in Spain, received an Executive Master of Business Administration from Brown University and launched her own label Brontosaurus Records. He

Truly a local L.A. legend, Patrick Barnitt has been entertaining at the famed nightclub The Dresden for 25 years while also gigging with Wrecking Crew drum great Frank Devito and building his TV and film acting resume with a variety of cool “day job” gigs, many related to “Star Trek.” We can only speculate why it’s taken him nearly two decades to follow up his 2001 debut When The Time is Right with the spirited and heartfelt, deeply engaging Sway, recorded with the 17 piece P

To truly appreciate an artist’s latest work and immerse enough to write intelligently about it, I always feel compelled to learn about their professional and personal backgrounds and, if possible, ask what inspired them. Considering all of its seductive rhythms, melodic charms, ethereal vocal graces, exquisite ambiences and invitations to meditate and connect with Spirit (our own and the Universe’s), I certainly could have embraced Juliet Lyons’ exquisitely produced, dynamica

Nearly two years after Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico and other surrounding islands, the news crews have long moved on but the humanitarian crises endure. The reality is sobering, with more officially reported deaths than 9/11, a tripling of attempted suicides and the closing of 283 schools just the start of the ongoing toll. Keenly aware of the depth of the tragedy and determined to let the citizens of Puerto Rico know folks on the mainland stil

With an ever-expanding global fan base of fans from 16 to 80 hinging on her every rhyme and clever twist of phrase, Rebecca “DawgGoneDavis”’ breakthrough success over the past 17 months has proven one thing – rap and hip-hop ain’t just for kids and hipsters anymore. Since her freewheeling, autobiographical “Middle Age Woman – Hip Hop Style” reached #1 on the influential EuroIndieMusic chart and hit the top spot in Europe, Asia (including Russia) and South America, she’s been

Sometimes, when you ask a sincere musical question, the Universe finds a quick, dramatic way to answer. Recently experiencing yet another incredible Hollywood Bowl classical piano concerto, I wondered out loud, “Why do all the greatest featured piano soloists from places like Russia, China, Japan, France – anywhere but the U.S. Then a few days later, invited to an intimate yet invigorating performance at Hollywood Piano in Burbank, I received my emphatic response: you just ne

Just when you think humanity’s gone a little too far off the rails to the point of no return, a magical, empowering summer night of classical and film music at the Hollywood Bowl reminds us that art is our common connector, hope and transcendence. The festive celebration of celebrating Venezuelan born conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s tenth year as Music and Artistic Director of the L.A. Philharmonic – abbreviated in the calendar and program to “10 Years – Bravo Gustavo!” - began e