Jimmy Webb Still On the Line by Mark Mussari About fifteen years ago, one chilly autumnal night, I was in a coffee house in Lahaska, Pennsylvania when a young man — no more than eighteen — suddenly sat down at an upright piano. “This is an old pop song,” he announced in an apologetic tone. … Continue reading
Norah Jones – The Fall (Blue Note) Norah Jones has performed several types of music over the years since her breakthrough album Come Away With Me. In that album and her two follow-up CDs (three if you count her gig with the alt.country supergroup The Little Willies) she has worked in jazz, country, folk, pop and R&B – … Continue reading
JOHN DENVER – AROUND THE WORLD LIVE (2009) Featuring John Denver. Directed by Barry Ehrmann. Distributed by Eagle Rock Entertainment. 592 minutes. Not Rated. In the twelve years since his untimely death in a plane crash – and a good 30 years on from his popular heyday – it has become all too easy to … Continue reading
Mat Kearney Lays It Out in Black and White by Jay S. Jacobs Mat Kearney’s musical road has led him from Oregon to Los Angeles to Nashville – from indie recording and tiny bars to hit singles and theater shows. Not too bad for a guy who has only released two CDs. Of course, it … Continue reading
Sharon Little Perfect Time for a Breakout by Jay S. Jacobs Just two years ago, Sharon Little was waiting tables. Now she has released her debut CD. One of her songs has been chosen as the theme song to a television series. She was personally picked to open a tour by this year’s biggest Grammy winners – … Continue reading
JOHNNY CASH’S AMERICA (2008) Featuring Johnny Cash (archival footage), June Carter Cash (archival footage), Rosanne Cash, Cindy Cash, John Carter Cash, Joanne Cash, Rick Rubin, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Al Gore, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Snoop Dogg, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, John Mellencamp, Vince Gill, Ozzy Osborne, Rep. Lamar Alexander and Tim Robbins. Narrated by … Continue reading
Sir George Martin A Little Help for His Friends by Ken Sharp George Martin is inarguably the most successful music producer of all-time. If there’s anyone who can legitimately lay claim to the mantle of “Fifth” Beatle, it’s George Martin. Martin’s unparalleled production expertise coupled with his profound talents as a musician, arranger and conductor … Continue reading
Ingrid Michaelson The Way She Is by Jay S. Jacobs It used to be in order to get your songs heard; you had to hope that somehow radio would catch on to you (often through payola). The whole business has changed, though, and Ingrid Michaelson is riding the wave of the new world order of … Continue reading
Jerry Wexler The Man Behind Rhythm and Blues by Ronald Sklar The bookends of Jerry Wexler’s life are predictable and ordinary – it’s the middle that is practically unbelievable. He was born in 1917, to a poor Jewish family in the Bronx, and is currently battling poor health in Sarasota, Florida. That’s probably where he and … Continue reading
CHANTAL KREVIAZUK ALL SHE CAN DO by Jay S. Jacobs The world at large has never quite caught on to Chantal Kreviazuk’s name – and the world is a lesser place for it. In a perfect world, everyone would know about Kreviazuk. She certainly has spent enough of the past decade introducing herself. She is a star … Continue reading
PopEntertainmentblog.com 