MUSIC_DIRECTOR for Pickin'
Paonia, Colorado, United States
Andrea "Dre" Castillo joined the KVNF staff in June, 2022. With a strong passion for music and people, Dre serves as the Music Director & DJ Coordinator. She is originally from the West Coast and moved to the Western Slope of the Rockies in 2016. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, rafting, drawing and going to see live music. You can catch her on the KVNF airwaves.
Latest Album Reviews
Review of Bad at Being Good
Album Info: Bad at Being Good
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps Album: Bad at Being Good Label: Momojo Genre(s): Classic Blues, Contemporary Blues Posted
By: Duane Verh
Feb 23, 2026
Review
Rhythm Tramps bassist Terry Wilson’s song craft has shone on previous releases and well deserves its commanding presence on this current offering. Ms. James’ pleasing spitfire vocals have plenty to work with on potent lyric sets featuing killer ballads both down-mood- “Is Anything Alright” and extremely up- “Say What You Will”. Other ear-gabbers include “All About The Benjamins” and the title track.
2002 Album: The Wishing Well Label: Galactic Playground Genre(s): New Age Posted
By: Robert Silverstein
Feb 22, 2026
Review
On the 2026 release of The Wishing Well, by the gifted trio of musicians known as 2002, there’s an aura of Deja-Vu that looks back on their history with a collection of freshly composed tracks. After three decades of music making, 2002 still draws upon the many classic nuances in their music, yet there’s also something new and fresh in play. On this, the 23rd 2002 album, Randy, Pamela and Sarah Copus take their music to new heights and the results are among their best
Composed and performed by the Copus family on a wide variety of synth keys, guitars and light percussion, The Wishing Well also features guest violinist Keyreel Raskolenko. Completely instrumental, this album in a way echoes the vibe of Enya, albeit in a completely instrumental realm, as well as other recent Euro artists such as Kerani and other positive energy New Age artists.
Following the group’s
Paul Colombo Group Album: Mabrouka Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Fusion Posted
By: Robert Silverstein
Feb 18, 2026
Review
Jazz guitar fans that tuned into the 2021 album, Rio Crystal, by Philadelphia based Paul Colombo Group, will be equally intrigued by the group’s 2025 album Mabrouka. Following in a kindred guitar-based jazz spirit of the first PCG album, the 10-track, 50- minute Mabrouka album takes Paul Colombo’s sound to a new level of musical elegance. The record is an exploration of jazz styles from swing to Latin to funk to free playing and more. There are nine Paul Colombo originals and one cover.
Speaking about working with this fine band once again, Paul adds, "We have definitely moved ahead from Rio Crystal by expanding on our original quartet sound. There are tracks with acoustic bass and two songs that I orchestrated. PCG was always about exploring different jazz styles and on this record we added some free playing and New Orleans second line rhythms. Taken as a whole,
Album Info: Blast Off! (feat. & His All Star Band)
Duke Robillard Album: Blast Off! (feat. & His All Star Band) Label: Nola Blue Genre(s): Classic Blues, Blues Rock Posted
By: Duane Verh
Feb 16, 2026
Review
The reliable Robillard drive and exuberance are present and accounted for on his current offering as is The Duke’s inclusive approach to roots-bound fare. Inspired-sounding jump tracks with abundant “blow” choruses for the band’s capable horn players stack up alongside a variety of burners charged by the leader’s predictably masterful fretwork. Vocalist Chris Cote delivers consistently as well on tracks including Tom Waits’ and Kathleen Brennan’s “Lowdown” and Allen Toussaint’s “Confusion”. Nice work.
Review of Music For Microdosing (Sound Therapy Music Series)
Album Info: Music For Microdosing (Sound Therapy Music Series)
Steven Halpern Album: Music For Microdosing (Sound Therapy Music Series) Label: Steven Halpern Music Genre(s): New Age Posted
By: Robert Silverstein
Feb 13, 2026
Review
When Steven Halpern released his first album for meditation and healing in 1975, there was no genre that described compositions that downplayed the role of melody, rhythm and predictability. His album liner notes introduced the phrase ‘ambient soundscapes’, before Eno released his own versions, though his glam rockstar status garnered much of the credit.
Music For Microdosing (Sound Therapy Music Series) was produced with the conscious intention to create a portal for long time and new fans of all generations to experience the blissful natural high when your brainwaves are balanced and synchronized in the deep alpha brainwave state… a sonic portal to mindfulness and inner peace.
Unlike many albums that are streaming nowadays, No AI was involved in composing and producing this masterpiece.
For those new to this field, it must be noted that
Jan 16, 2026 -
AVAILABLE NOW: THE NEW BOOK FROM AUTHOR TAD RICHARDS
Listening to Prestige: Chronicling Its Classic Jazz Recordings, 1949–1972
A... Read Full Article
Nov 30, 2025 -
New Christmas Music by from Marcus Goldhaber “I Can’t Wait For Christmas” (digital only single) and Margee Minier-Tubbs &... Read Full Article
Sep 9, 2025 -
Chicago-based Indie-folk singer-songwriter Chris Rawlins is set to release his much anticipated sophomore album, Flyover,... Read Full Article
Sep 7, 2025 -
Putumayo Discovery is proud to announce the release of French Groove, a dynamic compilation that showcases the fresh face of French... Read Full Article
Sep 7, 2025 -
Putumayo Discovery's new album, Instrumental Odyssey, out on September 5th, 2025 is a journey across cultures, continents, and musical... Read Full Article
Oct 24, 2024 -
For fans of Beirut, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor and Keren Ann. The lush bucolic folk of ‘Season to Season’ is the first... Read Full Article
Sep 12, 2024 -
Indiana based Singer Songwriter Abbie Thomas to release eagerly awaited second album Sept 27
The candid creative spark behind Abbie... Read Full Article
Jul 31, 2024 -
FOLK MUSICIANS CATHY FINK, MARCY MARXER, AND
CHAO TIAN ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM,
FROM CHINA TO APPALACHIA
THE GLOBAL MUSIC PROJECT... Read Full Article
