DJ for The Blues Alley Show
OCEAN SHORES, Washington, United States
I started collecting music in 1962, at the age of 10. In 1973 I went to work at Budget Tapes and Records in Burien , Wa. I started as a clerk, in 6 months I was promoted to Mgr. In 1975 I became a multiple location mgr. In 1977 I became the Western Region Operations Manager over seeing 100+ stores in 10 states for the corporate office. In 1978 I added Blues buyer to my duties.
In 1983 I left the Record business and began a 12 year run in the HiFi store management... Read More
Latest Album Reviews
Review of Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies
Album Info: Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies
Dave Stryker Album: Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies Label: Strikezone Genre(s): Contemporary Jazz Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jan 22, 2025
Review
One of the front-runners on the American guitar-centric jazz scene for well over 20 years, N.J.-based Dave Stryker tackles a project near and dear to him with the 2024 album release of Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies. The pairing of Stryker’s jazz guitar with the 30-piece string arrangements of Brent Wallarab gives the 11-cut, 63 minute album a vintage sound pioneered back in the late 1960s by Creed Taylor, the famed record producer that recorded classic orchestral jazz albums for both Antonio Carlos Jobim and Wes Montgomery.
The Wes guitar sound is revived well intact on Stryker With Strings Goes To The Movies and the choice of movie soundtracks covered here provides a perfect foundation to unveil the sonic artistry put forth by Stryker and orchestra arranger / conductor Wallarab.
Interestingly, Stryker decided to cover themes from some lesser known movie
Karl Latham Album: Living Standards II Label: Drop Zone Jazz Genre(s): Fusion Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jan 18, 2025
Review
The place where vintage rock classics meets state of the art instrumental jazz-rock can be discovered and heard on the 2025 album release of Living Standards II by New York based drummer Karl Latham. The musical format follows up on the 2016 release of Living Standards. The basic concept entails dusting off vintage rock classics from the late 1960s and early ‘70s for the most part and reviving them as instrumental jazz fusion powerhouse tracks.
The album features Latham and company breathing jazz fusion fire into these songs long venerated by rock fans, including tracks first written and recorded by The Doors (“Break On Through”), Buffalo Springfield (“Rock And Roll Woman”), early 1980s King Crimson (“Matte Kudasai”), Derek & The Dominos (“Layla”) and others. Several other tracks by CSN&Y along with a Steppenwolf cover are
Tomislav Goluban Album: Nashville Road Label: Overton Genre(s): Blues Rock Posted By: Duane Verh
Jan 12, 2025
Review
Tomislav Goluban and “Crooked Eye Tommy” Marsh prove to be a formidable blues tandem, serving up a delightful, duo-fronted set of originals notable for their freshness and vitality. As he’s done previously, Croatian-born harmonica ace Mr. Goluban delivers supercharged harp play from the get-go with the leadoff instrumental “Hard Run”. The California-based Mr. Marsh’s robust vocals and pinpoint guitar highlight the standout track “Bad Choices Make Good Stories”. Goluban’s lyrically smart and tuneful melodic leanings show brightly on the ear-grabbing “Hard Candy”. Tasty fare.
Review of Adagio for Strings and Soul (432 Hz) [feat. David Darling]
Album Info: Adagio for Strings and Soul (432 Hz) [feat. David Darling]
Steven Halpern Album: Adagio for Strings and Soul (432 Hz) [feat. David Darling] Label: Self-Release Genre(s): New Age Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jan 7, 2025
Review
Steven Halpern is best known as a solo keyboard artist, yet he has also produced major albums featuring an array of New Age and jazz all-stars. Released in 2024, Adagio For Strings And Soul (432Hz) is a collaboration between Halpern and the late cellist David Darling, who first rose to fame with the Paul Winter Consort.
Adagio For Strings And Soul (432Hz) serves as a testament to both Steven Halpern’s and David Darling’s iconic careers as pioneers of New Age and contemporary instrumental music.
The album features a more sophisticated sound design and production values, complete with lush, orchestral arrangements, giving the album a more intricate and multi-dimensional sound than many of Halpern’s solo or duet recordings.
A good example of Halpern’s “Earthy to Ethereal” approach to recording
MOTU Album: Awareness or Illusion Label: Self-Release Genre(s): Blues Rock Posted By: Robert Silverstein
Jan 2, 2025
Review
Awareness Or Illusion is the 24th official album from Long Island’s MOTU. It’s a true blues / rock / pop masterpiece. A throwback to MOTU’s very early albums which had an unmistakable raw American-Roots Rock sound dominated by guitar. Dr Richard Michelson (MOTU®) once again plays a plethora of instruments on this album; keyboards, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, pedal steel guitar, and dobro. However, this is definitely a guitarist’s album. Dr Rich shreds with style at times sounding like Warren Haynes, Keith Richards, Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, and even Jeff Beck.
In fact the fourth song on the album, titled “For Jeff”, is an awesome instrumental fusion guitar tribute to the late guitar icon. MOTU’s performance channels Jeff Beck to the point of actually sounding like him. Ed Modzel joins in on drums sounding
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
Jun 12, 2024 -
Embark on a musical journey across Africa that celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of the continent with Putumayo's African... Read Full Article
Jun 3, 2024 -
Few musical compositions have so successfully tapped into that elusive formula of the enduring human spirit that is the recipe for timeless... Read Full Article
May 21, 2024 -
Released in mid-2024, It’s Worth It is the second solo album by Delay Tactics guitarist and keyboard player David Udell. It’s Worth It... Read Full Article
Mar 15, 2024 -
CMH RECORDS (Country. Music. Heritage.) maintains a rich history of classic country and bluegrass albums and is honoring several of these legacy... Read Full Article
