Bloggerhythms

It's always cool when someone who is about to hit the big time lives within a stone's throw of your house (or at least a very short drive from it). Such is the case with Sharon Little from North Wales, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Depsite her proximity I just saw the young singer live for the very first time this past weekend at the XPoNential Music Festival hosted annually by WXPN - 88.5 FM , public radio from the University of Pennsylvania. Little was the opening act on the main stage of the Saturday portion of the festival held each July in Camden, New Jersey's Wiggins Park. The stage is on the Delaware River overlooking a great view of the skyline of The City Of Brotherly Love. For a young lady in her twenties Little has a very fine stage presence. She has a lot of poise and always knows exactly what to say and when to say it. She is as self-assured as someone who has been gigging for twenty years. Her band was tight and the singer's expressive vocal st...

Even though John Cruz only released his second CD, One of These Days , in 2007, eleven years after his debut, Acoustic Soul , he has long been a highly regarded singer-songwriter in his native state of Hawaii. Acoustic Soul sold 100,000 copies on the islands upon its release. The CD is aptly named because the only electric instrument appearing anywhere on it is the bass that accompanies the band leader's acoustic lead guitar. Musically, the disc is a spirited affair that is loaded with Cruz's bluesy R & B vocals. His slightly raspy voice is perfectly suited for the songs showcased here. If you're not a fan of Hawaiian music don't be put off. This disc isn't traditional music with harmonies and a ukulele. The opening track, "Island Style," has become a Hawaiian standard and is played by bands all over the fiftieth state. "Only Cruz’s regional hit and "Kawailehua'a'alakahonua," sung in his native tongue, offer us any indi...

The original lineup of Chicago has always been one of my all time favorite bands. My affection for this great horn band is such that I want to discuss all of the albums they recorded before Terry Kath's unfortunate and accidental passing. Their debut album is now forty years old, and it's followup is not far behind, yet their music endures to this day. * * * * * Everyone Must Own * * * * Excellent * * * Good * * Fair * Poor * * * * * Chicago Transit Authority (1969) - Whether they were playing screaming psychedelic hard rock, jazz, blues, or love songs, everyone in the band proved they were worthy of the huge mass success that followed CTA 's release. The band's ability to play anything and play it well is the hallmark of their debut album. The stars are Robert Lamm, Terry Kath, and the horns, and even Peter Cetera demonstrates he can be a rock and roll animal when he wants to be. The standout tracks are Lamm's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It I...

My One and Only Thrill , the second full length CD by Melody Gardot , is a more sophisticated affair than her debut, Worrisome Heart . On several tracks the Philadelphia based singer-songwriter, who plays acoustic guitar and piano, adds a new edge to low volume music because she frequently creates a deep, smoldering groove that feels like it’s about to become white hot yet never does. She and her band are probably the only musicians on the current music scene who can play with so much intensity without raising the volume. Just listen to the CD's best song, "Who Will Comfort Me," for a wonderful example of the twenty-four year old's ultra-low key jazz chops. Thrill also showcases a full string section on many tracks, something she didn’t use on her more low budget, but still satisfying, debut. Unfortunately, producer Larry Klein (who also worked with Joni Mitchell and Madeleine Peyroux) and Gardot use the strings to excess, pushing her superb band into the ba...