Multicultural ensemble Sonic Alley, fronted by Caleb Hart, mixes reggae, funk, and hip hop on “Step Up,” a hard-hitting, timely-as-can-be plea for personal improvement that…
Best Foot Forward
Category: Music videos
Bass Instincts: Vickie Vaughn Steps Into the Spotlight With “Leavin’”
After a decade-long hiatus from solo recording, two-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Vickie Vaughn returns with “Leavin’,” her first release under her own…
You Can’t Be Too Picky
Based on the number of uplifting reggae tracks I’ve received lately, it would seem that the world is in need of such music. I believe…
Bluegrass Bug: Ashby Frank Puts the Pedal to the Mandolin
Ashby Frank reimagines “The Bug,” originally recorded by Dire Straits in 1991 and later a Top 20 country hit for Mary Chapin Carpenter in 1993,…
Andy Leftwich Goes Bananas on “Highland Rim”
Andy Leftwich returns with “Highland Rim,” a high-energy instrumental that highlights his virtuosity alongside some of bluegrass’s finest musicians. Following his soulful interpretation of “Talk…
Motivating Reggae
“We Can Do It,” a new track by American-based artist Kingly T, has all the best characteristics of classic reggae: A positive message, soulful lead…
Elana Sasson’s “Laye Laye”: a Reimagining of a Traditional Kurdish Lullaby
Elana Sasson’s latest single, “Laye Laye,” featuring French cellist Matthieu Saglio, is a reimagining of a traditional Kurdish lullaby. Released on March 21, 2025, it…
Music of a Different Griot Home
Born in Senegal but based in Poland, kora player Ablaye Badji harnesses longstanding griot tradition to a funk/jazz backdrop on “Aduna,” a sparking piece of…
Picking Up the Past: Benson Revives a Harley Allen Classic
Bluegrass duo Benson, featuring award-winning banjoist Kristin Scott Benson and renowned mandolinist Wayne Benson, launch their 2025 releases with a fresh take on Things Have…
Kitchen Fresh
Germany’s Epic Soul Kitchen is on a musical excursion entitled “Dip Trip,” and their Latinized jazz is cooked up right and tight. The solos are,…