Economy marks the work of pianist Nick Sanders, whose new trio release, Playtime 2050, announces an original and accomplished young artist. On The Garden of Earthly Delights, André Carvalho takes Hieronymus Bosch’s iconic painting as the inspiration for an extended suite that creates a soundscape as rich, varied, and surprising as the painting’s landscape.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: Mel Minter
Singer/Songwriter Kristina Jacobsen’s New Album Offers ‘Shelter’ from the Storm
Shelter, Kristina Jacobsen’s new album, touches on a wide-range of subjects, from hard-won personal epiphanies to the liberating properties of a down-home Cajun dance hall. She’ll celebrate its release with a party this weekend before heading off to Sardinia on a Fulbright grant for a year of teaching, research, and of course, songwriting.
Continue readingNew Live Recordings from Love Unfold the Sun and Club d’Elf
The Santa Fe/Albuquerque-based quartet Love Unfold the Sun and the Boston-based band Club d’Elf share a number of characteristics. They both blend Middle Eastern/African and Western elements, and incorporate an exotic instrument. Texture plays an important role in the musical development of their material. Flow is prized over destination. Yet, even with these similarities, the two groups make music that is quite different.
Continue readingBébé La La and Martha Reich: Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter Songbirds at the Outpost This Weekend
Bébé La La: Maryse Lapierre and Alicia Ultan. Photo by Adriana Lopez Jameson. 
Martha Reich
New Mexico is hip deep in talented singer/songwriters, and the two acts headed to the Outpost this weekend most definitely make the cut. Bébé La La, which comprises Alicia Ultan (vocals, guitar, viola) and Maryse Lapierre (vocals, accordion, harmonium), identifies as Albuquerque’s folk Americana Français duo, and they’ll be adding a rock and roll coefficient this weekend, appearing as the Bébé La La Band, with Arnaldo Acosta on drums and Mike Fox on bass. Multi-instrumentalist Martha Reich (the “ch” is pronounced sh), a New England native who settled in Santa Fe 20 years ago, is riding on the wave of her latest album, Brave Bird. It has collected the Gold Medal for Female Vocalist in the Global Music Awards, LA Critics Award for Best Folk Artist, and a Clouzine International Music Award for Best Indie Album, as well as three New Mexico Music Award nominations. She’ll be appearing with her longtime colleague, cellist Michael Kott.
Continue readingNew Albums from Bill Frisell/Thomas Morgan and Yuriy Galkin
Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan. Photo by John Rogers. 
Yuriy Galkin
Here are a couple of quick hits on recent releases deserving your attention.
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