Will Ackerman: Guitar Picker, Windham Hill, New Age and More

If you like softer, sophisticated solo guitar songs, with occasional accompaniment, William Ackerman is your player. I first heard him 40 years ago and have followed him ever since. There was not really a musical category for this mellow, sophisticated sound. Eventually, it was called New Age, which grew to become not much of a … More Will Ackerman: Guitar Picker, Windham Hill, New Age and More

Tom Cruise: Maverick

Robert Redford uses the term “popcorn movie” to describe films intended principally as big, blockbuster entertainment. The term definitely describes Top Gun: Maverick and most of Cruise’s recent filmography. The original Top Gun made a superstar of Cruise. A two-hour MTV, Navy recruitment music video, equal parts adrenaline and jet fuel, and a precursor to … More Tom Cruise: Maverick

Nikki Sixx: Author

I’m not a big fan of glam, spandex-wearing, big hair bands of the 1980s-1990s. Van Halen and The Cure are about as close as I get to the hairspray and makeup genre. Mötley Crüe is not my thing, which makes it seem odd that I would pick up a book written by bassist Nikki Sixx … More Nikki Sixx: Author

Trios: Favorite Albums by Three-Member Groups

I stole this idea from https://youtube.com/c/GlenKellawaylowendmusicfreak who is one of my favorite music YouTube vloggers. Glen limited his list to 10, but I’m going to exceed that number. Here we go, and these are in no particular order. James Gang Rides Again (1970) – James Gang. The band’s second album, maybe the best material Walsh … More Trios: Favorite Albums by Three-Member Groups

As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls (1981)

Forty-one years ago, Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays released this masterpiece of jazz fusion, of progressive jazz-rock. There is no real category for this type of music. Note: Usually I link YouTube videos in my reviews, ECM Records seems to control the availability, so you are getting mostly live versions. I heard someone call Metheny … More As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls (1981)