New from me - 10 new albums I think you will dig a lot. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/ten-new-al...

Heading off for another New York solo trip tomorrow morning - gearing up for it tonight with two of the great NYC albums.

New from me - this is the third time I have written about autumn music, focusing here on five albums that, for me, evoke this wonderful season. Enjoy! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/autumn-noc...

New from me - on two landmark recordings of 1967, one that celebrates the legend and one the relays the facts. Both are utterly essential. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/sgt-pepper...

New from me - on two landmark recordings of 1967, one that celebrates the legend and one the relays the facts. Both are utterly essential. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/sgt-pepper...

Wrote about Mac Davis, one of a group of singer-songwriters who became very big very quickly in the late sixties, and his debut album, Song Painter - a unheralded classic. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/mac-davis-...

Toasting Coltrane on his almost-centennial by digging deep into the collection for a 1959 session with three-fourths of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Hank Jones in place of John Lewis. Sublime stuff!

New from me - reflections on two of Dizzy Gillespie’s finest albums from the fifties. One is fiery (‘Sonny Side Up’) and the other flirty (‘Have Trumpet, Will Excite!). Both are stone-cold classics! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/two-by-diz...

New from me - reflections on two of Dizzy Gillespie’s finest albums from the fifties. One is fiery (‘Sonny Side Up’) and the other flirty (‘Have Trumpet, Will Excite!). Both are stone-cold classics! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/two-by-diz...

A Frank Sinatra recording that isn't talked about enough - a grandiose, semi-classical recital with some of Nelson Riddle's most rapturous writing for strings and two of Sinatra's most stunning moments on record - ‘Ol’ Man River’ and the epic ‘Soliloquy.'

New from me - my latest installment of my continuing series of new-music recommendations, full of jazz, pop and rock. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/eight-grea...

A new album I'm really buzzed about - singer-songwriter Emily Hines’ debut, full of woozy, psychedelic folk. This won't be in my next round-up of new and upcoming music coming at the end of next week but will be writing about this at some point. emilyhines.bandcamp.com/album/these-...

Not sure what it means that the piece I am most proud of has attracted low engagement. I want to do more of these pieces with interviews and other contributors, and hope if you feel this is a worthy idea, you may consider supporting my newsletter. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...

Love strong female singers? Let me introduce you to Googie Coppola of Air. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...

New from me - excited to share about an amazing 1971 album featuring the powerful songs and voice of Googie Coppola. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...

New from me - a look at one of jazz’s great one-off, magic moments: when Phineas Newborn Jr., Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes convened at Rudy Van Gelder’s in Hackensack in November 1958 to record what would be called ‘We Three.’ A perfect record! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/phineas-ne...

If you love acid-folk or trippy, psychedelic music, you'll want to check-out Jessica Risker's new album, ‘Calendar Year.’ It's highly recommended. jessicarisker.bandcamp.com/album/calend...

Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...

No one writes about Elvis any better than Robert. Elvis fans check this out. As an Elvis soundtrack apologist, this really hit with me.

Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...

New from me - a round-up of 12 fantastic new albums covering a wide range of music: there’s country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, ambient, indie rock, soul and classical. In other words, something for everyone. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-new...

New from me - a round-up of 12 fantastic new albums covering a wide range of music: there’s country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, ambient, indie rock, soul and classical. In other words, something for everyone. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-new...

Of the 12 albums I am featuring in my latest round-up of new and upcoming music, my favourite is Reed Turchi's intimate, late-night collection of blues and spirituals, ‘World on Fire.’ This is mesmerizing, sparse, funky music. reedturchi.bandcamp.com/album/world-...

I have wanted to write about the O’Jays breakthrough album, Back Stabbers, for a long time. It’s always struck me as a concept album, even though it was not designed (as far as I know) in that way, and it was fun to lay out what I think the concept is. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-ojays-...

One of my current musician obsessions: the experimental harpist Mary Lattimore.

New from me - a personal essay on digital vs. analog, stereo systems, streaming and my search for “pure sound.” www.listeningsessions.ca/p/streaming-...

Keeping it cool on an awfully warm Sunday.

Happy World Music Day! 🎶 “When we touch one another through music, we are touching the heart, the mind, and the spirit, all at once.”-Leonard Bernstein How are you making music today? [📸 Courtesy of Sony Classical]

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Not sure exactly how I feel about this story about an entrepreneur who has, in a sense, rented the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in order to conduct them in a performance of Mahler's Ressurection Symphony. www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a...

New from me - my shot on trying to put into words why the Beach Boys matter and why the passing of Brian Wilson is both a punch in the gut and a chance to newly appreciate the more-often-than-not wonderous music he made. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/life-love-...

New from me - my shot on trying to put into words why the Beach Boys matter and why the passing of Brian Wilson is both a punch in the gut and a chance to newly appreciate the more-often-than-not wonderous music he made. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/life-love-...

Dug out this retrospective box set for the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys to spin the first disc - a life-affirming ride charting the beginning of the remarkable ascent of Brian Wilson.

Of course the remarkable thing is that he made it all the way to 82, but what a time for Sly Stone to reach the end of his journey. May his music continue to fuel us in our darkest hours, and inspire us to be better versions of ourselves.

Enjoying an album by Bobby Scott, a great singer: smooth tone, hip phrasing and broad warmth.

Firing one of the discs, to pay homage to Sly Stone, from this blazing set of Sly & the Family Stone bringing the funk to New York in October 1968 at the Fillmore East.

New from me - I caught the first of three nights Paul Simon played Toronto’s Massey Hall late last month. It was a beautiful concert and I wrote about it as well as some thoughts on the incredible musical journey Simon has been on the past 20 years. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/a-quiet-ev...

A dark day - had to download Google Wallet in order to access a ticket to a ballgame today. Looking forward to deleting it right after the game. At the risk of sounding like the oldest man on the planet, give me back the days of the paper ticket.

New from me - talking about two jazz classics from the early sixties that feature a choir against the power of the small group. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/max-roach-...

Some listening in preparation for going to see Paul Simon at Massey Hall tonight.

New from me - twelve new and upcoming albums I'm excited about, and that I think you night be excited about too. Check it out! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-hit...

Putting out another new-release round-up featuring 12 albums that I've enjoyed recently. One that didn't make the cut but is very good is jazz vocalist Mira Choquette's latest, ‘Hier Encore.’ Recommended! Here's a link to pick it up through Bandcamp: mirachoquette.bandcamp.com/album/hier-e...

If you only get one of the four physical Strata-East reissues Mack Avenue has put out (here's hoping there are more), make it this one.

Saluting Sammy Davis Jr. who passed away 34 years ago yesterday.

My latest - highlighting two albums where the musical view is askew - one a justifiably acknowledged classic and the other beyond obscure. Strange music for strange times. Enjoy! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/diana-marc...

Reason #2,359 why Spotify hates artists - where exactly can I find any albums here or any music to play????

Fans of hard bop, there's a great new recording I think you'll love. ‘Impact’ by the Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet has crisp ensemble playing, tight solos and easy simpatico. Highly recommended. Bandcamp link here: steveholtmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-st...

New from me - an essay I have long wanted to write - all about the often strange and weird music Porter Wagoner made in the late sixties. Lush backgrounds, grisly tales. I love this kind of stuff! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-clean-...

New from me - an essay I have long wanted to write - all about the often strange and weird music Porter Wagoner made in the late sixties. Lush backgrounds, grisly tales. I love this kind of stuff! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-clean-...

Excited to add this album to my collection. #nowspinning #np #vinyl