New Music: The Cowsills, Jane Monheit, Raul Midón, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

A diverse field of artists are featured across four outstanding new titles. 

Artist: The Cowsills

Title: Rhythm of the World (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Turtles, The Bangles 

Tell me more: Musical family The Cowsills released a series of popular singles and albums in the late 1960s and early '70s before going on hiatus in 1972 — music aficionados should note the Cowsills were even the inspiration for the 1970s TV series "The Partridge Family." Although the Cowsills reunited to record new albums in 1978 and 1993, the group's return to record the full-length 2022 masterwork Rhythm of the Worlds is a true triumph. The 11-song disc is filled with songs that reflect the sharp songcraft of the best artists of the '60s and '70s; it is no stretch to note the originals on the new album featuring siblings Bob, Susan and Paul Cowsill would be at home on classic titles from the Byrds, Badfinger, The Turtles or the Mamas & the Papas. There isn't a bad song on the disc; standouts include the instantly-catchy melodic gems "Lend a Hand" and "Try to Believe It Too," Americana-styled "Hawks on the Line," melodic rocker "Every Little Secret," power pop-flavored title track, yearning folk rocker "The Long Run" and decidedly modern "Nuclear Winter." Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com. 

Artist: Jane Monheit

Title: The Merriest (Club44 Records)

You might like if you enjoy: jazz, holiday music, Jane Monheit's 2005 album "The Season"

Tell me more: Top-tier jazz vocalist Jane Monheit celebrates the magic — and music — of the season via her newly-released Christmas-minded The Merriest. Armed with a beautiful voice that effortlessly scales the range of holiday favorites featured across the nine-track disc, there is a mix of uptempo numbers and emotive ballads to enjoy. Among the highlights on the album is a joyful "Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" (bolstered by Max Haymer's stellar piano playing), the lovely "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," zestful "The Merriest," a sublime reading of "Christmas Time is Here" and lively "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," as well as the first ever recording of Broadway legend Cy Coleman's "(Christmas) Stay With Me." The acclaimed singer also teams with John Pizzarelli for a swinging take on "That Holiday Feeling." Information: JaneMonheitOnline.com. 

Artist: Raul Midón

Title: Eclectic Adventurist (ReKondite ReKords)

You might like if you enjoy: Raul Midón, Laurence Juber, Craig Chaquico

Tell me more: Guitar virtuoso Raul Midón is set to return with his latest album, the ambitious Eclectic Adventurist. Recorded during the midst of the pandemic, the instrumental album finds Midón joining forces with 10 other greats for an ambitious disc filled with bewitching guitar duets. Spanning Latin, pop, folk, gypsy and jazz genres, the selection is sure to please discerning listeners who have an interest in not only guitar but instrumental music. Highlights abound on the compelling set, including the gentle "Serendipity" with Jonathan Kreisberg, dazzling "Una Mas" with Alex Cuba, jazzy "Loueke" featuring Lionel Loueke, nuanced "Nautical" with Julia Bailen and sparkling "Blues For Mike" with Mike Stern. Dean Parks joins Midón on the flamenco-tinged "Waiting Game" and later on for the aptly-titled "Gentle Ascent." Eclectic Adventurist will be released on Nov. 11, 2022. Information: RaulMidon.com.

 

Artist: Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

Title: Bakersfield Gold: Top 10 Hits 1959-1974 (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Buck Owens and the Buckeroos, Dwight Yoakam

Tell me more: Buck Owens scored a whopping 46 Top 10 hits — including 19 number one hits — between 1959 and 1974. Now that stellar parade of memorable hits he tracked with The Buckaroos, Rose Maddox, Buddy Alan, Susan Raye and others have been gathered together on the aptly-titled Bakersfield Gold. A beautiful physical package (the audio CD version is reviewed here), the set features new liner notes from Randy Poe (author of Buck 'Em: The Autobiography Of Buck Owens) and historical images. The range of material extends from flashy uptempo cuts and duets to tender ballads. Enduring classics such as the bittersweet "Under The Influence of Love," the 1963 number one "Act Naturally" (later famously recorded by The Beatles and featuring lead vocals from Ringo Starr), tuneful "Love's Gonna Live Here," longing "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)," rowdy "I've Got a Tiger By The Tail," bluegrass-adorned "Ruby (Are You Mad)" and lovely "It Takes People Like You (To Make People Like Me)." Among the more interesting tracks on the collection are Owens' rousing cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" and a majestic musical reading of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  Bakersfield Gold is available on double-CD, triple-LP and via digital. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Robert Kinsler

New Music: Carla Olson, Tower of Power, Raul Midon

Discerning listeners with an ear for a variety of styles are in luck. A new duets project from singer-songwriter/producer Carla Olson, amazing return from soul masters Tower of Power and genre-stretching effort from jazz great Raul Midón are worth adding to your music library.

Artist: Carla Olson
Title: Have Harmony Will Travel 2 (Sunset Blvd. Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Timothy B. Schmit, Peter Noone, Gene Clark, Percy Sledge
Tell me more: Lovers of stellar duets will want to hear Carla Olson's wonderful Have Harmony Will Travel 2 (released March 20 via Sunset Blvd. Records). The album features the talented Austin, Texas spawned singer-guitarist and former leader of Los Angeles' Textones teaming up with 11 notable guests to share lead vocals on a follow-up to her 2013 disc "Have Harmony, Will Travel." The track listing is uniformly strong with a celebrated and eclectic lineup of great singers artfully joining their voices with Olson's own. The decidedly rootsy "Timber, I'm Falling In Love" (with Stephen McCarthy on vocals and guitar), the Byrds-flavored "Goodbye My Love" (featuring Herman's Hermits lead singer Peter Noone) and "After the Storm" (with actress-singer Mare Winningham), and Americana nugget "Bossier City" (featuring I See Hawks In L.A.) are among my favorites on the album. The album's final track, the folk tale "Del Gato," has legendary Gene Clark and Olson joining voices in a nuanced performance. This is an album that reveals its magic more fully with each subsequent listen. Information: SunsetBlvdRecords.com.

Artist: Tower of Power
Title: Step Up (Artistry Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire
Tell me more: After more than 50 years, Tower of Power remains a musical treasure. Just listen to the Oakland-spawned outfit's Step Up (released on March 20), an intoxicating 14-track journey through the collective's blend of R&B and funk anchored by one of the world's great and enduring horn sections. Led by founder and tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo, Tower of Power's timeless sound is celebrated with power and zeal. "The Story of You and I" is a wonderful musical explosion featuring a driving rhythm section amidst horns, fiery lead guitar and soulful lead vocals. The soulful ballad "Who Would Have Thought," shimmering "Addicted To You," and dance-minded funk romp "Look In My Eyes" are early highlights on the disc, while the jazzy "Sleeping With You Baby" and joyful soul of "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" are among the great tracks on the latter half of Step Up. Information: TowerOfPower.com.

Artist: Raul Midón
Title: The Mirror (Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group)
You might like if you enjoy: Gerald Clayton, Tyrone Wells
Tell me more: Raul Midón is back with his new album The Mirror, an outstanding jazz effort which comes on the heels of the singer-guitarist's Grammy Award nominations for his previous two LPs (2017's Bad Ass & Blind and 2018's If You Really Want). This time out there is again plenty to celebrate as the talented artist (who has been blind since birth) showcases that he has an otherworldly ability to interpret the world around him and translate that into luxurious and probing songs that resonate with a master's touch. The diversity of the material is impressive. The album kicks off with the acoustic guitar-driven "I Love the Afternoon," Midón's soulful vocals balanced by some select harmonies that augment his voice; the track is further bolstered by a strong solo on his guitar. The lovely romantic-themed "A Certain Café" finds the New Mexico native joined by vibraphonist Joe Locke. On the breezy title track, he blends his signature jazz style with some flashy blues-meets-jazz guitar licks for a stylish approach. The gorgeous "Cold Cuts and Coffee" and "Deep Dry Ocean" are other standouts. He even enthralls with two solo spoken-word works ("If I Could See" and "One Day Without War"). The Mirror is a wonderful step forward for Midón. Information: RaulMidon.com.


Robert Kinsler

Far-flung releases showcase stellar sounds

Genre-defying DeVotchKa, jazz master Raul Midón, country music icon Buck Owens and power pop rockers Big Mother Gig shine on new releases.

Artist: DeVotchKa
Title: This Night Falls Forever (Concord Records)
You might like if you enjoy: DeVotchKa
Tell me more: It's safe to say Denver-spawned troupe DeVotchKa has a sound that is fully original. So it's little wonder the quartet's highly-anticipated return via This Night Falls Forever has been greeted with strong reviews and universal fanfare. DeVotchKa's first new full-length studio LP since 2011's 100 Lovers, the new 10-track This Night Falls Forever has a sweeping, cinematic quality. Singer Nick Urata's spellbinding vocal tenor is featured amidst a blend of intoxicating rhythms and a palette featuring guitars, bouzouki, trumpet, tuba, piano, strings, percussion and more that transports the listener to a distant place that is nothing less than magical. The driving "Straight Shot," exotic cabaret-styled "Let Me Sleep" and symphonic grandeur of "Lose You in the Crowd" are early standouts on "This Night Falls Forever." Just as enticing is the gypsy goth rock of "Empty Vessels," spaghetti western-meets-Roy Orbison sortie "Done With Those Days" and anthemic rocker "Angels" that follow later on the LP. Kudos to Urata (guitar, piano, trumpet, more), Tom Hagerman (violin, accordion, more), Jeanie Schroder (vocals, flute, acoustic bass, more), Shawn King (percussion, trumpet) and a number of guest players who contribute to one of the most original and compelling new albums of 2018. Information: devotchka.net.

Artist: Raul Midón with the Metropole Orkest
Title: If You Really Want (Artistry Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Jose Feliciano, Al Jarreau, Tower of Power
Tell me more: On his wonderful new album If You Really Want, singer-guitarist Raul Midón partners with the Vince Mendoza-conducted Metropole Orkest, a GRAMMY Award-winning Dutch ensemble that has previously collaborated with Elvis Costello, Laura Mvula, Al Jarreau and others. Midón's top-tier talents as lead vocalist, guitar virtuoso and ace tunesmith are the focus here even while the rich orchestral layers add supernatural power to the rich jazz tapestry heard across the 10-track album. The material on If You Really Want is a mix of new songs (including the buoyant "Ride on a Rainbow," mellifluous "If You Really Want" and sweeping "Ocean Dreamer") and new versions of Midón originals previously featured on other albums (including the lovely acoustic guitar-anchored "God's Dream," funk-tinged "Pick Somebody Up" and introspective "Suddenly"). Information: RaulMidon.com.

Artist: Buck Owens
Title: Country Singer's Prayer (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens
Tell me more: More than 40 years after it was recorded, Buck Owens' last Capitol Records album has finally been released. Recorded in 1975, Country Singer's Prayer was never released by the label – likely because of widespread indifference to the title of the single of the same name. Listening to the stellar expanded edition of Country Singer's Prayer issued by Omnivore Recordings in 2018 is to wonder what the heck Capitol executives were thinking 43 years ago; the album is a stunning reflection of Owen's groundbreaking Bakersfield country music (an inspiration and influence on artists ranging from Ringo Starr and Gram Parsons to Dwight Yoakam). In addition to the album's original track listing, the new release features both B-sides from Owens' final two singles from the 1975-unissued LP. Fans of Owen's authentic country-western brew will be swept up by the disc's riches; dance-minded material ("John Law," "The Battle of New Orleans") and potent ballads (notably "A Different Kind of Sad" and "How's Everything") make this a rewarding listen from start to finish. The release is bolstered by new liner notes by Scott B. Bomar with interviews with long-time Buckaroos piano player Jim Shaw and Robert John Jones ("Rocky Topp"), who together co-wrote the memorable single "Country Singer's Prayer." Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Big Mother Gig
Title: No More Questions (Sweet Sweet Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Replacements, Big Star, early Foo Fighters
Tell me more: On the latest album from Los Angeles' Big Mother Gig, crafting melodic ear candy-layered tracks that simultaneously rock to the rafters sounds easy. But there is mastery across No More Questions as singer-guitarist Richard Jankovich and company unleash one involving and must-hear tuneful rocker after another. "Just Fly By," "Alvarado" and "Obliterate" have all the firepower of a classic Foo Fighters track. The wistful indie rocker "Soak in Your Dreams" has an explosive and exuberant chorus fueled by heavy guitars. "Reflecting Flashlights" is an introspective and timely look at life in the 21st century, rendered in poetic lyrical and sonic strokes. "Low Payout" is a full-on old school punk rock shot, featuring guest lead vocalist Dicky Barrett (the Mighty Mighty Bosstones). No More Questions is available for purchase at the band's shows, and will be officially released in early October. Make sure to pre-order the album and support this amazing band. Information: BigMotherGig.com.



Robert Kinsler