Waxwing

My latest piece for Waxwing is by far my most personal. I’m looking at Joni Mitchell’s music and how it remains a bridge to my mother nine years after her death.

Performing at the height of her powers in 1970, Aretha Franklin turned Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” into a gospel number of extraordinary power. (image: Robert Altman/Getty Archives)

He’s been the ultimate collaborator in New Orleans’s emerging country music scene. Now, with a brand new solo album, Sam Doores steps out on his own.

Singers, songwriters, activists, and prosthelytizers of the concept of slowing down, the extraordinary group Rising Appalachia has created a new concept of what a touring band can mean to the communities they travel through.

Headed up by multi-talented singer-songwriter Cindy Emch, The Secret Emchy Society has quickly become a cornerstone band of a burgeoning music scene that’s putting marginalized voices at the forefront of an often marginalizing music scene.

I wanted to write about my heroes, and I wanted to get it right. And because I get to work for some very cool people at Waxwing, they told me to knock myself out. (Photo: Chad Bakta/New York Times/ Redux)

From a ragtag band of street musicians to an internationally touring act, my old friends from the band Tuba Skinny have used the technology today to open their audience to the music yesterday. (photo: Sarah Danziger)

Dom Flemons is charting a daring path through America’s musical landscape. I interviewed him for Waxwing Literary Journal. Read all about it here.

My latest piece for Waxwing Literary Magazine is on Hurray for the Riff Raff’s amazing singer Alynda Lee Segarra.

My first outing as music editor for Waxwing Literary Journal is about one of New Orleans’ best, and most unique bands.