Author: Jim Allen

Jim Allen's night job is fronting country band The Ramblin' Kind, rock band Lazy Lions, and working as a solo singer/songwriter. His day job is writing about other people's music. He has contributed to NPR, Billboard, RollingStone.com, and many more, and written liner notes for reissues of everyone from OMD to Bob Seger, but his proudest achievement is crafting a completely acceptable egg cream armed only with milk, Bosco, and a SodaStream seltzer maker.

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3 Reissues Explore Jazz’s Journey to Freedom

Three exceptional vinyl reissues trace early, adventurous directions in “free jazz.” Cecil Taylor, Art Ensemble of Chicago, and Albert Ayler and Don Cherry show us how it’s done.

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Troubadour Jay Bolotin’s 50-Year Journey From The Shadows

Jay Bolotin’s songs caught the attention of Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, and Dan Fogelberg (which somehow worked against him).

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The 25 Best Albums of 2018

Willie Nelson and the Louvin Brothers as well as outliers like Suzanne Ciani and Nathan Bowles made our “must hear” list for 2018.

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Saluting the Many Sides of Roy Hargrove

When Roy Hargrove’s sounds were stilled unexpectedly at the tragically early age of 49 by cardiac arrest, it left a huge hole in jazz.

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Today’s Troubadours: 7 New Releases You Need to Know

For coal-black humor, there’s Ward White’s “Diminish”; for garage-band rock n’ roll, Sarah Borges’ “Love’s Middle Name.” Music by the greatest living guitar stylist? Richard Thompson’s “13 Rivers.” Plus four more killer albums.