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As our own Joe Kendrick wrote for NPR, “Having grown up between England, France and Italy before moving to the U.S. at 18, Vane seems unlikely to have become a torch-bearer for American roots music.” But she certainly has embraced the blues well, with her soulful voice, terrific slide guitar work, and authentic blues storytelling.

He’s known as “The Godfather of Americana”, thanks to his 65 years of great blues, country, and swingin’ jazz, and the 81-year-old has a new one taking a look back at some of his favorite songs throughout that period. Ray Charles, Hank Williams, Little Richard… You’ll recognize a lot of these gems, all delivered with that great Delbert swagger. Released on May 13th.

Kelly Finnigan and his band dig into more great psychedelic soul, this time telling the story of a quaint motor lodge of the 1940’s that transformed into a bohemian hangout for musicians and vagabonds by the ‘60s and ‘70s. Some of the most prominent acts of the era stayed there, until the money ran out, and the Sage Motel devolved into a place where you rent by the hour…

Much like Calexico’s new heartfelt tribute to their friends, family, and terrain of the Southwest (featured Monday for “New Tunes at 2”), this new one from Tuba Skinny is a love letter of sorts to the musicians, neighborhoods, et al of their native New Orleans. The band started as a busking band in the French Quarter, and has branched out into jug band, country blues, ragtime, R&B, and more, but they come back to their roots on this one, and this time all of the songs are originals!

It was 32 years ago that drummer John Convertino first met multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns, and they relocated to Tucson, Arizona to dive into their new band Calexico. Like their namesake border town, the band has grown and evolved over the years, but all the while they’ve fostered that great blend of influences from California and Mexico. El Mirador is a heartfelt tribute to the people and places of the Southwest that make up the band’s roots.

Time to kick back, slow down a bit, and bathe in the lush tones and rhythms of the most senior member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Saxophonist Charlie Gabriel’s first professional gig dates to 1943, sitting in for his father in New Orleans’ Eureka Brass Band. As a teenager living in Detroit, Charlie played with Lionel Hampton, whose band just then also included a young Charles Mingus, later spending nine years with a group led by Cab Calloway drummer, J.C. Heard. While he’s also fronted a bebop quintet, played and/or toured with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, Aretha Franklin and many more, this is the first time his name appears on the front of a record, as a bandleader. The result is a beautiful, eclectic collection, including six jazz standards and two new pieces, and three on which Charlie sings for the first time!

Ironically, the title was the exact opposite of what Josh and most of us were doing when he wrote these songs – 2020/2021. He was hunkered down with his family in their home in Spain, and the arrangements here reflect a bit of a Pan-American sound as a result. At the core though are Josh’s terrifically catchy hooks, and tasteful guitar and organ interplay. “His knack for setting a simple feeling to a breezy melody shines through again and again.” (Paste Magazine)

There will be no New Tunes at Two on Thursday. Instead, tune in to hear Unspoken Tradition live in Studio B!

It was 32 years ago that drummer John Convertino first met multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns, and they relocated to Tucson, Arizona to dive into their new band Calexico. Like their namesake border town, the band has grown and evolved over the years, but all the while they’ve fostered that great blend of influences from California and Mexico. El Mirador is a heartfelt tribute to the people and places of the Southwest that make up the band’s roots.

It was 32 years ago that drummer John Convertino first met multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns, and they relocated to Tucson, Arizona to dive into their new band Calexico. Like their namesake border town, the band has grown and evolved over the years, but all the while they’ve fostered that great blend of influences from California and Mexico. El Mirador is a heartfelt tribute to the people and places of the Southwest that make up the band’s roots.