Most people would probably be surprised to learn how common it is for world-class musicians to toil in obscurity throughout their lives. Often, listeners simply don’t recognize the level of talent they’re hearing. That lack of recognition can add fuel to the self-doubt that often plagues artistic types. More often than not, they hold day jobs to make ends meet and never get their big break. Maybe they don’t even seek recognition. Tony Monaco Trio Burnin' Grooves Summit Records - DCD 304 2001...

Columbus has never really had a consensus band. You know, a band that rises above genre, musical cliques and niche tastes to be at least respected, if not beloved, by the musical community. But Columbus has never had a frontman like Ronald Koal. The improbability of a makeup-clad, stage-jumping musical chameleon like Koal emerging from the relatively staid Midwest culture is remarkable enough. That his band, The Trillionaires, became the closest thing Columbus has ever had to a consensus band...

When guitarist James Blood Ulmer passed away on June 3, many tributes noted Hank Marr's Sounds From The Marr-Ket Place as his recording debut. Beyond that, however, remarkably little is known for certain about what may be Hank Marr's finest album. The personnel remain uncredited and the accepted recording date doesn't hold up particularly well under scrutiny. Hank Marr Sounds From The Marr-Ket Place King Records – 1025 1968 Several years ago, I reached out to Ulmer through Facebook Messenger...