Jenny Scheinman is a catalyst of beautiful moments. Once, while recording an album with Lucinda Williams she coaxed the whole crew up to the roof for a candlelight dinner. Magical. Another time, she brought Paul Motian and Jason Moran together for a trio concert at the Village Vanguard. Superb. And one night, she invited banjo master Danny Barnes to join her at Barbes. The result: a space jammed with banjo players. Terrific. more ›

The welcome trend of artists playing their entire albums through live in concert has spread to the country world. Lucinda Williams was in town this week for five (relatively) intimate shows at Irving Plaza and Town Hall, each featuring one of her five albums. Lucinda didn't stop at just recreating her past work -- after a short intermission set by up and coming singer/songwriter Fionn Regan, she'd come back up for another set of old and new jams while joined by some friends of hers. And at that, what went from a rather sedate and straightforward show erupted into a grand ol' hoedown, with all sorts of dancing and singing and goofing around. Perhaps the highlight on the night we went was seeing 80-something year old Charlie Louvin up on stage well after midnight, not only keeping up with the party, but stopping the room in its tracks with a stunning rendition of 'When I Stop Dreaming.' What a show, what a party. more ›

Mary Lou Lord more ›

If you're a fan of artists like Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams or Tom Waits, Gothamist highly recommends New Jerseyan-turned South Sloper Dayna Kurtz, playing tonight at Joe's Pub. more ›