13th Gen: Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail? by Neil Howe, William Strauss, R.j. Matson, Ian Williams

Saga's 1995 release sets a turning point in the band's sound. It's the middle 90s with grunge and alternative metal as the main players in the world of music. By the end of the 80's Saga decided to change their sound to a more radio-friendly pop/rock sound; that endured right until 1995, when the band decided to make this extraordinary conceptual and progressive rock album.

R.J. (Robert) Mischo began singing and playing harmonica in the Minneapolis area in the late '70s. He played with the blues heavyweights of that area and timeframe such as Muddy Waters sideman Mojo Buford, Percy Strother, and Milwaukee Slim. R.J. also fronted several of his own bands, including Blues Deluxe and R.J. & Kid Morgan Blues Band (which featured guitarist Teddy Morgan and singer Percy Strother). His 1992 album with that band, Ready to Go, won praises far and near and still has an unmatched magic about it. Mischo was nominated for several Minnesota Music Academy Awards while in Minneapolis, and in 1996, he won the award for Best Harmonica Player…

R.J. (Robert) Mischo began singing and playing harmonica in the Minneapolis area in the late '70s. He played with the blues heavyweights of that area and timeframe such as Muddy Waters sideman Mojo Buford, Percy Strother, and Milwaukee Slim. R.J. also fronted several of his own bands, including Blues Deluxe and R.J. & Kid Morgan Blues Band (which featured guitarist Teddy Morgan and singer Percy Strother). His 1992 album with that band, Ready to Go, won praises far and near and still has an unmatched magic about it. Mischo was nominated for several Minnesota Music Academy Awards while in Minneapolis, and in 1996, he won the award for Best Harmonica Player…

Legendary trombonist and shell master Steve Turre’s SANYAS is amazingly his first live recording as a leader in landmark in a career spanning more than 50 years. Recorded over an electrifying weekend at Smoke Jazz Club, SANYAS boasts a dream all-star band that continues the mission of Turre’s previous Smoke Sessions release, GENERATIONS, in bringing together stellar artists from multiple generations. Turre is joined by elders in the form of the iconic rhythm section of bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White; modern masters trumpeter Nicholas Payton and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and the rapidly rising star Isaiah J. Thompson on piano.

Legendary trombonist and shell master Steve Turre’s SANYAS is amazingly his first live recording as a leader in landmark in a career spanning more than 50 years. Recorded over an electrifying weekend at Smoke Jazz Club, SANYAS boasts a dream all-star band that continues the mission of Turre’s previous Smoke Sessions release, GENERATIONS, in bringing together stellar artists from multiple generations. Turre is joined by elders in the form of the iconic rhythm section of bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White; modern masters trumpeter Nicholas Payton and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and the rapidly rising star Isaiah J. Thompson on piano.