Bag Pipes

Arto Lindsay returns to his no-wave roots with this 1995 collection of pithy portraits in noise. Having already forged the skronk template with DNA in the early '80s, Lindsay finds new vistas for his avant guitar musings in the company of bassist Melvin Gibbs (Defunkt, Sonny Sharrock, the Rollins Band) and drummer Dougie Bowne (Lounge Lizards, Marianne Faithfull)…

Convivial Holiday Music Collection Features Beloved Artists Including Paul McCartney, The Roots, Norah Jones, Rosanne Cash, The Decemberists, and Lake Street Dive, Alongside Newcomers Including Albin Lee Meldau, Calum Scott, and Kandace Springs.

Jazz bagpipes? The one master is Rufus Harley, who does about all that can be done with that unpromising instrument. After all, once one blows a note, the sound is sustained until the air empties out. This well-conceived sampler draws its music from Harley's Atlantic albums (Scotch & Soul, Bagpipe Blues, and Deuces Wild), plus his guest spot on a Herbie Mann album. Harley, who also is heard playing a bit of soprano, tenor, and flute, performs such numbers as "Feeling Good" and "Pipin' the Blues," the latter teaming him with altoist Sonny Stitt. This sampler is worth exploring.

The title is descriptive of why Ernest deserves a royal title, as his punchy vocals are blues laden with a splash of soul. Also, the title serves as the central theme of the material which runs the gamut of emotions ranging from heartbreak ("Tell Me the Reason," "Better Days," and "Cryin' for My Baby"), doubt ("I'm Not the One"), preference to escape life's problems ("Black Bag Blues"), disgust ("I Resign"), jealousy ("In the Dark"), desire ("Sadie"), and remorse ("Forgive Me"). Ernest's musicians are proven blue(s) bloods, some of them being Paul Bryant (Robert Lucas), "Jimmy Rip" (Mick Jagger), and Lester Butler. Jagger's contribution, "Better Days," was originally slated for one of Jagger's solo albums, but then rightfully deeded to Ernest's pipes. Other well-chosen royal subjects come from songwriters/artists Junior Parker, Charlie Musselwhite, and Hound Dog Taylor…