Dream Daddy

Founding member of the Jefferson Airplane and longtime mainstay of Hot Tuna, Jack Casady was one of the first rock bass players to explore the full melodic potential of his instrument. While the underlying sound of Dream Factor is distinctly blues oriented, Casady deviates from the norm with a pair of electrifying inclusions. Guests include Jorma Kaukonen, Ivan Neville and Paul Barrere. Jack Casady has been a very important figure for the development of the electric bass, an instrument on which he developed an unmistakable timbre - rubbery and metallic - and a style that was harmonically complex and highly dramatic.

Dream 6 is actually the original name for the band that would become Concrete Blonde, comprised of future Blonde members Johnette Napolitano and James Mankey (Michael Murphy handles drumming). They released this six-song EP in France four years before their self-titled debut and there's nothing very remarkable about it…

With his second post-millennium album in just two years, Mark Knopfler has already equaled his meager (non-soundtrack) output for the '90s. And while he isn't reinventing himself, The Ragpicker's Dream is a pleasant, classy, often inspired effort whose unassuming charms are best appreciated after repeated listenings…