Welcome to the August, 2018, edition of BLUES JUNCTION. As these monthly on-line magazines come together each month sometimes a theme emerges in a very organic way. As I survey the landscape of our little corner of the cyber universe this month I noticed a reoccurring theme that could be described as eclectic. I think of it as diversity.  Diversity is as American as apple pie or apple empanada take your pick.

In our Monthly Album Spotlight sits the latest album by Junior Brown. That’s right; a straight ahead, old fashioned country western performer just pulled into the junction. I have always been a fan of Brown and his music and his long-awaited brand-new album Deep in the Heart of Me may be his best since 1993’s Guit With It.

If me reviewing a country album isn’t disturbing enough, I also review the brand-new (old) album by John Coltrane. It is called Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album. I couldn’t wait to hear this record and it did not disappoint. Over 80 minutes of never before heard music by one of the greatest exponents of American music is something I just couldn’t pass up.

Then we have the latest installment of one or my favorite reoccurring features around here and that is, Charlie’s Re-Issue Rodeo. This month there are four wonderful releases celebrating the Rumba and/or Mambo movement in American music and how they impacted the world of blues music. American music has always been like the nation from which it came, and that is a cultural melting pot, and nothing exemplifies this better than a great blues-tune with a rumba beat.

This month Jim Pugh’s Little Village Foundation is set to release a whole slew of new CDs. Many of these made it into our Recommended Listening feature this month. I thought this would be a great time to revisit an interview I did with Jim a few years ago. Here we discuss the Little Village as well as his extraordinary career in music.

One of the principal missions of the Little Village is to cultivate cultural empathy through music. This is, of course, a very righteous and commendable mission and flies in the face of the bizarre, unnecessary and very un-American government sponsored activities relating to immigrants already in our country and those trying to enter.

The Associated Press has learned that some immigrant U.S. Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a promised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged. In some cases, these people are even being deported. This just another example of how our government treats its military personnel. It is despicable.

While America celebrates our nation’s independence and birthday, I thought it would be entirely appropriate to join in the festivities. With this in mind I thought I’d share with you two editorials. One is called America the Beautiful and the other is entitled Vermin and Snakes. As always, your thoughts on any and all of this is not only welcome, but encouraged.

Thanks always for your kind words regarding our efforts around here. Remember we are independent, reader supported and advertising free. If you are inclined to make sure you can continue to enjoy BLUES JUNCTION, you are welcome to make a modest donation by clicking on any of the PayPal buttons at the bottom of most of the features you read here in the August, 2018, edition of BLUES JUNCTION. 

Until we meet again be well and be in touch.

-  David Mac

To support our efforts, click here ->