A.J. Croce –
By Request (Compass): “Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce has established his rep as a piano man and serious vocal stylist who pulls from a host of American traditions and anti-heroes it’s part New Orleans, part juke joint, part soul. While his last album, JUST LIKE MEDICINE, paired him with soul legend Dan Penn and an all-star cast of players, his new album was born of memories of favorite artists and shows, but mostly, of late-night gatherings with groups of friends, many of them fellow musicians, with Croce at the piano taking requests. Croce revisits these musical evenings with BY REQUEST, 12 personally curated covers that traverse decades and genres, propelled by his spirited, loose-and-easy piano mastery and emotive vocals. It’s a tribute to Croce the music fan as well as Croce the musician that both the variety from pop to RnR to soul and execution is inspired, aided by a full band and horns. BY REQUEST is the first album Croce has released
Albert Castiglia
Englewoods on Dearborn, another local restaurant and venue featuring acclaimed blues artists, is scheduled to host Albert Castiglia as part of this week s lineup. The South Florida guitarist and singer-songwriter played in legendary bluesman Junior Wells’ band before starting a solo career, most recently releasing last year s “Wild and Free,” which won a Blues Blast Music Award for Live Blues Album and was recorded at Boca Raton’s The Funky Biscuit. Castiglia previously put out 2019 s Masterpiece,” which earned him a Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album last year. 7 p.m. today; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Join us in congratulating Mike of The Blue Room, as our first DJ of the Month in 2021 for the Month of January! Hear how Mike discovered his love for blues, some of his favorite artists and how much he enjoys hosting a show on a college radio station.
Q: Where did your interest in blue begin?
MIKE: Growing up in the 60s, I was about seven years old when I totally got hooked to The Beatles, in about 1963. That was the first album I ever bought, “Introducing…The Beatles.” And then my neighbor, who also loved The Beatles, we were the same age and he had a great stereo system at the time. So I used to go over there with my “Introducing…The Beatles” and as a couple years went by he had a couple more albums so we would just sit down and pretend we were The Beatles. So growing up I kind of stayed in that type of genre with the rock and roll: The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Doors. That was the era of music I was really brought up in. 65-75 were really huge influences o
The Blue Room – WJCU wjcu.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wjcu.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Albert Castiglia
Englewoods on Dearborn, which features live music from local and national blues acts, is scheduled to host Albert Castiglia as part of this week s lineup. The South Florida guitarist and singer-songwriter played in legendary bluesman Junior Wells’ band before starting a solo career, most recently releasing last year s “Wild and Free,” which won a Blues Blast Music Award for Live Blues Album and was recorded at Boca Raton’s The Funky Biscuit. Castiglia previously put out 2019 s Masterpiece,” which earned him a Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album last year. 7 p.m. today; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com