Feature: I Hear Sparks

There are people, places and moments in music that simmer and sizzle beneath the surface like softly glowing embers waiting to burst into flame. Intrepid music journalist Jordan Richardson tracks the tender beginnings, offbeat locations, compelling musicians, and bizarre scenes in hopes of starting a fire. Join him as he traces the sparks of some of music's most unknown and engaging acts, moments and locales.

Columnists

Articles in this feature

Subscribe to feature RSS

• I Hear Sparks: Judy Wexler - Under a Painted Sky

  Put some wonder back in the world.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Jun 23, 2011

• I Hear Sparks: Jesse Peters - Face Time

  Peters' loving homage to jazz, soul and R&B is a winner.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Jun 17, 2011

• I Hear Sparks: Rufus Reid - Hues of a Different Blue

  Reid's attention to detail and fine playing make this record sing.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Jun 17, 2011

• Music Review: Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra - Hothouse Stomp

  A spicy and hip look back to the jazz of the 1920s.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Jun 09, 2011

• I Hear Sparks: Le Concorde - House

  It's time to stop apologizing.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Feb 19, 2011

• I Hear Sparks: Wires Under Tension - Light Science

  Notions of sound and pressure.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Feb 06, 2011

• I Hear Sparks: Lauren Hooker - Life of the Music

  Lauren Hooker is a rarity in music: a true seeker.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Dec 18, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Leslie Pintchik - We're Here to Listen

  What it really means to lend an ear.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Dec 16, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Tyler Blanton - Botanic

  A lush, verdant debut for the vibraphonist.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Dec 10, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica - The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel

  Fun, fun, fun!

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Nov 29, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Ryan Cohan - Another Look

  An open door to musical possibilities.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Nov 21, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Charmaine Clamor - Something Good

  Clamor serves up heaping spoonfuls of the really, really good stuff.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Nov 13, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Alexander McCabe - Quiz

  Stable, calculated control.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Nov 08, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Cynthia Felton - Come Sunday: The Music of Duke Ellington

  Felton's powerful four-octave range will knock you on your ass.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Oct 23, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Sarah Wilson - Trapeze Project

  Genre trappings be damned, this is what music is all about.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Oct 18, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Bobby Avey - A New Face

  Meet Bobby Avey. 25 years old. And awesome.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Oct 01, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Oval - O

  The raw splendour of cramming a lot into a little.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Sep 23, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Sam Prekop - Old Punch Card

  A jarringly splendid record.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Sep 19, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Greg Burk and Vicente Lebron - Unduality

  Dismantling Bach, one Invention at a time.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Sep 15, 2010

• I Hear Sparks: Mercury Falls - Quadrangle

  Where the organic and essential collide.

  Review by Jordan Richardson — on Sep 10, 2010