In what The New York Times calls a redefinition of the boundaries of literature, Bob Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize. The prize comes with some controversy from critics who charge that Dylan isn't writing "literature," but he also has his supporters. The NYT reports: Billy Collins, the former United States poet laureate, argued that Mr. Dylan deserved to be recognized not merely as a songwriter, but as a poet. “Most song lyrics don’t really hold up without the music, and they aren’t supposed to,” Mr. Collins said in an interview. “Bob Dylan is in the 2 percent club of songwriters whose … [Read more...]

Singer, songwriter and author Jewel talks about growing up on the Alaskan frontier and the changes in her life and music that influenced her new album Picking up the Pieces. Joseph Hudak writes in Rolling Stone Magazine: On Picking Up the Pieces, Jewel follows in those same footsteps. The record, her first since 2010's country effort Sweet and Wild, returns the Nineties' queen of introspection to her more folky roots, allowing her poetry-like lyrics to come to the fore. No emotion or feeling is masked, whether it's the awkward doubt of the cocktail-party exposé "Plain Jane" (in which she … [Read more...]

The Green Parrot has some of the best live music in Key West. And that’s saying something. On our recent visit we walked down to check out the funky sound from the multi-talented Mia Borders. "Use Me" by Bill Withers at Jazz on the Green in Omaha, Nebraska. August 13, 2015. Wayne Maureau on drums. Jesse Morrow on bass. Danny Abel on guitar. Filmed by Vince Baldwin for KPAO Channel 22 Omaha. … [Read more...]