Music

Best Music of 2015

Music hosts Jedd Beaudoin, Chris Heim, Carla Eckels and Bill Pearce run down the best in music for 2015 - including selections for world, rock, local music, jazz, R&B, gospel, blues, rockumentaries and books about music.Join KMUW's music hosts throughout January on Global Village, Strange Currency,Night Train, Crossroads, Soulsations and Straight No Chaser for a month-long feature of the Best of 2015. See individual show pages for more information on upcoming shows and to listen to past shows through the streaming archive.Along with show favorites, Chris Heim was invited to be a voting member for several Critics Polls this year. You can see the results of those polls for Best of the Year here:The Transglobal World Music Chart Best of 2015: http://www.transglobalwmc.com/The fRoots Critics Poll: http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/The NPR Jazz Critics Poll: http://www.npr.org/sections/ablogsupreme/2015/12/21/460527087/the-2015-npr-music-jazz-critics-pollEnjoy.

Crossroads: Best of 2015

KMUW | By Chris Heim

Published December 24, 2015 at 8:32 AM CST

It was a strong year for new blues albums across virtually every style - from roots to blues rock to acoustic to soul blues to sacred steel inspired work. All of that and more is reflected in the Crossroads favorites for the year. We'll be featuring them, along with the newly announced Blues Music Awards nominees, Maple Blues nominees and winners (announced January 18), other significant releases, as well as tributes to the artists we lost in the past year throughout January on the show.

Various Artists - Muddy Waters 100 (Raisin' Music)
Shemekia Copeland - Outskirts of Love (Alligator)
Tommy Castro & the Pain Killers - Method to My Madness (Alligator)
Slam Allen - Feel These Blues (American Showplace Music)
Dave & Phil Alvin - Lost Time (Yep Roc)
Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters - Father's Day (Stony Plain)
Cash Box Kings - Holding Court (Blind Pig)
Robin McKelle - Heart of Memphis (Vizztone)
Buddy Guy - Born to Play Guitar (RCA/Silvertone)
Trudy Lynn - Everything Comes with a Price (Connor Ray Music)
Gregg Allman - Live: Back to Macon, GA (Rounder)
Sonny Landreth - Bound by the Blues (Provogue)
Igor Prado Band - Way Down South (Delta Groove)
The Word - Soul Food (Vanguard)
Sam Butler - Raise Your Hand (Severn)
Kentucky Headhunters/Johnny Johnson - Meet Me in Bluesland (Alligator)
Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen - Love & Life (Dolly Sez Woof)
Texas Horns - Blues Gotta Holda Me (Vizztone)
Zora Young/Little Mike & the Tornadoes - Friday Night (El Rob)
Eddie Cotton - One at a Time (DeChamp)
Brad Absher & Swamp Royale - Lucky Dog (Montrose)
The Reverend Shawn Amos - Loves You (Put Together)
Fiona Boyes - Box & Dice (Reference Recordings)
Albert Cummings - Someone Like you (Blind Pig)
Billy Price/Otis Clay - This Time for Real (Bonedog/Vizztone)
Sugarray Rayford - Southside (Nimoy Sue)
Martin Lang - Chicago Harp Blues Sessions (Random Chance)
Pops Staples - Don't Lose This (Anti-)
Deb Ryder - Let It Rain (Bejeb Music)
Debbie Davies - Love Spin (Vizztone)
Harrison Kennedy - This Is From Here (Electro-Fi)
The Ragpicker String Band - The Ragpicker String Band (Yellow Dog)
Jewel Brown - Rollercoaster Boogie (Dialtone)
Tad Robinson - Day Into Night (Severn)
Doug MacLeod - Exactly Like This (Reference Recordings)
Danielle Nicole - Wolf Den (Concord)
Georgie Bond - Hit It Hard (Roadhouse Redemption)
Jimmy Burns - It Ain't Right (Delmark)
Zac Harmon - Right Man, Right Now (Blind Pig)
The Blues Disciples - Big Beat (Land O' Blues)