A Tip Toe High Wire
Bluegrass | Country | Jazz | Folk
Audio Deacon is continuing to push things forward. I’m working on a couple of exciting new musical endeavors here in Birmingham, AL that I’m hoping will be culture shaping for musical engagement for many years to come. Be on the lookout for for two significant announcements in the coming months!
Ok, I’ll give a hint for one of them. Live Music.
Below, you can find the three most recent episodes of the Audio Deacon podcast. If you haven’t listened yet, now’s the time to binge-listen and get some solid new records into your life. The podcast will be maturing over the next several weeks, as I further develop the show and as interviews begin.
Episode 4: Sam Fender: People Watching
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Episode 5: Echolalia
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Episode 6: Panda Bear: Sinister Grift
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Today, we have some records I’m currently listening to and gathering thoughts on.
Artist: Sierra Hull
Album: A Tip Toe High Wire
Date of Release: March 7, 2025
Genre: Country / Bluegrass
The Tennessee native and mandolinist extraordinaire has gone independent with her first release in five years. As the title suggests, she’s seeking to create a balance on this project while occupying the space between her flavor of country folk music and bluegrass rippers. Every track has merit. (The first track happens to be my least favorite of the bunch, so don’t quit on this thing.)
Current Highlights:
Muddy Water
Lord, That’s a Long Way
Let’s Go (feat. Aoife O’Donovan)
E Tune (feat. Bela Fleck)
Haven Hill
For Parents:
A quick “dammit” on Spitfire.
She cried ‘Oh God, just take me now
or Dammit give me strength somehow.”
Listen:
Apple Music
Spotify
Artist: Alex Ventlin & Kim Paterson
Album: Conversations
Date of Release: January 24, 2025
Genre: Jazz
A Fender Rhodes electric piano and flugelhorn pair up for a unique and excellent jazz project by two musicians who have an over 50 year age difference.
Please make yourself a cocktail and put this record on. The Rhodes solo on the first track alone is worth the price of the album, and it only continues in greatness from there.
For Parents:
Clean / Instrumental
Listen:
Apple Music
Spotify
Artist: Antonín Dvořák
Album: Symphonies Nos 7 & 8; Carnaval Overture
Performed by: London Symphony Orchestra & Antal Dorati
Date of Release: February 21, 2025
Genre: Classical
Score: 10/10
A fresh and stunning recording of the 19th century Czech composer’s punchy 7th and 8th symphonies. Dvořák’s Christian faith influenced his music greatly.
If you think classical music is boring, go on a walk and listen to this without skipping a track.
For Parents:
Clean | Instrumental
Listen:
Apple Music
Spotify
Artist: Rumer
Album: In Session
Date of Release: March 7, 2025
Genre: RnB/Soul/Singer Songwriter/ Jazz
Score: 8/10
Delicate 1970s-style soul music that hits just right. Perfect for a late night drive, a date night, or over a cup of coffee on a slow morning. Heck, I listened to this several times back to back while pressure washing my driveway - so there’s that.
Ted Gioia writes, “The vocalist will remind you of Karen Carpenter…not just in her vocal timbre, but also her intonation and phrasing. But the undercurrent here is soulful, even while finding a calm center inside the groove.”
For Parents:
Clean
Listen:
Apple Music
Spotify
