Max Hatt | Solo Guitar
If you're feeling the need to seriously chill out, this is the album for you. Tim Drackert, aka Max Hatt, who is better known as the guitarist in the Helena bossa nova/jazz combo Rio, has released a quiet and thoughtful album of instrumental standards and original compositions.
Drackert's liner notes tell us the tunes are inspired by Montana's openness – what he calls "the Big Lonely." The covers are penned by some of the greats in the business – Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Benny Golson, Henry Mancini; you get the drift.
Drackert/Hatt's relaxed style on the first number, Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman," is quietly elaborated. His cleanly enunciated fretwork shows on his own "Aftermath," and his "In a Quiet Place" is slowly jazzy.
The Bobby Scott/Ric Marlow beauty, "Taste of Honey," softly rolls in, builds and mesmerizes. Golson's "I Remember Clifford" gets oodles of relaxed dissonance, whiffs of bossa nova; and in Mancini's "Moon River," Hatt's smooth style wraps around the main theme in a contemplative way.… Read more
Off in the Woods | Smoke Signals
It's always interesting to listen to Montana-inspired music. Songs seem to teem with references to Big Sky Country, being away from it, trying to get back to it, reveling in it. This first effort, from some young Polson men who call themselves Off in the Woods, is no exception. Read more
www.Twang | Had It with You
The new effort by one of Montana's best country bands is out, and it's another danceable winner. Buck Buchanan, Sandy Dodge and the fellows from Bozeman have crafted a 12-song compendium that covers all the country styles, heavy on cool pedal steel and guitar inflections. Most of the tunes are written and sung by Buchanan, although a couple of great covers are thrown in. Read more
Danielle Oliver | Sun for Snow
Young singer-songwriter Danielle Oliver, originally from Whitefish, writes with a wisdom beyond her years. Her debut EP features well-crafted lyrics and nice melodies. Oliver's Austrian mother listened to opera and classical music, and her father liked Johnny Cash country. Thrown into the mix is John Denver's folk-pop sensibility and the songwriting of Tori Amos and Jewel. Read more
A Night at the Ozark | “Keeping jazz alive”
Montana-native and world-traveled musician Philip Aaberg has created a wonderful gift for everyone who enjoys Montana music and history – A Night At The Ozark. This magnificent two-CD set is comprised of both old historical recordings of Sunday jam sessions at the Ozark Club in Great Falls and new jazz tracks by representatives of Montana’s excellent contemporary jazz musicians. Read more
Zylawy Brothers | Hiawatha
A Zylawy Brothers' website entry describes the group's music as coming "out of the backwoods of Montana." Although the Alberton area is situated near a western major highway, I-90, the "backwoods" sentiment rings true as a geographical wellspring of bluegrass. The kick-ass American music the local family plays is unvarnished and from-the-gut. Read more
The Dirty Shame delivers outlaw country
This Bozeman fivesome, together four years, just released their self-titled debut album. Lead singer and songwriter Brandon Hale leads the pack with a fine, deep baritone that growls its way through these nine tunes. The boys' bio says they play "outlaw country," ... and Hale writes a lot about being in bars and drinkin' whiskey, missin' his girl, smokin' cigarettes, and drivin' – perfect outlaw stories. Read more