Robert C. Gilbert
@listeningsessions1.bsky.social
Toronto-born and Oshawa-based music critic & record collector. Subscribe to my music newsletter on Substack: www.listeningsessions.ca. Looking for a writer? Email me at [email protected]
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Ten Days in New York
Music adventures in the city that never sleeps
www.listeningsessions.ca
New from me - I recently spent ten days on a solo trip to New York, and wrote up a bit of a travelogue of my music adventures while I was in NYC. In short, New York remains an amazing city that vibes with my heart and soul. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/ten-days-i...
New from me - I recently spent ten days on a solo trip to New York, and wrote up a bit of a travelogue of my music adventures while I was in NYC. In short, New York remains an amazing city that vibes with my heart and soul. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/ten-days-i...
Ten Days in New York
Music adventures in the city that never sleeps
www.listeningsessions.ca
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
New from me - I recently spent ten days on a solo trip to New York, and wrote up a bit of a travelogue of my music adventures while I was in NYC. In short, New York remains an amazing city that vibes with my heart and soul. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/ten-days-i...
New from me - 10 new albums I think you will dig a lot. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/ten-new-al...
Ten New Albums for Your To-Listen Pile
A new installment of Listening Sessions' recurring series on new music
www.listeningsessions.ca
October 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
New from me - 10 new albums I think you will dig a lot. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/ten-new-al...
Heading off for another New York solo trip tomorrow morning - gearing up for it tonight with two of the great NYC albums.
October 25, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Heading off for another New York solo trip tomorrow morning - gearing up for it tonight with two of the great NYC albums.
New from me - this is the third time I have written about autumn music, focusing here on five albums that, for me, evoke this wonderful season. Enjoy! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/autumn-noc...
October 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
New from me - this is the third time I have written about autumn music, focusing here on five albums that, for me, evoke this wonderful season. Enjoy! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/autumn-noc...
Reposted by Robert C. Gilbert
New from me - on two landmark recordings of 1967, one that celebrates the legend and one the relays the facts. Both are utterly essential. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/sgt-pepper...
Sgt. Pepper's Notorious Byrd Brothers
On two albums that measure the highs and lows of 1967
www.listeningsessions.ca
October 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
New from me - on two landmark recordings of 1967, one that celebrates the legend and one the relays the facts. Both are utterly essential. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/sgt-pepper...
New from me - on two landmark recordings of 1967, one that celebrates the legend and one the relays the facts. Both are utterly essential. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/sgt-pepper...
Sgt. Pepper's Notorious Byrd Brothers
On two albums that measure the highs and lows of 1967
www.listeningsessions.ca
October 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
New from me - on two landmark recordings of 1967, one that celebrates the legend and one the relays the facts. Both are utterly essential. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/sgt-pepper...
Wrote about Mac Davis, one of a group of singer-songwriters who became very big very quickly in the late sixties, and his debut album, Song Painter - a unheralded classic. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/mac-davis-...
Mac Davis, the Song Painter
On the auspicious debut of the singer-songwriter
www.listeningsessions.ca
September 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Wrote about Mac Davis, one of a group of singer-songwriters who became very big very quickly in the late sixties, and his debut album, Song Painter - a unheralded classic. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/mac-davis-...
Toasting Coltrane on his almost-centennial by digging deep into the collection for a 1959 session with three-fourths of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Hank Jones in place of John Lewis. Sublime stuff!
September 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Toasting Coltrane on his almost-centennial by digging deep into the collection for a 1959 session with three-fourths of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Hank Jones in place of John Lewis. Sublime stuff!
Reposted by Robert C. Gilbert
New from me - reflections on two of Dizzy Gillespie’s finest albums from the fifties. One is fiery (‘Sonny Side Up’) and the other flirty (‘Have Trumpet, Will Excite!). Both are stone-cold classics! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/two-by-diz...
September 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
New from me - reflections on two of Dizzy Gillespie’s finest albums from the fifties. One is fiery (‘Sonny Side Up’) and the other flirty (‘Have Trumpet, Will Excite!). Both are stone-cold classics! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/two-by-diz...
New from me - reflections on two of Dizzy Gillespie’s finest albums from the fifties. One is fiery (‘Sonny Side Up’) and the other flirty (‘Have Trumpet, Will Excite!). Both are stone-cold classics! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/two-by-diz...
September 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
New from me - reflections on two of Dizzy Gillespie’s finest albums from the fifties. One is fiery (‘Sonny Side Up’) and the other flirty (‘Have Trumpet, Will Excite!). Both are stone-cold classics! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/two-by-diz...
A Frank Sinatra recording that isn't talked about enough - a grandiose, semi-classical recital with some of Nelson Riddle's most rapturous writing for strings and two of Sinatra's most stunning moments on record - ‘Ol’ Man River’ and the epic ‘Soliloquy.'
September 19, 2025 at 12:49 AM
A Frank Sinatra recording that isn't talked about enough - a grandiose, semi-classical recital with some of Nelson Riddle's most rapturous writing for strings and two of Sinatra's most stunning moments on record - ‘Ol’ Man River’ and the epic ‘Soliloquy.'
New from me - my latest installment of my continuing series of new-music recommendations, full of jazz, pop and rock. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/eight-grea...
Eight Great New and Upcoming Music Picks Just For You
Continuing Listening Sessions' guide to what's new and good
www.listeningsessions.ca
September 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
New from me - my latest installment of my continuing series of new-music recommendations, full of jazz, pop and rock. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/eight-grea...
A new album I'm really buzzed about - singer-songwriter Emily Hines’ debut, full of woozy, psychedelic folk. This won't be in my next round-up of new and upcoming music coming at the end of next week but will be writing about this at some point. emilyhines.bandcamp.com/album/these-...
These Days, by Emily Hines
7 track album
emilyhines.bandcamp.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:50 PM
A new album I'm really buzzed about - singer-songwriter Emily Hines’ debut, full of woozy, psychedelic folk. This won't be in my next round-up of new and upcoming music coming at the end of next week but will be writing about this at some point. emilyhines.bandcamp.com/album/these-...
Not sure what it means that the piece I am most proud of has attracted low engagement. I want to do more of these pieces with interviews and other contributors, and hope if you feel this is a worthy idea, you may consider supporting my newsletter. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...
The Rarefied Air of Air
Of an unknown jazz-rock classic, and the power and glory of Googie Coppola
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Not sure what it means that the piece I am most proud of has attracted low engagement. I want to do more of these pieces with interviews and other contributors, and hope if you feel this is a worthy idea, you may consider supporting my newsletter. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...
Love strong female singers? Let me introduce you to Googie Coppola of Air. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...
The Rarefied Air of Air
Of an unknown jazz-rock classic, and the power and glory of Googie Coppola
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Love strong female singers? Let me introduce you to Googie Coppola of Air. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...
New from me - excited to share about an amazing 1971 album featuring the powerful songs and voice of Googie Coppola. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...
The Rarefied Air of Air
Of an unknown jazz-rock classic, and the power and glory of Googie Coppola
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
New from me - excited to share about an amazing 1971 album featuring the powerful songs and voice of Googie Coppola. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-rarefi...
New from me - a look at one of jazz’s great one-off, magic moments: when Phineas Newborn Jr., Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes convened at Rudy Van Gelder’s in Hackensack in November 1958 to record what would be called ‘We Three.’ A perfect record! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/phineas-ne...
Phineas Newborn, Jr., Paul Chambers & Roy Haynes' Magic Moment
Why 'We Three' is one of jazz's pristine one-off encounters
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
New from me - a look at one of jazz’s great one-off, magic moments: when Phineas Newborn Jr., Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes convened at Rudy Van Gelder’s in Hackensack in November 1958 to record what would be called ‘We Three.’ A perfect record! www.listeningsessions.ca/p/phineas-ne...
If you love acid-folk or trippy, psychedelic music, you'll want to check-out Jessica Risker's new album, ‘Calendar Year.’ It's highly recommended. jessicarisker.bandcamp.com/album/calend...
Calendar Year, by Jessica Risker
10 track album
jessicarisker.bandcamp.com
August 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
If you love acid-folk or trippy, psychedelic music, you'll want to check-out Jessica Risker's new album, ‘Calendar Year.’ It's highly recommended. jessicarisker.bandcamp.com/album/calend...
Reposted by Robert C. Gilbert
Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...
Searching for Elvis Presley in the Movies
Finding in the gold in Elvis' early-sixties soundtrack recordings
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...
Reposted by Robert C. Gilbert
No one writes about Elvis any better than Robert. Elvis fans check this out. As an Elvis soundtrack apologist, this really hit with me.
Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...
Searching for Elvis Presley in the Movies
Finding in the gold in Elvis' early-sixties soundtrack recordings
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
No one writes about Elvis any better than Robert. Elvis fans check this out. As an Elvis soundtrack apologist, this really hit with me.
Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...
Searching for Elvis Presley in the Movies
Finding in the gold in Elvis' early-sixties soundtrack recordings
www.listeningsessions.ca
August 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Is there gold in Elvis’s early-60s soundtracks? I think so and pull together an argument that doesn’t shy from how the movie music pulled Elvis away from the ideal of making him a singer for everyone but also doesn’t deny that some of this music is good. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/searching-...
Reposted by Robert C. Gilbert
New from me - a round-up of 12 fantastic new albums covering a wide range of music: there’s country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, ambient, indie rock, soul and classical. In other words, something for everyone. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-new...
Twelve New and Upcoming Records Worth Your Time
I go hunting once again for new and upcoming music I think you'll love
www.listeningsessions.ca
July 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New from me - a round-up of 12 fantastic new albums covering a wide range of music: there’s country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, ambient, indie rock, soul and classical. In other words, something for everyone. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-new...
New from me - a round-up of 12 fantastic new albums covering a wide range of music: there’s country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, ambient, indie rock, soul and classical. In other words, something for everyone. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-new...
Twelve New and Upcoming Records Worth Your Time
I go hunting once again for new and upcoming music I think you'll love
www.listeningsessions.ca
July 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New from me - a round-up of 12 fantastic new albums covering a wide range of music: there’s country, folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, ambient, indie rock, soul and classical. In other words, something for everyone. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/twelve-new...
Of the 12 albums I am featuring in my latest round-up of new and upcoming music, my favourite is Reed Turchi's intimate, late-night collection of blues and spirituals, ‘World on Fire.’ This is mesmerizing, sparse, funky music. reedturchi.bandcamp.com/album/world-...
July 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Of the 12 albums I am featuring in my latest round-up of new and upcoming music, my favourite is Reed Turchi's intimate, late-night collection of blues and spirituals, ‘World on Fire.’ This is mesmerizing, sparse, funky music. reedturchi.bandcamp.com/album/world-...
I have wanted to write about the O’Jays breakthrough album, Back Stabbers, for a long time. It’s always struck me as a concept album, even though it was not designed (as far as I know) in that way, and it was fun to lay out what I think the concept is. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-ojays-...
The O'Jays and the Importance of Context
On the brilliance of their breakthrough album, 'Back Stabbers'
www.listeningsessions.ca
July 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I have wanted to write about the O’Jays breakthrough album, Back Stabbers, for a long time. It’s always struck me as a concept album, even though it was not designed (as far as I know) in that way, and it was fun to lay out what I think the concept is. www.listeningsessions.ca/p/the-ojays-...