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Pick Six: Praise for Aretha Franklin, Jana Nyberg, Shelby Lynne, more

Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.

August 25, 2018 at 6:05AM

Performing at the Minnesota State Fair in 2014, Aretha Franklin appeared in a sparkly white gown, and in spectacular vocal form. (Marci Schmitt — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Arne Fogel of St. Louis Park:

1 Jana Nyberg, Twin Cities Jazz Fest. She lifted my spirits with her excellent vocal chops, taste and musicianship.

2 Rod Eaton's Facebook posts. The drummer for the local '60s legends TC Atlantic and the Underbeats offers delightful, poetic reminiscences with vintage photos.

3 "Sinatra! The Song Is You" by Will Friedwald. The greatest book written on Sinatra the musician has been revised and expanded.

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Jon Bream of the Star Tribune:

1 Aretha Franklin tribute channel, Sirius XM. I've (re)discovered such gems as "The Thrill Is Gone," "Muddy Water," "Suzanne," "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and "Spirit in the Dark" live with Ray Charles.

2 Shelby Lynne, the Cedar. What a gifted singer/writer of dark, painful alt-country songs, framed by Ben Peeler's emotive guitar.

3 Prince, "Mary Don't You Weep." This solo piano version heard during the credits of Spike Lee's must-see "BlacKkKlansman" is a much needed spiritual moment.