Sound Check RI

The Ocean State supports a thriving music scene, with many bands building national reputations and earning well-deserved critical recognition. Sound Check RI is a series of capsule reviews highlighting recent and upcoming releases from Providence-area musicians. To be considered for future issues, email Ken Abrams at ken@heyrhody.com

Dawn Cabral – DB-401

Providence singer-songwriter Dawn Cabral builds DB-401 from the ground up: bass and drums drive a four-track EP that draws on reggae, dub, jazz, and psychedelic rock. Working with her band The Real Marie, Cabral gives the music space to wander while keeping the sound front and center. “Technophobe” takes on our relationship with technology; “The Deupree” settles into a gentler groove before “Dunbar Tackle” and “Homie B Goode” bring more punch. The result is a compact, adventurous EP with a strong sense of collaboration.

Chase Ceglie – My Saxophone Cried

Newport’s Chase Ceglie wears many hats on My Saxophone Cried, serving as songwriter, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist on this quirky and often beautiful collection. Blending pop, jazz, and folk, Ceglie creates melodic, accessible songs that still offer depth and demonstrate creativity. His soulful saxophone is a big part of the sound, adding a layer to songs that can be funny, heartfelt, and a little offbeat. Tracks like “Answer Me” showcase catchy melodies and personal storytelling. It’s an eclectic record, with a genuine warmth running through it that makes the songs stick.

GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite – Blues Now

GA-20 teams with harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite for a stripped-down celebration of Chicago blues. Produced by guitarist Matthew Stubbs, who spent more than a decade playing with Musselwhite, Blues Now captures the chemistry between veteran and younger players without sounding like a nostalgia exercise. The album includes tunes associated with legends Willie Dixon, Elmore James, Junior Wells, and others, plus two classics from Musselwhite’s 1960s catalog. Cody Nilsen’s gritty vocals and guitar, Stubbs’ muscular playing, and Musselwhite’s harmonica give the album plenty of sweat, swagger, and soul.

Bernard John – Acres

Bernard John’s Acres is a powerful sophomore effort, arriving nearly 15 years after his last full-length album. Begun in 2019, the project was interrupted by a chronic illness, then revisited with producer Bruce Pierce and a cast of musicians. That history gives its indie-folk songs a certain depth: John’s candid writing reflects hope and sadness in the same breath, with singles “Flares” and “Alright” pointing to the emotional range. Rather than treating resilience as a triumph, Acres acknowledges the years it took to finish. It’s a record about finding a way forward with life.

Ravi Shavi – Wild Rock Dove

Providence’s Ravi Shavi is back with Wild Rock Dove, a lively collection that finds the band continuing to push its garage-rock sound in new directions. Recorded at Big Nice Studio in Lincoln, the album mixes crunchy guitars, funky rhythms, horns, synths, and Rafay Rashid’s unmistakable vocals. Songs like “Moneyback,” “Misbehave” and “New Brown Neighbors” are catchy, quirky, and sometimes chaotic, with plenty of attitude along the way. The album also has a more personal side, building on the band’s usual energy. The result is a fun, adventurous and distinct album.