Live Wide Open
Martin Sexton is one of those musicians who is so spectacular in  concert--without a band, without a net--that his studio recordings are often a  bit of a letdown. The double-CD setLive Wide Open, which inaugurates  Sexton's own label, Kitchen Table Records, finally brings to record the essence  of his high-wire shows: from blissed-outRay Charles-style R&B; and  gospel to soaring pop ballads to his almost campy transformations into a '70s  heavy-metal god. To accomplish all this, Sexton needs nothing more than his  megawatt voice, deep-pocket guitar (jazz comping, rock lead, and funk bass  rolled into one), and the sly grooves of his longtime drummer Joe Bonadio.  Sexton's two major-label efforts,The AmericanandWonder Bar, had their  moments but tended to muffle his extravagant gifts as a singer and performer  with conventional pop production; 1996'sBlack Sheepfared much  better by only lightly supplementing his solo style. ButLive Wide Openis the next best thing to the sweaty in-person experience.--Jeffrey Pepper  Rodgers