Music & Culture

All are welcome at Franklin Bell's weekly blues workshop, and the home-brewed event has its share of regulars. Left to right: Lester Lands (guitar), Willie T. Brooks (drums), Tony Ibarra (guitar), Leroy Martinez (bass), "Mr. Wilson" (congas).

Music & Culture

The Blues Finds A Home In A South Central Garage

2:25pm September 23, 2015

by Peter Gilstrap

As regular as a church service, Franklin Bell's informal workshop meets every Sunday at his L.A. garage. For a small voluntary donation, guests eat, drink and dance to music both raw and graceful.

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To mark the first day of fall, try this autumn music puzzler.

Autumn Serenade: The Fall Music Puzzler

8:03am September 23, 2015

Do your musical tastes change with the turning of autumn leaves? Try this fall music quiz filled with songs of wistful introspection.

Aleksandrs Antonenko (right) will be the Met's first tenor to forego skin darkening makeup to play the lead role in Verdi's Otello.

Music & Culture

Farewell To Blackfaced Otellos At The Met

10:39pm September 21, 2015

by Jeff Lunden

In its season opening production, New York's Metropolitan Opera abandons the tradition of darkening the skin of tenors portraying the title role in Verdi's Otello.

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Music & Culture

Revisiting The Intense Twists And Turns Of Garner's 'Concert By The Sea'

2:21pm September 21, 2015

by Kevin Whitehead

In 1955, pianist Erroll Garner's trio played in Carmel, Calif. A new complete edition of the Concert By The Sea album has just been released. Critic Kevin Whitehead has a review.

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Music & Culture

Keith Richards: The 'Fresh Air' Interview

1:28pm September 18, 2015

The guitarist for the Rolling Stones has a new solo album, Crosseyed Heart. Richards is also the subject of the new Netflix documentary, Under the Influence. Originally broadcast Oct. 25, 2010.

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Robyn Hitchcock presented Gillian Welch and David Rawlings with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at the Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Show on Sept. 16, 2015.

Music & Culture

Robyn Hitchcock Salutes Gillian Welch And David Rawlings

11:45am September 18, 2015

by Ann Powers

Read the British troubadour's paean to his longtime collaborators while handing them a Lifetime Achievement plaque at the Americana Honors and Awards

Drum Fill Friday, With Son Lux's Ian Chang

11:20am September 18, 2015

This week, our recurring puzzler for careful listeners, features a selection of fills handpicked by drummer Ian Chang. Hear the fill and match it to the song.

Keith Richards' new solo album, Crosseyed Heart, arrives Friday alongside a new Netflix documentary about his life.

Music & Culture

'And It Bloody Well Happened': The Improbable Life Of Keith Richards

9:23am September 18, 2015

by NPR Staff

The 71-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist has a new solo album, a new documentary on his life, and a few thoughts to share on the topic of immortality.

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Music & Culture

Grace Potter's Solo Album 'Midnight' Mixes Styles And Rhythms

2:19pm September 17, 2015

by Ken Tucker

In her first solo album, Potter moves away from the hard-rock groove for which she's known and explores new genres. Critic Ken Tucker says Midnight "sounds like the breakaway from formula that it is."

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Music & Culture

Jill Scott Holds Herself Accountable For Her Own Joy In 'Woman'

6:44pm September 16, 2015

by NPR Staff

Scott's fifth studio album draws on influences from the Beach Boys and Aretha Franklin — and much self-reflection. "I've been doing a lot of stewing," she says. "I've been making stews out of music."

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