Yiddish Preservationists Take Their Subject To The Stage
The An-sky Yiddish Heritage Ensemble, a musical quartet, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the historic An-sky expeditions by playing rare Yiddish folk songs.
Music & Culture
Toshi Seeger, Wife Of Folk Singer Pete Seeger, Dies At 91
The couple shared a lifetime of collaboration. She died Tuesday, just shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Jay-Z Swings Triumphant Then Trivial On 'Magna Carta Holy Grail'
The rapper's new album is his first collection since becoming a father with singer Beyonce. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the album is an uneven but intriguing collection of songs that tries to navigate a path between parenthood and an obsession with commercial success.
Two New Jazz Albums Recall The Wide Open Spaces of The West
Oregon saxophonist Rich Halley takes inspiration from the Wallowa mountain range on his new album Crossing the Passes. On Boss of the Plains, Chicago-based trio Wheelhouse makes music that evokes the Great Plains and wind chimes on a porch when the weather changes.
Summer Songs: Since You Can't Escape Them, Hope To Enjoy Them
It's the time of the season when love for pop music runs high. Summer is officially here, and an unofficial competition is underway to crown 2013's "Song of the Summer." We're talking about those unavoidable pop anthems that are played over and over again on the radio, at the beach and out the window of passing cars. You can't escape them — you can only hope to enjoy them. NPR Music curated a list featuring more than 100 of the hits from the last 50 years.
How 'Dancing In The Street' Became A Protest Anthem
Mark Kurlansky's book Ready for a Brand New Beat is a history of the song "Dancing in the Street." It was the soundtrack for the summer of 1964, when race riots and war protests spread across the United States.
On Two New Albums, A Modern-Minded Brass Band Cuts Loose
Virginia's No BS! Brass Band taps into, and ultimately expands, the brass-band tradition. Whether kicking it with funk or clearing room for a screeching free-jazz solo, the group redefines what large brass ensembles can do.
Eleanor Friedberger's 'Personal Record' Examines The Little Things
The bulk of Friedberger's work thus far has been recorded with her brother, Matthew, under the name The Fiery Furnaces. For this new solo album, her second, she's written with a new collaborator in singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding.
George Benson Follows The Path Of His 'Unforgettable' Idol
Benson and the late Nat King Cole have a lot in common: Both started as acclaimed jazz instrumentalists, but became pop stars when they started singing. Cole was a huge influence on Benson, and the guitarist — who turned 70 this spring — pays tribute on his latest album.
Emmylou Harris And Rodney Crowell: Harmonizing To That 'Old Yellow Moon'
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell have been friends and collaborators since they first met in 1974. While they always wanted to make an album together, they never did until recently. Old Yellow Moon includes songs by Crowell, Patti Scialfa, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson among others.