Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Reliving 'Dylan's Gospel': Bob's Songs Transformed

6:23pm April 27, 2014

In 1969, music producer Lou Adler assembled LA's top background singers for a gospel reading of Bob Dylan songs. NPR's Eric Westervelt speaks with Adler and Merry Clayton about the album's re-release.

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Izzat Majeed address a crowd in New York during a collaborative concert between Sachal Studios musicians and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The Lahore-born philanthropist founded a recording studio and provided opportunities for musicians in Pakist

Music & Culture

A Millionaire Saves The Silenced Symphonies Of Pakistan

11:30am April 26, 2014

by Philip Reeves

Once upon a time, Lahore was home to a booming film industry and studio musicians to match. Now, the sounds of Lollywood have made a comeback, thanks to a jazz fan — who's also a philanthropist.

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Music & Culture

Valentina Lisitsa: Chasing Pianos And YouTube Fans

7:15pm April 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

The Ukrainian-born pianist revived her stalled career by uploading videos of herself to YouTube. After millions clicked, she landed a record deal. Her new album features film music by Michael Nyman.

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Want Perfect Pitch? You Might Be Able To Pop A Pill For That

10:13am April 25, 2014

by NPR Staff

A Harvard study says a drug normally used as a mood stabilizer might allow adults with no musical experience to learn perfect pitch.

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Music & Culture

For Jessica Lea Mayfield, Sometimes Sanity Is The Better Option

2:44pm April 23, 2014

by Ken Tucker

Make My Head Sing... is an album of contradictions. It's full of unreliable narrators who sometimes revel in jealousy, willful insanity and drugs, even as her voice and the music suggest otherwise.

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Music & Culture

Album Review: 'Abracaco'

10:19am April 23, 2014

by Banning Eyre

Caetano Veloso has been making music for over 40 years, and he's among the best known singers in his native Brazil. Veloso's new album, Abracaco, is one of the most engaging in his epic career.

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Music & Culture

Kelis Puts 'Milkshake' Behind Her And Moves On To 'Food'

12:34pm April 22, 2014

Singer songwriter Kelis Rogers, who's also a trained chef, goes by just Kelis. She's best known for the 2003 hit song "Milkshake." Steve Inskeep talks to the R&B artist about her new album Food.

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Early music specialist Jordi Savall has turned his attention to the widely varied music of the Balkans. "For me," he says, "it's one of the most exciting projects that happened in the last 20 years."

Music & Culture

Honey, Blood And Harmony: Jordi Savall's Balkan Journey

1:42pm April 21, 2014

by NPR Staff

Early music specialist Jordi Savall explores different periods and cultures, mashing them together for surprising results. His new project finds fruitful varieties all in one spot: the Balkans.

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Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars take their name from the documentary film that featured them in 2005.

Music & Culture

Album Review: 'Libation'

8:26am April 21, 2014

by Banning Eyre

Years since two filmmakers discovered a group of musicians in a Guinea refugee camp, that group — Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars — continues to make new music.

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Music & Culture

Perennial Co-Writer Returns With An Album Of His Own

8:25am April 21, 2014

by NPR Staff

Dan Wilson is your favorite songwriter's favorite co-writer, lending a pen to artists from Nas to Adele. But he also writes music for himself — and he joins the program to talk more about it.

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