Music Features

Pedal steel player Susan Alcorn, whose album with her quintet, Pedernal, was the pick for the best album of the year by Francis Davis, who runs the annual NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll.

Music & Culture

The 2020 Jazz Critics Poll: It's After The End Of The World

2:16pm January 14, 2021

by Francis Davis

2020 was an annus horribilis if there ever was one, writes Francis Davis, the founder of NPR Music's Jazz Critics poll, and much of the year's best jazz carried post-apocalyptic feelings within it.

Music & Culture

Equal At Last? Women In Jazz, By The Numbers

10:20am January 12, 2021

Half of the top 10 spots in 2019's NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll went to women. But a deeper look at the data from across the poll's lifetime complicates claims about women's equality in jazz.

Music & Culture

Pandemic Promotes Unexpected Music Collaborations

5:37pm January 04, 2021

by Clay Masters

The pandemic has affected many musicians' lives. While they've been forced off busy touring schedules and out of concert halls, some have completed projects for which they needed some extra time.

Austin Guitarist Sees His Music In A 'New Way' After Suffering Stroke

5:27pm January 02, 2021

by Jack Morgan

In Austin, Texas, an accomplished writer and guitarist suffered a devastating stroke. He lost use of his strumming hand. But he still found a way to continue making beautiful music on his guitar.

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Dale Ann Bradley (left), Tina Adair, Gena Britt and Deanie Richardson (center) of the bluegrass band Sister Sadie do their impression of the rock band Queen.

Music & Culture

Bluegrass Band Sister Sadie Embodies Tradition, But Bends It Too

12:17pm January 01, 2021

by Jewly Hight

This fall, the bluegrass supergroup Sister Sadie became the first all-female band ever to win the top prize at the International Bluegrass Music Association awards.

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John Prine performs in California in 2014.

Music & Culture

In Memoriam 2020: The Musicians We Lost

3:03pm December 31, 2020

The sheer volume of loss felt by the music world in 2020 is almost overwhelming. Here is NPR's tribute to dozens of the musicians — founders and innovators across genres — who died this year.

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Annye Anderson — stepsister of Robert Johnson — published her memoir Brother Robert: Growing Up with Robert Johnson in June.

Music & Culture

'Brother Robert' Reveals True Story Of Growing Up With Blues Legend Robert Johnson

3:52pm December 29, 2020

by Ben James

Annye Anderson, the stepsister of Robert Johnson, whose life became a founding myth of American music, has written a memoir about the real life behind the legend.

Music & Culture

James Newton Howard: A Composer Who Can Do It All

3:45pm December 28, 2020

by Tim Greiving

James Newton Howard has composed the music for more than 100 films. He's scored thrillers, Disney animation and big fantasy series. His latest is the western News of the World.

Sergio Arau (center) poses with fellow Botellita de Jerez bandmates. They were one of the most influential groups in the '80s after rock re-emerged in Mexico following 15 years of censorship and repression.

Music & Culture

'Rompan Todo' Explores A Turbulent History Of Latin America Through Rock Music

4:29pm December 25, 2020

by Betto Arcos

Rompan Todo is a new Netflix six-part documentary series that explores the socio-political history of rock music in Latin America from its genesis in the 1960s to the present.

Little Richard in the studio, circa 1959.

Music & Culture

He Was An Architect

9:18pm December 22, 2020

by Ashon Crawley

Little Richard saw a depth and possibility for American culture, for black genius, that he could not fully see for himself. It's up to us to continue the work.