Willie Nelson: The 'Fresh Air' Interviews
Nelson, now 86, spoke to Fresh Air in 1996 and again in 2006 about music and why he never quite fit in as a country star. Plus, Ken Tucker reviews Nelson's new album, Ride Me Back Home.
Music Reviews
Pianist George Cables Is Both Carefree And All Business On 'I'm All Smiles'
Cables, who's experienced severe health problems recently, makes a comeback on a new album with his trio. The pianist's solos on I'm All Smiles reveal a deep sense of groove — and a mind at work.
Country Music Gets A Hip-Hop Infusion With 'Old Town Road' And 'The Git Up'
Two current country hits by black musicians are challenging traditional notions of the genre. Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Blanco Brown's "The Git Up" pulse with history and humor.
J Balvin And Bad Bunny Surprise Us With, And On, 'Oasis'
The Latin trap wunderkind and the current centerpiece of urbano have released a short suite of much-anticipated music, striking a balance between appeasement and experimentation.
'Maiden': Groundbreaking 1989 Sailing Race For All-Female Crew
A new documentary tells the story of the first all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World sailing race in 1989. The crew was led by a 24-year-old and the boat was called Maiden.
Opposites Attract: Two Violin Concertos In The Hands Of A Master
Augustin Hadelich dazzles in an album of odd bedfellows, which pairs Johannes Brahms' romantic war horse with György Ligeti's modernist stunner.
Lil Nas X Is More Than Just A Meme Lord, Apparently
The internet native parlayed his brilliance for virality into a breakout career via the year's most indelible single, and its most unlikely cultural flashpoint. But that was then.
Willie Nelson's Voice And Spirit Remain Strong On 'Ride Me Back Home'
The 86-year-old country star reflects on the passage of time on his new album. Ride Me Back Home is a lively, restless collection that contains solid new material and a keen sense of self-scholarship.
Saxophonist Stan Getz Delivers A Barrelful Of Tenor On 'Getz At The Gate'
There's nothing dated about a new 2-disc album that revisits Getz's 1961 nightclub recording at New York's Village Gate. Listening to it now, it's hard to overstate what a terrific tenor he was.
The Score Of 'The Last Black Man In San Francisco' Sounds Like No Other In 2019
The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a whimsical elegy to a fading San Francisco. It features a score by Emile Mosseri that's exuberant and poetic, positioning music front and center in the film.