December 2001

The Court-- Sarah Bardeen reviews the CD Bless You by The Court and Spark. (4:00)

It's on Absolutely Kosher Records.

Bionix-- Sara Bardeen reviews the CD Bionix, by De La Soul. (4:00)

Sara Bardeen is an editor at listen.com. The CD is from Tommy Boy records.

Books for Christmas-- Each December, our book reviewer Alan Cheuse recommends books for holiday gift ideas and for winter reading pleasure. He presents this year's picks, and we hear readings from some of the authors. This year's list starts with The Complete Works of Isaac Babel, edited by his daughter Nathalie Babel and translated by Peter Constantine. Next is a debut collection of short stories by Peter Orner. The book is called Esther Stories. Then there's a beautifully published translation of The Tale of Genji about the court of a medieval Japanese emperor. Royall Tyler has done the two volume translation. He also notes a novel by Maxine Clair that takes place in the Midwest called October Suite. And he recommends a thriller by James W. Hall called Blackwater Sound. There's a book of essays about efforts to keep the desert Southwest wild. It's called Red, by Terry Tempest Williams. John Edgar Wideman has written a memoir about his life and the game of basketball called Hoop Roots. There's a volume of poetry with accompanying CDs called Poetry Speaks, edited by Elise Paschen and Rebekah Presson Mosby. Last but not least is a children's book called Circle of Wonder, written and illustrated by N. Scott Momaday. (12:30)

Holiday Vocal Music-- Our music critic Tom Manoff has four CDs he recommends for holiday listening or gift-giving. They all aren't necessarily related the holidays. But they do all feature outstanding vocal performances, which strikes Tom as especially appropriate for this time of year, with an extra, human touch. (8:00)

Once As I Remember with John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir, copyright 1998, Philips Classics Airs Francais with Ben Heppner and the London Symphony Orchestra, copyright 2001, Deutsche Grammophon (a Universal Music Company) Edith Piaf - The Voice of the Sparrow, copyright 1991, Capitol Records Monserrat Figueras - The Voice of Emotion, copyright 1996, Auvidis France.

Meeting of the Waters-- NPR's Alan Cheuse reviews Meeting of the Waters, a new novel from former journalist Kim McClarin. (1:30)

Flat Guinness-- The 2002 edition of Guinness World Records is out in hard cover. Writer Bob Parks has a review. (3:00)

Guinness World Records 2002 is published by Time Inc. Home Entertainment.

Jay Farrar-- Jay Farrar has been in two bands -- Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt -- popular for mixing rock and country music. Now Jay Farrar has a solo recording that continues to explore the alternative country sound. Reviewer Meredith Ochs says the new CD, Sebastopol, combines some rock music studio tricks with lyrics that take a microscope to the roadsides of America. (4:30)

The CD is Sebastopol by Jay Farrar, on Artemis Records.

In a Silent Way-- David Greenberger reviews The Complete 'In a Silent Way' Sessions, by Miles Davis. In 1969, Miles Davis released In a Silent Way, a 38-minute LP. Now previously unreleased sets are being offered, totaling nearly four hours of music. Greenberger says this music represents an important, brief period in Davis' evolution as a jazz performer and producer. (5:15)

Saul Bellow-- Reviewer Alan Cheuse says a new collection of short fiction, Collected Stories, by author Saul Bellow, is perfect for holiday readers with an appetite for beautiful prose. (2:00)

Collected Stories is published by Viking.

Jose Padilla-- Charles de Ledesma reviews a new CD by Jose Padilla called Navigator. Padilla was a DJ on the island of Ibiza off the coast of Spain, and was well-known around the island for his Dj-ing at the Cafe del Mar. Padilla, where he would provide a "soundtrack" to the marvelous sunsets each evening as patrons of the cafe sat and watched. Now much of his music from those sunsets in on this new CD. (Warner Music). (4:30)

The Legend of Tommy Johnson-- Chris Thomas King's latest CD is called The Legend of Tommy Johnson. It comes with a heavy conceit. King played the fictional blues musician Tommy Johnson in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou, and now has reprised the role on this new album. King is also a blues musician in his own right. He delivers a survey of blues music past and present. The CD is reviewed by Scott Aiges. (4:00)

William Billings-- In these times of renewed patriotism, music reviewer Tom Manoff acquaints us with the music of William Billings, often called America's first great composer. Billings wrote chorales, patriotic songs, and marching music during the Revolutionary War. His music, according to our reviewer, is like the sound of American democracy singing. (4:30)



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