December 2002

Orchestra Baobab Reunites
An icon in the world music scene reunites and releases the first new recording in over a decade. Senegal's Orchestra Baobab had been on a 15-year hiatus, and now they're making a splash with their first tour of the United States. Banning Eyre reports.

German Violins
NPR's Emily Harris reports from the Bavarian town of Mittenwald where German craftsmen are continuing a centuries-old tradition of violin making. There's a bit of a feud going on between craftsmen who are trying to re-create the sound of the great Stradivarius instruments and those who say the Stradivarius sound is outmoded. (5:15)

Mitchell
Joni Mitchell has said that this record, Travelogue, will be her last. Travelogue is a retrospective of the singer and songwriters long career, performed with an orchestra and choir. Our reviewer, Jim Fusilli says there are times that the lush sound works with many of the songs, though many times the orchestrations feel out of step with the songs. (4:00)

Grealy Obit
Robert Siegel has an appreciation of writer and poet Lucy Grealy who died last week. Ms. Grealy struggled with facial disfigurement caused by cancer for most of her life and wrote about it in her 1994 memoir Autobiography of a Face. (2:15)

Strummer Obit
Joe Strummer, singer, guitarist and songwriter for the highly influential British punk rock band The Clash, died Sunday at the age of 50. The Clash is commonly credited with adding a more political and musical dimension to the 70s and 80s punk rock movement. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports. (3:30)

What Are You Listening To?
In a quest for music that is not typically heard on the airwaves, All Things Considered is talking to people around the country to find out what's in their CD players and tape decks. This week, Eric Levin, co-owner of the independent record store Criminal Records in Atlanta, Georgia tells Host Steve Inskeep what he's been listening to. Eric's musical selections are: Favorite Girl by Joseph Arthur from the album Redemption's Son (Enjoy/Universal ASIN: B00007E6WW) and Talk to me Dance with Me by Hot Hot Heat from the album Make Up the Breakdown (Sub Pop ASIN: B00006L3PY). Eric also is listening to comedy from David Cross's album Shut up you F**king Baby(Sub Pop ASIN: B00006YXH0). (6:18)

Seven Ages of Paris
Paris, the City of Light ... and the city of pig manure? Host Steve Inskeep talks to Alistaire Horne, author of a new selective biography of Paris from medieval filth to modern grandeur. (6:36)

The Last Noel
Alan Cheuse reviews The Last Noel, a novel that takes place over the course of twelve Christmases, starting in 1963 and ending 40 years later. Michael Malone is the author.

The book is published by Sourcebooks-Landmark.

Girl Culture
Lynn Neary talks with Lauren Greenfield, author and photographer of Girl Culture. Ms. Greenfield's work is regularly published in The New York Times Magazine, Time, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Stern and Geo, and is featured in several museums.

A 'Natural History' of the Wild and the Wealthy
Author Richard Conniff has written about the natural world for National Geographic and Smithsonian magazines. In his new book, he writes on the similarities between the animal kingdom and the world of the rich. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Conniff.

Writer Alice McDermott
NPR's Lynn Neary visits with writer Alice McDermott at her home in Bethesda, Md. Her latest book is Child of My Heart. In 1998, McDermott won the National Book Award for Charming Billy. McDermott talks about writing and raising a family. McDermott also talks about using an Irish Catholic setting in her novels.

Jim Harrison
Jim Harrison adds "memoirist" to his lengthy resume with his most recent book Off to the Side. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with the prolific writer of poems, novels and screenplays about growing up in the Upper Midwest, and the perception that he's a "manly" man.

Off to the Side: A Memoir is published by Atlantic Monthly Press; ISBN: 0871138603.

A Curious Cat, Prowling Through 'Milk Treading'
British writer Nick Smith's Milk Treading follows an investigative-reporter type named Julius as he ferrets out facts about the suicide of his best friend. By the way, Julius is a cat. Smith speaks with NPR's Jacki Lyden.

Klein Mixes Jazz, Argentine Music in Los Gauchos III
Argentine composer Guillermo Klein moves to the United States to study jazz and ends up combining new American influences with his native country's music. The new, double-CD release is Los Gauchos III. Hear Michelle Mercer's review.

The CD is on Sunnyside Records.

Stephen Isserlis
Jeff Lunden reports on Stephen Isserlis, one of the most sought after cellists in the world. For nearly two decades he's performed with almost all of the major symphony orchestras, made critically acclaimed recordings and written a children's book. Tonight, Isserlis is making his debut with the New York Philharmonic. (8:00)

Jeff Buckley
Music reviewer Will Hermes tells us about two posthumous releases of music from singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley. They are The Grace EPs and Songs To No One 1991 - 1992. Buckley died in 1997, just as he was becoming known in the music world. He was the son of the late folk musician Tim Buckley.

The Grace EPs, by Jeff Buckley, is a box set on the Columbia label from Sony Music Entertainment. Songs To No One 1991 - 1992 by Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas is from Knitting Factory Records.

Sands
From the heartland comes a CD with the beat of slowly waving fields of wheat. Henry Frayne is Lanterna, with the addition of a percussionist. The CD is called Sands. It's filled with instrumental guitar tunes that are dreamy and evocative. David Greenberger has a review.

The CD Sands by Lanterna is on the Badman label.

Book Details Asia's Carpet Wars
Journalist Christopher Kremmer spent 10 years reporting from South and Central Asia, where he developed a love for the carpets made in the region. His new book, The Carpet Wars, celebrates the time he spent with the local carpet merchants and the many souvenirs he acquired. Kremmer and Steve talk about the history and culture behind the area's second largest industry. (8:32)

Carpet Wars is published by Ecco Press; ISBN: 0060097329.

Christmas Books and CDs
Book reviewer Alan Cheuse has his annual recommendations for the best reading of the year, which in his view, make the best gifts for the holiday season.
Expanded Coverage

Early Occult Memory Systems
Jacki Lyden talks with poet B.H. Fairchild about his latest collection, Early Occult Memory Systems of the Lower Midwest. Fairchild was born in the small town of Liberal, Kan., and he discusses his new book and his background in the working-class Midwest. (7:30)

The book is published by W.W. Norton, November 2002.

The Roots
Phrenology, the latest release by The Roots, mixes funk, hip-hop, jazz and soul. Critic Tom Moon says the album proves that hip-hop can be provocative without aggressive, in-your-face rapping. It's on the MCA label.

See www.mcarecords.com

The Crazed
Alan Cheuse reviews The Crazed, by Ha Jin, a Chinese expatriate. (2:00)

The book is published by Pantheon.

No Way to Treat a Lady
Alan Cheuse reviews a book by Christopher Buckley, called No Way To Treat A Lady. The story is inspired by rumors about former President Clinton's family life.