Books and Music Review
August 2003

Steve Winwood's Roots Show on 'About Time'
For 40 years, Steve Winwood has created music that made the shy Brit a favorite of rock and R&B fans throughout the world. Some of the best of that music features Winwood on the Hammond B-3 organ. At its best, Winwood's latest effort, the self-produced About Time, recalls his earlier work. Music critic Jim Fusilli has a review.

Pulitzer Winner Lahiri Returns with 'The Namesake'
In 2000, author Jhumpa Lahiri won a Pulitzer Prize for her very first book, a collection of stories titled Interpreter of Maladies. Lahiri returns to the literary scene with her first novel, The Namesake. NPR's Melissa Block talks with Lahiri about the book, which tells the story of an Indian immigrant family in America.

Book Review: 'Land That Moves'
Alan Cheuse reviews, Land That Moves, Land That Stands Still that takes place in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Cheuse says if he were to recommend one new novel for the summer it would be this one. (Viking)

Grandaddy's 'Sumday'
Grandaddy is a band from a farming community in Modesto, Calif. It seems an unlikely place for a pop band with electric guitars and gurgling synthesizers to emerge. But they have. They imagined a wonderful futuristic sound that has captured the ears of listeners in London. Mikel Jolet reviews their new CD Sumday.

Book Review: 'Soar'
Alan Cheuse reviews SOAR by John Weisman. SOAR stands for Special Operations Air Regiment, part of the U.S. Army's Delta Force. The book takes readers to China, inside the CIA and among Islamic guerillas.

Bembeya Jazz
Banning Eyre has a review of the new record from Bembeya Jazz. The group is back together after 14 years, adding to the roster of reunited African pop bands from the 1960s.

Euro Music Sensation Targets U.S.
Junior Senior's single "Move Your Feet" has spent nine weeks on Britain's top 10 pop charts and sold more than 200,000 copies. Now the Danish musical duo hopes to take America by storm. Their CD, Don't Stop the Beat, makes its U.S. debut Tuesday. Charles de Ledesma reports.

Former Soul Star Howard Tate Returns
In the 1960s, singer Howard Tate recorded several soul-music classics, including "Get It While You Can" and "Ain't Nobody Home." Tate vanished in the 1970s, sinking into a life as a crack addict. Now the singer once compared to Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye is back with a new CD called Rediscovered. Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports.

Matthew Shipp's 'Jazztronica'
For the last several years, avant-garde jazz pianist Mathew Shipp has been trying to revitalize jazz with an infusion of electronica. Antipop Consortium vs. Matthew Shipp is his latest effort in a style that's being called "jazztronica." Critic Tom Moon has a review.

'The Souls of Black Folk'
W. E. B. DuBois' exploration of America's struggle with race still resonates today. NPR's Michele Norris presents a re-examination of The Souls of Black Folk, on the book's 100th anniversary. Listen to personal recollections of people who have read The Souls of Black Folk.
Expanded Coverage

Books & Music Review Archive

Reading Lists