NPR Music Essentials http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1107&ft=1&f=1107 Lists of top artists and top songs compiled by musicians, critics, and noted NPR hosts. Listen online and find new songs in rock, pop, folk, jazz, blues, urban, classical, and world music. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif NPR Music Essentials http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1107&ft=1&f=1107 Woody Herman At 100: 'A Blues Player From His Heart' He was a soulful reedman, an amazing talent scout for decades and a bandleader of one of the country's most popular acts. Born in 1913, Herman led "Thundering Herds" that were both big draws and well-respected by the likes of Igor Stravinsky. Here are five recordings which still sound fresh today. Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/05/16/184545498/woody-herman-at-100-a-blues-player-from-his-heart?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/05/16/184545498/woody-herman-at-100-a-blues-player-from-his-heart?ft=1&f=1107 He was a soulful reedman, an amazing talent scout for decades and a bandleader of one of the country's most popular acts. Born in 1913, Herman led "Thundering Herds" that were both big draws and well-respected by the likes of Igor Stravinsky. Here are five recordings which still sound fresh today.

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]]> Heavy Rotation: 5 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing In this installment of Heavy Rotation, we partner with KCRW to bring you an exclusive download from Laura Mvula's <em>Morning Becomes Eclectic</em> session, as well as music from the post-punk band Savages, Portland songwriter Nick Jaina, Baltimore rapper Ellis and funk guitarist Shuggie Otis. Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/180300335/heavy-rotation-5-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/180300335/heavy-rotation-5-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 In this installment of Heavy Rotation, we partner with KCRW to bring you an exclusive download from Laura Mvula's Morning Becomes Eclectic session, as well as music from the post-punk band Savages, Portland songwriter Nick Jaina, Baltimore rapper Ellis and funk guitarist Shuggie Otis.

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]]> Jazzahead! Highlights: 5 New Bands From Europe Bremen may be best known for its love of soccer and Beck's beer. But in April, more than 20,000 jazz fans and industry professionals descend upon the German port city for a festival designed specifically to showcase new acts from across Europe. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/04/25/179066112/jazzahead-highlights-5-new-bands-from-europe?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/04/25/179066112/jazzahead-highlights-5-new-bands-from-europe?ft=1&f=1107 Bremen may be best known for its love of soccer and Beck's beer. But in April, more than 20,000 jazz fans and industry professionals descend upon the German port city for a festival designed specifically to showcase new acts from across Europe.

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]]> Jazz Salutes Its Disc Jockeys The advent of bebop added a fresh sound to American music. It also added new voices to some metropolitan radio stations: the late-night jazz DJs who specialized in presenting this new music to their fellow hipster nightflies. Appreciative musicians often wrote them tributes like these. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/04/18/177803233/jazz-salutes-its-disc-jockeys?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/04/18/177803233/jazz-salutes-its-disc-jockeys?ft=1&f=1107 The advent of bebop added a fresh sound to American music. It also added new voices to some metropolitan radio stations: the late-night jazz DJs who specialized in presenting this new music to their fellow hipster nightflies. Appreciative musicians often wrote them tributes like these.

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]]> South By South Africa: 5 Jazz Acts From The Rainbow Nation For centuries, the country turned its back on black musicians — including the jazz artists whose creations embodied freedom and empowerment. Today, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is one of Africa's largest musical gatherings. Here are five musicians who played the festival this year. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/04/16/176958184/south-by-south-africa-5-jazz-acts-from-the-rainbow-nation?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/04/16/176958184/south-by-south-africa-5-jazz-acts-from-the-rainbow-nation?ft=1&f=1107 For centuries, the country turned its back on black musicians — including the jazz artists whose creations embodied freedom and empowerment. Today, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is one of Africa's largest musical gatherings. Here are five musicians who played the festival this year.

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]]> Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing Download new music from hip-hop veteran N.O.R.E., indie-rock favorites Telekinesis and Phosphorescent, soul man Charles Bradley, folksinger Samantha Crain and many more in this special edition of Heavy Rotation. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/176172267/heavy-rotation-10-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/176172267/heavy-rotation-10-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 Download new music from hip-hop veteran N.O.R.E., indie-rock favorites Telekinesis and Phosphorescent, soul man Charles Bradley, folksinger Samantha Crain and many more in this special edition of Heavy Rotation.

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]]> The Women In Charge Of The Band Musicians like Lil Hardin Armstrong, Carla Bley and Mary Lou Williams didn't just make it in the historically male-dominated field of jazz: They were the driving forces behind their own bands. Hear five pioneering examples of women who composed for and directed their own groups. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/03/29/175623957/the-women-in-charge-of-the-band?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/03/29/175623957/the-women-in-charge-of-the-band?ft=1&f=1107 Musicians like Lil Hardin Armstrong, Carla Bley and Mary Lou Williams didn't just make it in the historically male-dominated field of jazz: They were the driving forces behind their own bands. Hear five pioneering examples of women who composed for and directed their own groups.

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]]> The Good Friday 5: Musical Passion Stories You Must Hear Before Easter, hear five powerful and diverse musical portrayals of Jesus' last days and crucifixion, from Bach's monumental <em>St. Matthew</em> to Golijov's brilliant Latin American mashup to a dark and terrifying Russian vision from Sofia Gubaidulina. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/03/27/175496458/the-good-friday-5-musical-passion-stories-you-must-hear?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/03/27/175496458/the-good-friday-5-musical-passion-stories-you-must-hear?ft=1&f=1107 Before Easter, hear five powerful and diverse musical portrayals of Jesus' last days and crucifixion, from Bach's monumental St. Matthew to Golijov's brilliant Latin American mashup to a dark and terrifying Russian vision from Sofia Gubaidulina.

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]]> Heavy Rotation: 5 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing Our panel of public-radio music obsessives has five more favorites to share. Download new music from CHVRCHES, Joey Bada$$, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper and Frightened Rabbit, plus a sick remix of Tame Impala by Australian producer Light Year. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/173160941/heavy-rotation-5-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/173160941/heavy-rotation-5-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 Our panel of public-radio music obsessives has five more favorites to share. Download new music from CHVRCHES, Joey Bada$$, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper and Frightened Rabbit, plus a sick remix of Tame Impala by Australian producer Light Year.

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]]> 75 Years Of Charles Lloyd, Jazz's Spirit Warrior The Memphis-bred, New-York-honed and coastal California resident developed a reputation as an earthy, sincere voice — one one the world's most popular jazz musicians. Hear five tunes spanning the saxophonist's career, from '60s mysticism to modern spirituals. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/03/15/174440963/75-years-of-charles-lloyd-jazzs-spirit-warrior?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/03/15/174440963/75-years-of-charles-lloyd-jazzs-spirit-warrior?ft=1&f=1107 The Memphis-bred, New-York-honed and coastal California resident developed a reputation as an earthy, sincere voice — one one the world's most popular jazz musicians. Hear five tunes spanning the saxophonist's career, from '60s mysticism to modern spirituals.

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]]> The Mix: The Mali 100 Presented By Afropop Worldwide Mali is currently a country in crisis. Yet this West African country boasts one of the world's richest musical traditions, and iconic artists like Ali Farka Toure, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare and Tinariwen. With help from our friends at <em>Afropop Worldwide</em>, we selected 100 songs that demonstrate Mali's musical breadth. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/13/173843328/the-mix-the-mali-100-presented-by-afropop-worldwide?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/13/173843328/the-mix-the-mali-100-presented-by-afropop-worldwide?ft=1&f=1107 Mali is currently a country in crisis. Yet this West African country boasts one of the world's richest musical traditions, and iconic artists like Ali Farka Toure, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare and Tinariwen. With help from our friends at Afropop Worldwide, we selected 100 songs that demonstrate Mali's musical breadth.

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]]> The Mix: The Austin 100 Between now and April 4, stream and download 100 songs by artists worth discovering at SXSW 2013. Handpicked from among thousands of artists, this genre-traversing playlist picks highlights, discoveries and thrills from this year's festival. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/01/173275533/the-mix-the-austin-100?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/01/173275533/the-mix-the-austin-100?ft=1&f=1107 Between now and April 4, stream and download 100 songs by artists worth discovering at SXSW 2013. Handpicked from among thousands of artists, this genre-traversing playlist picks highlights, discoveries and thrills from this year's festival.

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]]> A List Of 5 Songs About ... Lists Many jazz standards are themselves about making lists. Here are five of them, including Louis Armstrong's take on "Let's Do It," Johnny Hartman's version of "These Foolish Things" and a classic reading of Jobim's "Waters of March." Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:44:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/02/28/173179619/a-list-of-5-songs-about-lists?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/02/28/173179619/a-list-of-5-songs-about-lists?ft=1&f=1107 Many jazz standards are themselves about making lists. Here are five of them, including Louis Armstrong's take on "Let's Do It," Johnny Hartman's version of "These Foolish Things" and a classic reading of Jobim's "Waters of March."

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]]> Heavy Rotation: 5 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing The DJs at public radio stations listen to a lot of songs every day. Download five of their recent favorites, including songs from The Milk Carton Kids, Cayucas, Chance the Rapper, Miranda Dodson and Katie Mullins. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/27/171749560/heavy-rotation-5-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/27/171749560/heavy-rotation-5-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing?ft=1&f=1107 The DJs at public radio stations listen to a lot of songs every day. Download five of their recent favorites, including songs from The Milk Carton Kids, Cayucas, Chance the Rapper, Miranda Dodson and Katie Mullins.

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]]> History As Symphony: The African-American Experience In Jazz Suites Since the Harlem Renaissance, African-American musicians have portrayed black history as extended musical works. Jazz is full of such long-form compositions. Hear five examples from composers such as Oliver Nelson, Wynton Marsalis and Duke Ellington. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/02/21/172619827/history-as-symphony-the-african-american-experience-in-jazz-suites?ft=1&f=1107 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/02/21/172619827/history-as-symphony-the-african-american-experience-in-jazz-suites?ft=1&f=1107 Since the Harlem Renaissance, African-American musicians have portrayed black history as extended musical works. Jazz is full of such long-form compositions. Hear five examples from composers such as Oliver Nelson, Wynton Marsalis and Duke Ellington.

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