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In Bernie, Jack Black plays a small-town mortician who murders his live-in companion after she won't stop nagging him. The movie is based on a true story.

Listen Jack Black: On Music, Mayhem And Murder

January 1, 2013 – Actor Jack Black plays a funeral director who murders his live-in companion in Bernie.

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In a 1999 interview with Fresh Air's Terry Gross, Dave Brubeck talked about his decades in the music industry and his first love: rodeo roping.

Listen Celebrating The Life Of Jazz Pianist Dave Brubeck

December 7, 2012 – The jazz master died on Wednesday at age 91. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1999.

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Legacy

Listen Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band: The Fresh Air Interview

October 29, 2012 – Rowan, who got his start performing with bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, performs on Fresh Air.

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Stephen Colbert (right) performs with Ben Folds on the set of his TV show, The Colbert Report.

Listen Stephen Colbert On Music: The Fresh Air Interview

October 24, 2012 – From "King Herod's Song" to Ben Folds Five, Colbert talks about some of his favorite music.

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Neil Young.

Listen In Memoir, Neil Young Wages 'Heavy Peace'

October 1, 2012 – Waging Heavy Peace sheds new light on the musician's career, family and medical battles.

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"To me, the voice is an instrument, just like any other instrument," Regina Spektor says.

Listen Regina Spektor: The Fresh Air Interview

August 27, 2012 – Spektor talks about Russia and her new album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats, with Terry Gross.

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James Murphy

Listen LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy: The Fresh Air Interview

July 6, 2012 – The pop-dance-electronic group's founder describes his reasons for starting his own band.

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Neil Young.

Watch Neil Young: The Fresh Air Interview

June 6, 2012 – Young's latest album with Crazy Horse, Americana, features songs many of us sang as children.

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Jeremy Denk has recently written for The New Yorker and The New York Times Book Review.

Listen Jeremy Denk: The Fresh Air Interview

May 23, 2012 – The pianist's new album features etudes written by the Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti.

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Richard Thompson is one of many guests who have performed on Fresh Air.

Listen Fresh Air At 25: A Live Musical Tribute

May 11, 2012 – Hear two delightful medleys of impromptu musical performances, culled from Fresh Air's archives.

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Earl Scruggs onstage in 2007.

Listen Earl Scruggs: The 2003 Fresh Air Interview

March 30, 2012 – Fresh Air remembers the bluegrass legend with excerpts from an interview.

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Paul McCartney.

Listen Paul McCartney Blows 'Kisses' To His Father's Era

March 29, 2012 – McCartney's new album is a collection of standards he heard while growing up in Liverpool.

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Etta James onstage at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Listen Etta James: The 1994 Fresh Air Interview

January 27, 2012 – Fresh Air remembers the singer with excerpts from a 1994 interview about her lengthy career.

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Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

Listen Trent Reznor: The Fresh Air Interview

December 19, 2011 – The Nine Inch Nails singer composed the score for a new version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

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Joe Henry's new album, Reverie, features all-acoustic performances from his basement.

Listen Joe Henry: An Eclectic And Raucous 'Reverie'

November 10, 2011 – The producer and singer-songwriter's 12th album emerged from a three-day jam session at home.

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First Listen

The British beat-makers shed their electronics in pursuit of a sound designed to translate live.

First Listen: Mount Kimbie, 'Cold Spring Fault Less Youth'

The British beat-makers shed their electronics in pursuit of a sound designed to translate live.

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More Must Hear Music

A new anthology packs four CDs with music, recorded live or in the studio with bands big and small.

Sarah Vaughan: A New Box Set Revels In Glorious Imperfections

A new anthology packs four CDs with music, recorded live or in the studio with bands big and small.

Toliver's music is anchored by the violin, an instrument that, in a way, chose him.

Marques Toliver: An R&B Crooner With Strings Attached

Toliver's music is anchored by the violin, an instrument that, in a way, chose him.

<em>Spirityouall</em>, a collection of old and original spirituals, was influenced by the singer's father.

Bobby McFerrin: Spirituals As Sung Prayers

Spirityouall, a collection of old and original spirituals, was influenced by the singer's father.

Amidon says the melodies of shape-note hymns are some of the "deepest-seated for me."

Sam Amidon: Reshaping An American Folk Tradition

Amidon says the melodies of shape-note hymns are some of the "deepest-seated for me."

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