Director's Cuts

Today's environmental and global financial crises have Weekend Edition's Ned Wharton abuzz. In presenting his yearly music recommendations, he explains how digital downloads make a perfect holiday gift for these times.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton is back with his annual gift guide. He's surveyed the 2007 releases, and offers these suggestions for the jazz, rock, classical and world music fans on your shopping list.

Popular artists are shaking up traditional Americana music with bold interpretations and musical influences from around the world. Weekend Edition Sunday Music Director Ned Wharton recommends some Americana CDs by Viktor Krauss, Kevin Breit and Harry Manx.

Occasionally a music DVD comes along that exceeds expectations. Shanda, a documentary about Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi, and Flow,a look at the jazz of trumpeter Terence Blanchard, go the extra mile.

Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake and the Dixie Chicks are just a few of the big names in contention at the 49th annual Grammy Awards. But this year's list of nominees also offers plenty of gems beyond the obvious blockbusters.

Ned Wharton, musical director for Weekend Edition Sunday, offers a collection of recordings offbeat enough to surprise your favorite music lover this holiday season.

Every once in a while, rockers take a stab at reaching a new generation of listeners, with decidedly mixed results. The movies are a lucrative way into the tween market. Among the artists making music for recent animated films are indie rockers Ben Folds and Paul Westerberg.

Kaki King and Vienna Teng first performed on Weekend Edition Sunday in 2004. Since then, their musical styles have evolved. Teng's forthcoming album intimately showcases her talent as a pianist and vocalist. King has moved past the acoustic instrumentals of her earlier discs with her latest album, coming in August.

Two new discs from far-flung places that highlight the instrumental power of the human voice: Czechoslovakian crooner Sui Vesan sings in an invented language, and Italian singer Gianmaria Testa's velvety voice belies his day job as a station master for the Italian rail system.

For the holiday edition, a selection of the year's best music. Choices range from Afro-Celt to Britain's Imogen Heap to the benefit compilation Our New Orleans.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews some new CDs that harken back to the sound of the '60s: The Greenhornes' East Grand Blues, Iron & Wine's Woman King and Man Alive! by Stephen Stills.

The summer of 2005 may not go down in history as another Summer of Love, but Woodstock's legacy includes a summertime routine of music festivals across the country. Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton lists some of the best bets.

As music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR's Ned Wharton supervises music continuity for the show and keeps tabs on what's new and noteworthy in the music world. He looks at a pair of CDs designed to be appreciated with visual components.

As music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR's Ned Wharton supervises music continuity for the show, keeps tabs on what's new and noteworthy in the music world and produces many of the artist features heard on the program. He offers holiday picks for 2004.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews two new discs featuring the music of rock innovator Frank Zappa — Ensemble Modern's Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions and Quadiophiliac, a DVD-audio disc featuring multi-channel audio mixes Zappa created himself in the 1970s that are only now being heard by the public.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews the work of two artists with famous musician dads who're blazing their own unique paths: Emilie Berstein, daughter of film score composer Elmer Bernstein, and pianist Peter John Stoltzman, son of Grammy-winning clarinetist Richard Stoltzman.

NPR's Ned Wharton, music director for Weekend Edition Sunday, reviews three alternative Latin releases by Radio Mundial, Cordero, and Kinky.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton presents his annual holiday gift guide, with the latest edition of "Director's Cuts." Suggestions include the Blind Boys of Alabama (left), whose new CD, Go Tell It On the Mountain, features vocals by Tom Wait, Chrissie Hynde and others.

In this edition of Director's Cuts, Weekend Edition Sunday's music director Ned Wharton reviews two new projects from Mark Oliver Everett, also known simply as "E." His group Eels has a new disc on DreamWorks called Shootenanny! and under the name MC Honky, the fictitious rapper produces "Self Help Rock" on the CD I Am the Messiah on spinART Records.

Summer is a time to drop the top on the convertible, crank up the tunes, and enjoy the ride... Join NPR's Ned Wharton, music director for Weekend Edition Sunday, for some high-octane music including selections from The Reputation, Professor Ratbaggy and The Churchills.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews a new recording by Christoph Poppen and the Hilliard Ensemble of the Cantata No. 4, also known as the Easter Cantata by J.S. Bach.

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews discs by Radio Zumbido and illy B Eats, better known as Billy Martin, the drummer from Medeski Martin & Wood.

In his special year-end installment of Director's Cuts, Ned Wharton, music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, offers musical gift suggestions, including albums by Tim Sparks, Joni Mitchell and Rachel Z.