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Nellie McKay

A Holiday Party For The Ages, From All Songs Considered

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton rented a cabin in the woods for a special holiday party, with Kishi Bashi, Dan Deacon, Carrie Brownstein, and more as guests. Mike Brinson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mike Brinson/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

A Holiday Party For The Ages, From All Songs Considered

In 2012, All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton rented a small cabin in the woods and invited some of their closest friends for what they were sure would be the party of the century.

Listen to our Holiday Party for the ages

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'Jazz Night In America' Remembers Artists We Lost In 2018

Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove passed away at age 49. Courtesy of The Roy Hargrove Estate hide caption

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Courtesy of The Roy Hargrove Estate

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

'Jazz Night In America' Remembers Artists We Lost In 2018

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Friends of the show offer memories and music of pianist Cecil Taylor, Village Vanguard owner Lorraine Gordon, South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

'Jazz Night In America' Remembers Artists We Lost In 2018

Nellie McKay's Smoldering Voice Takes On Standards Like 'My Romance'

Nellie McKay's Sister Orchid is out now on Palmetto. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Nellie McKay's Smoldering Voice Takes On Standards Like 'My Romance'

Nellie McKay sings melancholy standards about love on her new album: Sister Orchid. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with McKay about her music that she performs alone.

Nellie McKay's Smoldering Voice Takes On Standards Like 'My Romance'

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Singer Nellie McKay Celebrates Bob Dorough Of 'Schoolhouse Rock'

Singer Nellie McKay with her longtime friend, Bob Dorough. The late composer was known as the musical keystone of the beloved Schoolhouse Rock! series. Garth Woods/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Garth Woods/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Singer Nellie McKay Celebrates Bob Dorough Of 'Schoolhouse Rock'

McKay covers Dorough's "Small Day Tomorrow" on her upcoming album, Sister Orchid. She and the late composer, known his work on the beloved Schoolhouse Rock! series, were longtime friends.

Nellie McKay On Song Travels

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David Kogut/Courtesy of the artist

Song Travels

Nellie McKay On Song Travels

McKay and host Michael Feinstein team up for "Pennies from Heaven" and "The Nearness of You," and she performs her original "Beneath the Underdog."

Nellie McKay In The Studio

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Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

The musician skates across styles with ease, channeling cabaret crooners and eccentric singer-songwriters alike. Here, she plays songs from an upcoming project that remains unreleased.

Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

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Nellie McKay Plays A Round Of Doris Day Trivia

Nellie McKay on the Ask Me Another stage. Josh Rogosin/NPR hide caption

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Josh Rogosin/NPR

Ask Me Another

Nellie McKay Plays A Round Of Doris Day Trivia

Considering the satin-voiced singer's fourth record, Normal as Blueberry Pie, was a tribute to Doris Day, we put McKay in the puzzle hot seat for a quiz about the legendary actress and singer. Plus, hear what vinyl she's currently spinning, and why she brought a pair of leopard-print, "second-hand love cuffs" to the show.

Nellie McKay Plays A Round Of Doris Day Trivia

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Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

It's difficult to categorize McKay's music, so it makes sense that she's taken some unexpected turns into musical theater and stand-up comedy. Hear her play quirky songs from throughout her career.

Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

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A Holiday Party For The Ages, From All Songs Considered

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton rented a cabin in the woods for a special holiday party, with Kishi Bashi, Dan Deacon, Carrie Brownstein, and more as guests. Mike Brinson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mike Brinson/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

A Holiday Party For The Ages, From All Songs Considered

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton rent a small cabin in the woods and invite some of their closest friends for what promises to be the party of the century.

Listen To Our Party!

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Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

Whether she's throwing back her head to sing about her love for bodegas, or taking her time to lament lost love, McKay exudes a come-go-along-with-me attitude. Listen to her perform new tunes from her latest album, Home Sweet Mobile Home.

Nellie McKay On Mountain Stage

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Nellie McKay: Tiny Desk Concert
Abby Verbosky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Nellie McKay: Tiny Desk Concert

You wouldn't think to call someone audacious who once devoted an entire album to Doris Day songs, but Nellie McKay is. Her bold personality shines through in every project she tackles, including this short set recorded at the NPR Music offices.

Nellie McKay: Tiny Desk Concert

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Nellie McKay On Piano Jazz

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Rick Gonzalez

Studio Sessions

Nellie McKay On Piano Jazz

The eccentric young singer-songwriter and pianist joins guest host Michael Feinstein as they flip through a few pages of The Great American Songbook on this episode of Piano Jazz.

Nellie McKay On Piano Jazz

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Nellie McKay And The Spirit Of Doris Day
Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Nellie McKay And The Spirit Of Doris Day

On Nellie McKay's fourth album, she's still surprising fans — this time with a Doris Day tribute, Normal As Blueberry Pie.

Nellie McKay And The Spirit Of Doris Day

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Review

Music Reviews

Nellie McKay's 'Blueberry Pie,' A Tribute to Doris Day

Fresh Air

McKay's Normal as Blueberry Pie is "eccentric yet utterly disarming," says rock critic Ken Tucker. McKay's admiration for Doris Day isn't really a surprise — both artists are cheerful and underrated — and on this album the two seem like "sisters in bright-eyed intelligence."

Nellie McKay's 'Blueberry Pie,' A Tribute to Doris Day

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Music From The Sublime To The Old Time

Review

All Songs Considered

Music From The Sublime To The Old Time

We never thought we'd do it, but we've got a tribute to Doris Day. Nellie McKay reworks songs made popular by Day, plus New Lost City Ramblers, The Weather Station, The Big Pink and more.

Music From The Sublime To The Old Time

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Get To Know: The Cole Porter Songbook

Cole Porter contributed many songs to the Great American Songbook, including "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "I Get a Kick Out of You." Sasha/Hulton Archive hide caption

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Sasha/Hulton Archive

Take Five: A Jazz Sampler

Get To Know: The Cole Porter Songbook

Jazz24

Everybody loves Cole Porter. But most jazz musicians really love Cole Porter. Singers love his lyrics, which showcase great wit, amazing rhymes and beautiful imagery. Instrumentalists love his elegant melodies and sophisticated song structures. Celebrate Porter's birthday with Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Nellie McKay and more.

Mountain Stage

Nellie McKay, Mia Doi Todd On Mountain Stage

McKay, the New York singer and songwriter, performs a mordantly witty set accompanied by piano, ukulele and both the Mountain Stage band and running crew. The multifaceted artist Mia Doi Todd also makes a last-minute appearance.

Listen Now: Nellie McKay In Concert, With Mia Doi Todd

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