Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone : All Songs Considered Down in the valley with Greg Brown; Indie folk punk from Ani DiFranco; The electronic experiments of Dani Siciliano; Finger-style guitarist Harris Newman and more.

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

Audio will be available later today.

Down in the valley with Greg Brown; Indie folk punk from Ani DiFranco; The electronic experiments of Dani Siciliano; Finger-style guitarist Harris Newman; Folk meets blues electronica in the music of Califone. Featured Artist: Count Basie.

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Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

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Shoe Shine Boy / Easy Does It

  • from America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years
  • by Count Basie

The remarkable work of Count Basie is chronicled on this new 4-CD box set from Columbia.

Honey in the Lion's Head

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

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Down in the Valley

  • from Honey in the Lion's Head
  • by Greg Brown

The son of a Pentecostal preacher, Greg Brown grew up listening to gospel music and began singing professionally when he was 18. He'd go on to work with Garrison Keillor on The Prairie Home Companion and start his own record label, Red House Records.

Educated Guess

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

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Educated Guess

  • from Educated Guess
  • by Ani DiFranco

Without the backing of a major label, Ani DiFranco built a cult following through the 1990s with a relentless touring schedule and her own provocative blend of anti-folk, indie rock, all released on her own Righteous Babe label.

Likes…

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

Audio will be available later today.

Collaboration (Ready)

  • from Likes…
  • by Dani Siciliano

Dani Siciliano takes her jazz singing and marries it with electronic music. Much of this record was concocted in her home studio. On this debut collection of songs, she shows a natural gift for experimental, avant atmospherics.

Non-Sequiturs

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

Audio will be available later today.

The Bullheaded Stranger

  • from Non-Sequiturs
  • by Harris Newman

Based in Montreal, Harris Newman is a finger-style guitarist with a sound reminiscent of the late John Fahey.

Heron King Blues

Count Basie, Ani DiFranco, Califone

Audio will be available later today.

Trick Bird

  • from Heron King Blues
  • by Califone

Tim Rutili, principle songwriter for this Chicago-based group says, "It feels like something cracked open while we were making this. We found a new energy, instinct and freedom. We were able to find a nice balance between what we do as a live band and the endless possibilities of a recording studio."