Cat Power Takes on Soul With 'The Greatest' January 30, 2006 • Over the last decade, Chan Marshall, who's known as Cat Power, has made a name for herself in the indie-rock world. On her latest album, The Greatest, she traveled to Memphis, where she recorded with some of the city's legendary soul musicians. The mix makes for a slow but infectious record. Cat Power Takes on Soul With 'The Greatest' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5179158/5179159" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Cat Power Takes on Soul With 'The Greatest' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5179158/5179159" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'David Bowie: Platinum Collection' January 27, 2006 • Rolling Stone critic Christian Hoard reviews a new three-CD anthology from one of pop music's most enduring artists, David Bowie. 'David Bowie: Platinum Collection' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5174924/5174925" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'David Bowie: Platinum Collection' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5174924/5174925" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Music Miles at the Cellar Door Fresh Air January 23, 2006 • The new box set Miles Davis: The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 is the latest in a crop of critical anthologies that add perspective to the history of jazz. Miles at the Cellar Door Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5168124/5168125" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Miles at the Cellar Door Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5168124/5168125" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Blige and 'The Breakthrough' Fresh Air January 18, 2006 • The Breakthrough is the new recording by singer Mary J. Blige. It's her seventh studio album. Blige and 'The Breakthrough' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5161791/5161792" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Blige and 'The Breakthrough' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5161791/5161792" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Cellist Matt Haimovitz's Multicultural 'Goulash' January 17, 2006 • Although cellist Matt Haimovitz was raised in the United States, he was born in the Middle East to Romanian parents. His new CD, Goulash, explores his family's heritage. Music critic Tom Manoff says that it also touches on an ongoing debate about the future of classical music. Cellist Matt Haimovitz's Multicultural 'Goulash' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5160898/5160899" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Cellist Matt Haimovitz's Multicultural 'Goulash' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5160898/5160899" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'Careless Love' from Pianist Erwin Helfer Fresh Air January 10, 2006 • Pianist Erwin Helfer is a son of New Orleans who adopted Chicago as his home. His music is a blend of the jazz he grew up with and the blues he discovered. Eleven songs -- a mix of standards and originals -- illustrate his wide-ranging, energetic sound on the CD Careless Love. 'Careless Love' from Pianist Erwin Helfer Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5147520/5147521" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Careless Love' from Pianist Erwin Helfer Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5147520/5147521" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Baltimore's Alsop Handles Brahms, Weill, Bernstein Fresh Air January 9, 2006 • A disc devoted to concert music by Leonard Bernstein is among four recent releases from conductor Marin Alsop, the new director of the Baltimore Symphony. The recordings show Alsop handling Brahms with the London Symphony Orchestra, and two Kurt Weill symphonies with the Bournemouth Symphony. Baltimore's Alsop Handles Brahms, Weill, Bernstein Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5135682/5135683" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Baltimore's Alsop Handles Brahms, Weill, Bernstein Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5135682/5135683" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lesser-Known Sax Players Get Their Due Fresh Air January 5, 2006 • Blue Note has recently reissued recordings that feature three so-called "second-tier" saxophonists: The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions by Ike Quebec; Tex Book Tenor by Booker Ervin; Let Me Tell You 'Bout It by Leo Parker. Lesser-Known Sax Players Get Their Due Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5128497/5128498" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lesser-Known Sax Players Get Their Due Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5128497/5128498" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Gretchen Wilson's Hardscrabble Life January 4, 2006 • Country singer Gretchen Wilson lived the hardscrabble life she depicts in her songs. Wilson was born to a teenaged mother and dropped out of high school. She worked as a bartender before getting her lucky break and is considered one of a new breed of Nashville star. Her latest CD is called All Jacked Up. Gretchen Wilson's Hardscrabble Life Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5126781/5126782" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Gretchen Wilson's Hardscrabble Life Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5126781/5126782" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Country Sells on 'Timeless' and 'Some Hearts' Fresh Air January 4, 2006 • Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new country records that are bestsellers: Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts and Martina McBride's Timeless. Country Sells on 'Timeless' and 'Some Hearts' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5126006/5126007" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Country Sells on 'Timeless' and 'Some Hearts' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5126006/5126007" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Lists Jazz 2005: Kevin Whitehead's Top 10 Fresh Air December 21, 2005 • For lovers of jazz music, the year 2005 brought a wealth of reissues by critical artists from Jelly Roll Morton to John Coltrane. The music, the result of exhaustive archival and restoration work, adds new details to one of America's richest musical traditions. Jazz 2005: Kevin Whitehead's Top 10 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5064461/5064466" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Arts & Life Charlie Sexton's 'Cruel and Gentle Thing' December 20, 2005 • Singer, songwriter and guitarist Charlie Sexton burst out of Texas in 1985 with the hit, "Beat's so Lonely." He spent the next two decades working with veteran musicians such as the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and Ron Wood and Bob Dylan. Sexton's latest CD is titled "Cruel and Gentle Things." Charlie Sexton's 'Cruel and Gentle Thing' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5063314/5063315" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Charlie Sexton's 'Cruel and Gentle Thing' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5063314/5063315" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Top Music Picks for 2005 Music 2005: Ken Tucker's Top 10 Fresh Air December 20, 2005 • Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker offers his picks for the best music of the year, including Fiona Apple's latest album and a Bob Dylan DVD. He also addresses the topic of women in music, and he talks about the year in hip-hop. Tucker is the film critic for New York magazine. Music 2005: Ken Tucker's Top 10 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5061494/5061684" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music 2005: Ken Tucker's Top 10 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5061494/5061684" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Interviews Corky Siegel's Triple Blues Threat December 17, 2005 • Corky Siegel has new music out — just pick your album. The blues harmonica player has released three separate recordings this year, each featuring different players and styles. Corky Siegel's Triple Blues Threat Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5056799/5058303" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Corky Siegel's Triple Blues Threat Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5056799/5058303" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Top Music Picks for 2005 Meredith Ochs' Top 10 CDs of 2005 December 17, 2005 • NPR music reviewer Meredith Ochs shares her picks for the year's best CDs, from the "sacred-meets-profane" rock of the White Stripes to outlaw country singer Merle Haggard.