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Music Reviews

Tinariwen Makes Music a Powerful Weapon

Tinariwen formed in the refugee camps of Libya and Algeria. They've carried instruments and rifles in their lives, and fought for the freedom of their Tuareg people. Their music is a mix of North African blues and at times reggae-influenced. Chris Nickson reviews their CD, Amassakoul.

Tinariwen Makes Music a Powerful Weapon

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Director's Cuts

Director's Cuts: Frank Zappa's Music Legacy

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.

Director's Cuts: Frank Zappa's Music Legacy

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Dowland Project Blends Traditional and New Music

Tom Manoff reviews the most recent release from John Potter, a former member of the vocal group the Hilliard Ensemble That group performed 17th-century music and blending it with old and new instruments. John Potter's latest release is Care-Charming Sleep, as part of the Dowland Project.

Dowland Project Blends Traditional and New Music

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Music

Singer John Martyn's 'On the Cobbles'

John Martyn is best known as a 1970s singer and songwriter with a great deep voice and strident guitar playing. He mixed jazz with folk, was a friend and contemporary of Nick Drake, and wrote a song called "May You Never," later made famous by guitarist Eric Clapton. Our reviewer Chris Nickson says that the latest John Martyn record, On The Cobbles, is his strongest record in decades. It comes after a long illness and the help of some loving and loyal friends and musicians.

Singer John Martyn's 'On the Cobbles'

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'Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster'

Fresh Air

Music critic Milo Miles reviews Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster, featuring performances by many contemporary artists, including John Prine, Yo Yo Ma and Mavis Staples.

'Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster'

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Duke Ellington Albums Reissued on CD

Fresh Air

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews new reissues of Duke Ellington recordings between 1950 and 1961: Blues in Orbit, Masterpieces By Ellington, Piano in the Background, and Piano in the Foreground.

Duke Ellington Albums Reissued on CD

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