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Music Reviews

Brian Eno Albums Remastered for Compact Disc

Brian Eno is known most as a producer of other people's music: David Bowie, the Talking Heads and U2 to name a few. In the 1970s, after leaving the band Roxy Music, Eno made four now-legendary albums that have been remastered onto CD. Reviewer Mikel Jollett talks about the recordings.

Brian Eno Albums Remastered for Compact Disc

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Albert Ayler: 'Holy Ghost'

Fresh Air

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new box set Albert Ayler: Holy Ghost, celebrating the saxophonist and composer. Through renewed interest — and a string of reissues — Ayler has grown increasingly influential and appreciated in recent years.

Albert Ayler: 'Holy Ghost'

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Catchy and Rare: 'A John Waters Christmas'

Fresh Air

Director John Waters, known for making art from sleaze, has a new CD for the season, A John Waters Christmas. It includes such songs as "Here Comes Fatty Claus" and "Little Mary Christmas" — all from the man once crowned the "Pope of Trash" by William Burroughs.

Catchy and Rare: 'A John Waters Christmas'

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Chris Douridas: Ray LaMontagne, 'Trouble'

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks with Chris Douridas of member station KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif., about up-and-coming musician Ray LaMontagne, a former shoe factory worker with a distinctive singing voice and signature songwriting style who now has a hit debut album, Trouble.

Chris Douridas: Ray LaMontagne, 'Trouble'

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Director's Cuts

Director's Cuts Music Picks for the Holidays

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.

Director's Cuts Music Picks for the Holidays

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Marking the Coleman Hawkins Centennial

This week marks the centennial of the birth of Coleman Hawkins, the jazz saxophonist who helped define his instrument. A new recording compiles some of Coleman Hawkins' best work, and critic Jim Fusilli says it's a must-have for any fan of American music.

Marking the Coleman Hawkins Centennial

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Kings of Convenience May Put Norway Back on Musical Map

The Norwegian acoustic pop duo Kings of Convenience once titled one of their albums Quiet Is the New Loud. They get even quieter on a new CD, Riot on Empty Street. Meredith Ochs has a review.

Kings of Convenience May Put Norway Back on Musical Map

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Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones Remixed on New CD

Tom Terrell reviews a CD of funk collaborations between Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby, The Original Jam Sessions: 1969, and a companion CD called The New Mixes Volume One. He says while the 1969 tracks were fairly ordinary, the remixes are full of musical surprises.

Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones Remixed on New CD

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