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Director's Cuts As music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, 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.
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Director's Cuts

Keep tabs on what's new and noteworthy in the music world with NPR's Ned Wharton.
Weekend Edition's Annual Music Gift Guide

Weekend Edition's Annual Music Gift Guide

Weekend Edition's music director picks hidden gems in jazz, world music, classical and rock. This years artists include The Black Keys, Sonos, El Guincho, and more.

Weekend Edition's Annual Music Gift Guide

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The 11th Annual Director's Cuts Gift Guide

The 11th Annual Director's Cuts Gift Guide

So far, 2009 has been the year of Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Lady Gaga. But if you're looking for music gift ideas beyond the blockbusters, Weekend Edition director Ned Wharton picks a few hidden gems.

The 11th Annual Director's Cuts Gift Guide

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Director's Cuts: The 10th Anniversary Edition

Ned Wharton with Liane Hansen in 1999. courtesy of Ned Wharton hide caption

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courtesy of Ned Wharton

Director's Cuts: The 10th Anniversary Edition

Liane Hansen isn't the only one celebrating 20 years at Weekend Edition. Director Ned Wharton has been around since Hansen's first music interview, and has been making music recommendations for a decade. He checks up on three artists previously featured on the program.

Director's Cuts: The 10th Anniversary Edition

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Best Music Of 2008

The 10th Annual CD, Er, MP3 Gift Guide

Today's environmental and global financial crises have Weekend Edition's Ned Wharton abuzz. In presenting his yearly music recommendations, he explains how digital downloads make a perfect holiday gift for these times.

The 10th Annual CD, Er, MP3 Gift Guide

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Best Music of 2007

CD Gift Guide for 2007

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton is back with his annual gift guide. He's surveyed the 2007 releases, and offers these suggestions for the jazz, rock, classical and world music fans on your shopping list.

CD Gift Guide for 2007

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Review

Americana Artists Tap into Their Roots

Popular artists are shaking up traditional Americana music with bold interpretations and musical influences from around the world. Weekend Edition Sunday Music Director Ned Wharton recommends some Americana CDs by Viktor Krauss, Kevin Breit and Harry Manx.

Americana Artists Tap into Their Roots

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Review

Music DVDs That Beat Expectations

Occasionally a music DVD comes along that exceeds expectations. Shanda, a documentary about Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi, and Flow,a look at the jazz of trumpeter Terence Blanchard, go the extra mile.

Music DVDs That Beat Expectations

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Review

Grammy's Hidden Surprises

Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake and the Dixie Chicks are just a few of the big names in contention at the 49th annual Grammy Awards. But this year's list of nominees also offers plenty of gems beyond the obvious blockbusters.

Grammy's Hidden Surprises

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Review

Animated Sounds for the Younger Set

Every once in a while, rockers take a stab at reaching a new generation of listeners, with decidedly mixed results. The movies are a lucrative way into the tween market. Among the artists making music for recent animated films are indie rockers Ben Folds and Paul Westerberg.

Animated Sounds for the Younger Set

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Review

Director's Cuts: Third Album's A Charm

Kaki King and Vienna Teng first performed on Weekend Edition Sunday in 2004. Since then, their musical styles have evolved. Teng's forthcoming album intimately showcases her talent as a pianist and vocalist. King has moved past the acoustic instrumentals of her earlier discs with her latest album, coming in August.

Director's Cuts: Third Album's A Charm

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Review

The Power of the Human Voice

Two new discs from far-flung places that highlight the instrumental power of the human voice: Czechoslovakian crooner Sui Vesan sings in an invented language, and Italian singer Gianmaria Testa's velvety voice belies his day job as a station master for the Italian rail system.

The Power of the Human Voice

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Review

The Grammy Awards

Director's Cuts: Grammy Time

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton takes a look beyond Mariah and Bono at some Grammy nominated music you might not have heard. Jimmy Sturr's Shake, Rattle and Polka, anyone?

Director's Cuts: Grammy Time

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Review

Director's Cuts: A Little Retro Action

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews some new CDs that harken back to the sound of the '60s: The Greenhornes' East Grand Blues, Iron & Wine's Woman King and Man Alive! by Stephen Stills.

Director's Cuts: A Little Retro Action

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A Brief Tour of Summer Music Festivals

The summer of 2005 may not go down in history as another Summer of Love, but Woodstock's legacy includes a summertime routine of music festivals across the country. Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton lists some of the best bets.

A Brief Tour of Summer Music Festivals

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Review

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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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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Director's Cuts: Dads and Kids

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews the work of two artists with famous musician dads who're blazing their own unique paths: Emilie Berstein, daughter of film score composer Elmer Bernstein, and pianist Peter John Stoltzman, son of Grammy-winning clarinetist Richard Stoltzman.

Director's Cuts: Dads and Kids

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Director's Cuts: The 2003 CD Gift Guide

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton presents his annual holiday gift guide, with the latest edition of "Director's Cuts." Suggestions include the Blind Boys of Alabama (left), whose new CD, Go Tell It On the Mountain, features vocals by Tom Wait, Chrissie Hynde and others.

Director's Cuts: The 2003 CD Gift Guide

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