Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'music'

Thom Yorke On Trumpet: Christian Scott And 'The Eraser'

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:43:00 EDT

Here's some new music by buzzed-about trumpeter Christian Scott. And here are comments from NPR Music's twenty-something interns, who don't follow the trail of jazz buzz — but who do like Thom Yorke and Radiohead.

Sony, Michael Jackson Estate Sign Music Deal

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EDT

Sony Music has signed a historic $250 million deal with pop singer Michael Jackson's estate for previously unreleased music and the late singer's catalog. Ethan Smith, the music industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, says it's hard to say what's in the archives, but there could be two albums worth of songs.

Broken Bells: Danger Mouse Meets James Mercer

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:22:00 EDT

What happens you blend the sounds of The Shins' frontman James Mercer and producer Danger Mouse? After meeting at a Danish music festival six years ago, the two are now collaborating under the name Broken Bells. Melissa Block tries to uncover the source of the duo's tweaked sounds in an interview.

Nat King Cole: Original Five-Tool Jazz Player

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Over the course of his life, Nat King Cole became a jazz innovator and an icon of American popular music. Take Five celebrates Cole's birthday — he was born on March 17, 1919 — with a "five-tool" (that's baseball lingo, we'll explain) approach, highlighting the breadth of his work.

Solas: America's Wild Irish Rose

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EDT

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with an Irish jig? The members of Solas are all American, but they play Celtic folk music with authority. In a session from Folk Alley, the quintet performs an instrumental from The Turning Tide, and two songs featuring vocalist Mairead Phelan.

March 23: Joanna Newsom, Live In Concert

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:50:00 EDT

When Newsom first emerged on the musical landscape in 2004 with The Milk-Eyed Mender, a lot of people thought she was a whimsical novelty act. But this year, the singer returned with a stunningly ambitious, three-disc collection called Have One on Me. Newsom's voice has matured; the orchestrations are richer and the themes darker. Hear the singer perform live in a full concert, webcast on NPR.org from Washington, D.C.

The Thistle And Shamrock: Fiddle Styles

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:48:00 EDT

Sample the tasty fiddle flavors of music from Celtic roots with Catriona Macdonald, Pete Clark and Celtic Fiddle Festival.

Hilary Hahn: Violin And Voices Entwined In Bach

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:53:00 EDT

Bach's cantatas contain some of his greatest music, but their individual sections are seldom performed out of context, least of all by celebrities. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says Hillary Hahn's new CD, Bach: Violin and Voice provides a welcome exception to this rule.

An Irish Music Stream For St. Patrick's Day

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EDT

Folk Alley has assembled over 7 hours of music by some of their favorite Irish musicians. You'll hear a mix of familiar and new artists, including Mary Black, Solas, Danu, John Doyle, Donal Lunny, Connie Dover, Andy Irvine, Planxty, Grada, The Chieftains (of course) and much, much more! SlÃ¡inte mhaith!

A Chopin Ballade To Blow You Away

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Adam Neiman lets his fingers do the talking, tearing into the dramatic Ballade No. 4 by Chopin. The young American pianist says the music tells a story that's both ferocious and tender. Neiman also plays a piece of his own in NPR's studio.

SXSW Geeks Out Before The Music

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

In Austin, Texas, hundreds of innovators in film, music and technology are gathering at the annual South by Southwest Festival. Guest host Audie Cornish checks in with Weekend Edition Sunday host Liane Hansen, who reports from the festival on some of the new technologies on display there.

At 72, Veteran Musician Scores in a New Scene

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:07:00 EDT

Best known for his sly, sexy party anthems, 72-year-old Andre Williams toiled in the music industry trenches for decades, battling homelessness and addiction along the way. Now he's been rediscovered by young white rockers.

'Parking Lot': Guys, Cars And The Meaning Of Life

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:23:00 EST

One of the buzz movies at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival depicts the denizens of the Corner Parking Lot in Charlottesville, Va., whose attendants are a surprisingly lively bunch of poets, philosophers, musicians and anthropologists. Sandy Hausman reports from member station WVTF.

Tammy Wynette: The 'Tragic Country Queen'

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:49:00 EST

When Tammy Wynette died in 1998, she was known as the First Lady of Country Music. Her music expressed drama and, judging by Jimmy McDonough's new biography, there was no shortage of it in her own life. Read an excerpt from his book, Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen, here.

Meaghan Smith's Modern Vintage Sound

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:08:00 EST

The Canadian singer grew up watching old movies and musicals in London, Ontario. She took those influences and turned them into an album that sounds both old-fashioned and timeless. Its title is The Cricket's Orchestra.

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists On World Cafe

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:56:00 EST

The band's 1999 debut fused punk, reggae and dub music, but Leo has gone in several other directions since: He and The Pharmacists have crafted a contagious and infectious sound that also incorporates pop, rock, soul, folk and more.

Loston Harris On Piano Jazz

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:05:00 EST

The singer and pianist began his musical study as a percussionist, but shifted to the piano after Ellis Marsalis overheard him tinkering at the keys. Today, the Loston Harris Trio is a mainstay of the Bemelmans Bar at Manhattan's Carlyle Hotel. On this episode of Piano Jazz, Harris and guest host Michael Feinstein sit down to discuss the cabaret tradition — and, of course, play a few tunes.

New Music Emerges From Elkhart's Instrument Past

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:09:00 EST

Dozens of band instrument makers used to be part of the local economy in Elkhart, Ind. But since the city was battered by the economy, only three major companies remain. One says it will only manufacture instruments in the U.S. — and it will hire new workers to grow the business and regain market share.

Cruisin' At Lightspeed: Songs For Space Travel

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

Mankind has been dreaming about flying in space ever since we began looking up to the stars. Once flight and space travel became a reality, songs about flying to the heavens entered the mainstream musical world. In that spirit, here are some stellar (and interstellar) tracks by Billy Murray, The Byrds and David Bowie.

The Thistle And Shamrock: Welsh Roots

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:34:00 EST

Check out some of the emerging roots music from Wales with established and emerging artists, including master of the Welsh triple harp Robin Huw Bowen and singer songwriter Meic Stevens.

Mark Linkous, A Flawed Hero

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST

All Songs Considered producer Robin Hilton reflects on the loss of Mark Linkous, the imaginative mind and voice behind the music of Sparklehorse. Linkous killed himself this past weekend, two months after the loss of another artist to suicide, Vic Chesnutt.

SXSW 2010 Preview

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:53:00 EST

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen chats with NPR Monitor Mix blogger Carrie Brownstein, All Songs Considered producer Robin Hilton and NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson about some of the bands they're most looking forward to seeing at this year's South by Southwest music festival. Hear music from some great discoveries, including the metal group Black Cobra and rapper Rye Rye.

Five Songs, Ten Classic Tenor Titans

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

The tenor sax is a powerful instrument. This is especially apparent in music created by mighty jazz masters whose skills shaped sounds still reflected in present-day compositions. Hear five great pairings, battles and studio jam sessions.

Barber's 'Adagio': Naked Expression Of Emotion

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:35:00 EST

There's a simple logic behind Samuel Barber's emotional Adagio. It progresses from a single note to high emotional wailing to release to final acceptance. On today's centennial of Barber's birth, take a guided tour of the music with commentator Rob Kapilow.

Lloyd Webber's Phantom, Yearning For 'Love' Again

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

The new musical Love Never Dies revisits the tragic love triangle of The Phantom of the Opera — 10 years later, in turn-of-the-century Coney Island. The show opens March 9 in London's West End.