Music

O'Farrill is an introspective player whose solos insinuate themselves to listeners. His new album proves he's as adept at matching wits with his peers and elders as he is nurturing his protégés.

Rock critic KEN TUCKER reviews Kacey Musgrave's new album Middle of Nowhere and Jimmy McDonough’s biography of the 1970s-era singer Gary Stewart called I Am from the Honky Tonks.

Reid's quartet makes music that seems inspired by a variety of sources, ranging from modern dance to children's games. Her latest album is one of her most compelling.

Ann Marie Baldonado interviews Will Sharpe who stars in the new limited series "Amadeus"

We remember conductor, composer and musician MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS. He was a longtime music director of The San Francisco Symphony, known for his innovation, his ability to translate classical music for the general public, and for fostering contemporary music. He founded the New World Symphony for young players. He got his musical inheritance from his grandparents, who were stars of the Yiddish theatre. Tilson died last week at age 81. He had battled brain cancer since 2022. (THESE INTERVIEWS ARE REBROADCAST. THEY ORIGINALLY AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 and MARCH 28, 2012.)

Terry Gross interviews singer songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist ST. VINCENT, also known as Annie Clark. (REBROADCAST)

Jazz historian KEVIN WHITEHEAD reviews two new jazz biographies: Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Jazz Genius of James P. Johnson by Scott E. Brown; and Cosmic: Music: The Life, Art and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane by Andy Beta.

Jazz historian KEVIN WHITEHEAD marks the centennial of jazz pianist and composer Randy Weston.

A new documentary about Paul McCartney, his life after the breakup of The Beatles and the formation of his band Wings is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film was made by our guest, Morgan Neville. He also directed documentaries about Fred Rogers, Anthony Bourdain and Orson Welles, as well as many prominent musicians, and has won an Oscar, Emmy and Grammy. Morgan Neville spoke with FRESH AIR's Ann Marie Baldonado.

There have been so many extraordinary iterations of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers that some remarkable editions have been overlooked — including Strasbourg 82, a newly discovered concert album.

Moroney's album arrives as a new kind of music from Big Pink: The Georgia-born singer/songwriter spins out tales of romantic revenge with a smooth fluency that's a stark contrasts to her raspy drawl.

Meyers, who died March 7, helped shape Tex-Mex music with the '60s band Sir Douglas Quintet and then with the Texas Tornados. His signature sound was on the vox organ. Originally broadcast in 1990.

(1.) Actor, writer, and producer RIZ AHMED. He stars in the new Prime Video series Bait, and in the upcoming film Hamlet, a modern reimagining of Shakespeare's *classic set in London's South Asian community (in theaters April 10th). Ahmed has built a distinctive career in film and television, from a rebellious intelligence officer in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a young Pakistani American on trial for murder in HBO's The Night Of, a performance that made him the first Muslim and first South Asian man to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Book Binder, who died March 3, was known for Southern blues and hillbilly music, and great story telling. He recorded with Fresh Air in 1987, playing music and reflecting on his career on the road.

Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter and actor JILL SCOTT. She recently released her sixth studio album “To Whom This May Concern”--her first new music in a decade. SCOTT has been making music for more than 25 years. Her 2000 debut, “Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1” was well received with double platinum sales, three Grammy nominations and a sound that helped define neo-soul.

Sedaka, who died Feb. 27, was a classical piano prodigy whose hits in the late '50s and early '60s included "Calendar Girl" and "Breaking up is Hard to Do." Originally broadcast in 2007.

Five albums into their career, the band exudes a cocky confidence in its ability to use rock songs as vehicles for both social commentary and personal angst.

Kate Hudson. She's up for an Oscar for her role as Claire in the film "Song Sung Blue," starring opposite Hugh Jackman as one half of Lightning & Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute band.

Peplowski, who died Feb. 2, started playing clarinet professionally at age 10 and went on to perform with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and to record on his own. Originally broadcast July 7, 1999.

Saadiq helped shape modern R&B and soul in Tony! Toni! Toné! and as a solo artist. Now he's up for an Oscar for his song, "I Lied to You" from the film Sinners. Originally broadcast July 8, 2025.