Pop

Music critic Milo Miles reviews the new CD "Funk Power," a collection of recordings by James Brown and the J.B.'s during the heydey of his 1970s funk period.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews Toni Braxton's second album "Secrets." from La Face Records. Her debut album in 1993 yielded five hit singles.

Earle's new CD is "I Feel Alright" from E-squared/Warner Brothers. He also recently had a song in the movie "Dead Man Walking" called "Ellis Unit One." His new album is called "I Feel Alright." Earle had a past as a drug user and prisoner, but has since turned his life around.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews funk legend George Clinton's new CD "T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M."

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor Willie Nelson recently released two new albums. With "Spirit," Nelson is the first country musician to record with Island Records. He recorded "How Great Thou Art" with his sister, Bobbie Nelson. That CD is a collection of gospel standards, like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."

Toussaint has been making hit records for nearly 40 years. He has a new record label, NYNO, on which he released "Connected" his first full-length national release in two decades.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews new releases of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues: "Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans 1947-1974," a 4-CD set on the EMI label.

A concert and interview with vocalist Susannah McCorkle, accompanied by pianist Cliff Korman. Last week, McCorkle finished a cabaret of Cole Porter tunes in New York City. "The Passionate Cole Porter" was an attempt to prove that Porter was not an unfeeling observer of romance. She also has a CD featuring Cole Porter tunes, "Easy To Love" (Concord Jazz). McCorkle is the youngest singer ever to be included in the Smithsonian Institution's "Popular Music Record Series."

Author, jazz writer and musician, Stuart Nicholson. He is an expert on and biographer of late jazz great Ella Fitzgerald. Through interviews with those closest to her,. "Ella Fitzgerald: A Biography of the First Lady of Jazz" (1994, Charlse Scribner's Sons) shows the public and private side of the media-shy legend. In her career of over 60 years, she gained the admiration of her contemporaries in the business. At the age of 79 and after years of suffering from diabetes, Fitzgerald died Saturday (June 15) at her home in California.

The singer and performer died over the weekend of heart failure. He was 64. Born Herbert B. Khaury, Tim began performing in the 1950s. He was best known for his performances on Laugh-In, especially his crooning of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips." In this interview from earlier this year, Tim performs some songs on his ukulele. (Rebroadcast)

Singer and performer Tiny Tim. Born Herbert B. Khaury, Tim began performing in the 1950s. He is best known for his performances on Laugh-In, especially his croonings of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips." At 65, the long-haired, white-faced TIM is as passionate about old songs as ever... and as odd as ever.

Guitarist Carl Finch. His band, Brave Combo, just released "Girl" (Rounder) in conjunction with the legendary Tiny Tim. Brave Combo is a Texas world beat polka band and the members weren't sure what to expect when they began working on this project with the eccentric Tiny Tim eight years ago. The CD features many familiar tunes (including "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Hey Jude" and even "Stairway to Heaven") like they've never been performed before.

Fresh Air Producer Amy Salit interviews singer Alejandro Escovedo. He's formerly with the band True Believers. Escovedo is esteemed for his songwriting ability and described as "poet of the ordinary event." His new solo release is "With These Hands," (Rykodisc)

Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello. Previously with the band The Attractions, he later went solo. Since then he has performed and recorded with The Brodsky Quartet and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. He's written about 300 songs. His new release is "All This Useless Beauty" (Warner Bros) which he recorded with The Attractions.

"Society" Pianist Peter Mintun for a concert and interview in the Fresh Air Studio. He specializes in popular song classics of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. He just finished an engagement at the Carlyle Hotel's Bemelmans Bar in New York City and returns there in August. His recordings can be found on the Premier Recordings Label.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the latest release by Hootie and the Blowfish "Fairweather Johnson" (Atlantic)

World Music critic Milo Miles tells us about the concert he recently attended by the albino singer from Mali, Salif Keita. His new album is "Folon" on the Mango label.

Singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel is the former leader of American Music Club, which meshed blues, country, folk, R&B and post-punk rock. He's just released his first solo album, "60 Watt Silver Lining" (Warner Bros). He's backed by a jazz trio.

Record producer Nick Venet. He has produced more than 300 albums in his career and has collected numerous Grammy nominations and awards. He is co-producer of a new Bobby Darin box set (Rhino). Venet was also Darin's producer and friend.