Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Tropical Brainstorm the final album by the late British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead continues with part three of his Avant-Garde Made Easy series. This time he considers composer, improviser and saxophonist Anthony Braxton.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Isolation Drills the new release by the band Guided by Voices.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead begins a new six-part series we call Avant-Garde Made Easy, highlighting some of the important modern jazz mavericks of the so-called Avant Garde. Today we consider the music of trumpeter Lester Bowie.

Joey Ramone the lead singer of the punk band The Ramones. He died on Sunday at the age of 49. He had lymphoma. From their start in 1974, the Ramones combined fast, deafening guitar with precise drumming to create a hurricane of sound. Their songs had titles like Beat on the Brat, Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment and Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue.

Classical pianist and conductor Murray Perahia. Hes been exploring the music of J.S. Bach in his recordings. His latest is Bachs Keyboard Concertos vol. 1 which he recorded and conducted with the St. Martin in the Fields ensemble. He also recorded the Goldberg Variations and Bachs complete English Suites. (All are on Sony Classical). In 1994 Perahia suffered a thumb injury that left him unable to play regularly for a year. He took up his first conducting post as Principal Guest conductor of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. They just completed a 10-city tour.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews a new anthology of music by singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, “Morning Glory”

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead begins a new six-part series we call Avant-Garde Made Easy, highlighting some of the important modern jazz mavericks of the so-called Avant Garde. We begin the series with pianist, composer, and band leader Sun Ra.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews 2 new albums: “Just Push Play” by Aerosmith and “Crown Royal” by Run DMC.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us about Chicago singer and songwriter Barbara Acklin who almost made it big.

Rock Historian Ed Ward talks about Pub Rock.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews, Poisonville, the new CD by singer Ronny Elliott.

In 2000, saxophonist Joe Lovano was voted Down Beat Readers and Critics Poll Winner Tenor Player of the Year. Early in his career, Lovano played with Woody Herman and the Mel Lewis Orchestra. He's also worked with Elvin Jones, Carla Bley, Lee Konitz and Charlie Haden. And he played with the Paul Motian Trio which featured his Berklee School of music classmate, Bill Frisell. In 1991 he began work as a leader, and has recorded a number of albums. His latest is Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination, Edition Two.

The founder of the Mamas and the Papas, John Phillips. He died of heart failure on Sunday. He was 65. Phillips was the principal songwriter for the pop group which had a string of hits from 1966 to 1968 when the group broke up. Their hits included Monday, Monday, California Dreamin, I Saw Her Again Last Night and others.

Already an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a duo with Art Garfunkel, next week he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a solo artist. As a solo artist, his albums include Still Crazy After All These Years, Graceland, and Rhythm of the Saints. His new album is You're The One.

ken Tucker reviews "Catchali" the new release by the band Swag.

Critic Ken Tucker reviews Dog in the Sand by Frank Black and the Catholics.

Whitehead reviews the complete Blue Note sessions of tenor saxophonist Don Wilkerson.

MILES reviews music by Persian musician Kayhan Kalhor .His solo albums –Scattering Stars Like Dust— and –Night Silence Desert— are on the Traditional Crossroads label.