Music

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers the record label Gee which recorded of the New York vocal group sound of the 1950s.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new CDS by Aimee Mann, the soundtrack for "Magnolia," and Michael Penn, "MP4."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews soprano Renee Fleming's new recording of Strauss Heroines with the Vienna Philharmonic, on the Decca label.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews “At the Close of a Century” (Motown) the new box set that collects the work of Stevie Wonder.

Historian Jon Wiener spent 14 years fighting to gain access to the FBI’s secret files on former Beatle John Lennon. Wiener’s Freedom of Information case went all the way to the Supreme Court before the FBI decided to settle. His new book “Gimme Some Truth” (University of California Press) outlines and reproduces the most important pages of the file, revealing that the Nixon administration plotted to deport Lennon in 1972 and silence him as a voice of the anti-war movement.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new solo piano CD by Keith Jarrett. It’s called “The Melody at Night, with You.”

Fresh Air’s Rock critic reviews the new CD by Fiona Apple.

Native American musician and songwriter Keith Secola. The music of Secola and his group, the Wild Band of Indians, is a hybrid of Rock, Folk and Tribal musics. Secola became a cult hero after the release of the contemporary Native anthem, ”Indian Cars.” Keith Secola and the Wild Band of Indians have a new CD called Fingermonkey

World Music critic Milo Miles shares the story of Savoy Records, an independent label that specialized in jazz, R&B, and gospel from the 1940s to the 60s.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Leon Kirchner: Historical Recordings" (Music and Arts)featuring the music of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Leon Kirchner who turns 81 this year.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews “The Raga Guide” (Nimbus label/Allegro) a four CD introduction to Indian Raga music.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Weatherhole" the new release by Michael Hurley, formerly of the Unholy Modal Rounders.

Conductor Benjamin Zander, of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been called "a Pied Piper" of classical music and "one of music's evangelists." His passionate performances have earned him quite a following. Through his teaching and his pre-concert discussions, he has tried to spread his love of classical music to a wider public. He has conducted the Boston Philharmonic for over 20 years. His recording of Mahler's Ninth Symphony was just nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance.

Fresh Air Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Puccini’s Il Trittico (ill TRIT-I-co). Schwartz says this group of one-act operas contains some of Puccini’s best music.

Singer/Songwriter Marshall Crenshaw. He will talk about and sing songs from his new CD, “No. 447.” Crenshaw has been writing, recording and performing his songs for some 20 years. “No. 447” is his 10 th album. Singer/Songwriter Marshall Crenshaw. He will talk about and sing songs from his new CD, “No. 447.” Crenshaw has been writing, recording and performing his songs for some 20 years. “No. 447” is his 10 th album.

Fresh Air Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the Marcus Roberts Trio CD "In Honor of Duke."

Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker gives us HIS ten best list for the year 1999, and then picks the recordings from the century he'd take with him If he were stranded on a desert Island.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz tells us what music he most wants to remember from the 20th Century. His selections come from the new box set “Stravinsky REV: Conducting Stravinsky” (Sony), The Dvorak Cello Concerto with Pablo Casals (EMI Reference disc), Joseph Szigeti’s Prokofiev Concerto (Pearl), Artur Schnabel on a currently out-of-print Schubert CD (Arabesque). And Maria Callas’s recordings (EMI)

Curtis Mayfield, the great soul singer and songwriter, died yesterday at the age of 57. We'll remember him with a 1993 interview. (3/23/1993)

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new John Harbison opera, The Great Gatsby, based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald.