Music

We'll broadcast a studio performance with Rosemary Clooney next week. For now, we share this excerpt which we couldn't fit into the final broadcast.

Commentator Milo Miles looks at the singing career of Jesse Stone. Stone helped shape the sound that was to become rock and roll. As chief arranger during the early days of Atlantic records, he guided the company towards a more swinging, urbane sound. A new collection focuses on his own singing career.

Our music critic says Spice, the debut from the British act the Spice Girls, is tough and catchy fluff.

Freelance journalist and music critic Fred Goodman. In a new book, "The Mansion on The Hill" Goodman chronicles how the record industry has changed rock 'n roll from the music of the counterculture to a billion dollar commercial enterprise. Goodman's past publications have appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, New York, and Spy.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the CD "Serpentine," featuring drummer Han Bennink and trumpeter Dave Douglas.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles veteran bluesman Z.Z. Hill. Hill's career spanned decades, but took off in the 1980s, just when rap was becoming the dominant form of black music.

Commentator Milo Miles reviews two new re-releases of singer Tracy Nelson's earlier recordings with the band Mother Earth. Nelson is still making albums today, but Miles says they don't have the same looseness and charm as these reissues.

A live concert in the WHYY Forum with jazz clarinetist Don Byron and his "Bug Orchestra." On their new recording "Bug Music," they play the music of The Raymond Scott Quintette, John Kirby & His Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra -- and a lot of cartoon music. Byron has become best known for playing klezmer, but musically he's all over the map: he plays jazz with his Don Byron Quintet, modern classical music with the Semaphore quintet, and he toured Europe with Music for Six Musicians, an Afro-Cuban ensemble.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the honky-tonk artist Johnny Paycheck's "The Real Mr. Heartache," a reissue of his recordings from the 1960s.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new release by the acclaimed record producer, called "The Day."

Record produce and songwriter Neil Innes is a member of The Rutles, the band which he and Eric Idle of Monty Python that spoofed the Beatles. The band has recently been reunited and has a new collection called "Archaeology." The Rutles first came to the attention of the public in 1978 when their spoof documentary "All You Need is Cash" aired. Innes also co-founded the comedy group The Bonzo Dog Band.

Born in Connecticut, Brubeck is the son of jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. He's been involved in classical music since college at Yale, and is a member of the Berkeley Symphony. In addition, he performs jazz both locally and internationally, composes for Club Foot Orchestra and leads the group Oranj Symphonette. Their debut album is"Oranj Symphonette Plays Mancini," which features original interpretations of the easy listening music of Henry Mancini.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us about surf music. The genre's had a resurgence, in part because of it's use in Quentin Tarantino's film "Pulp Fiction."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "The Sun Died," by tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin. It's a tribute to to the late musician Gene Ammons.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews classic opera re-releases from the Sony Masterworks Heritage Vocal Series.

Lane died yesterday at the age of 84. His wife says he suffered a stroke. He's written the scores for several Broadway shows, including "Finian's Rainbow" and "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." Lane collaborated with Michael Feinstein on the album, "Michael Feinstein Sings the Burton Lane Songbook", which features many of Lane's classic songs, such as "Old Devil Moon" and "How About You." This interview originally aired 11/5/90.

A review of the year's best pop music with critic Ken Tucker. He'll talk with Terry about his favorite albums and artists.

An in-studio concert and interview with singer/songwriter, guitarist Richard Thompson. He first became known for his work with "Fairport Convention." He's since gone solo and is known for his dark songs which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews one of his favorite albums of the year, "Odelay" by Beck. Tucker says it took him repeated listens to truly appreciate the artist's craft.

Film critic John Powers review the new Australian film "Shine." The story was inspired by the troubled life of classical pianist David Helfgott.