Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Walking Wounded" by the English duo, Everything But the Girl.

Fresh Air's classical music critic, Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Prokofiev violin music with violinist Gil Shaham. (Deutsche Grammophon)

World Music critic Milo Miles reviews Positive Black Soul's rap album "Salaam."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new collections: guitarist Rick Holmstrom's "Look Out," (Black Top) and Ronnie Dawson's "Just Rockin' & Rollin'" (Upstart).

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)

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "When We Were Good," a book about the folk revival by Robert Cantwell.

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.

Another segment from Ira Glass' new show, "This American Life": Chinese-American writer Sandra Tsing Loh with a story about her eccentric father who lives in LA. He was hitch-hiking one day and was picked up by actress Angelica Huston.

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)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new CD by Ani DiFranco, "Dilate."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new reissue "Now's the Time (1957-58)," by saxophonist Hal McKusick. (Decca)

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.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Sonny Rollins +3" (Milestone).

Jazz bassist Charlie Haden. He's released his fifth album with his Quartet West, "Now is the Hour," (Verve). Haden formed the quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked with jazz musicians Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. And he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and others. Last year Haden released a much regarded album of spirituals with pianist Hank Jones, "Steal Away--Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs."

An excerpt from the new public radio program "This American Life" by Ira Glass. Miles Davis' biographer shares his memories, and funny stories about Davis. "This American Life" premiers nationally in June.

Commentator Gerald Early reflects on what would have been the 70th birthday of trumpeter Miles Davis.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews new collections and a reissue of Curtis Mayfield's work: "People Get Ready!" (Rhino) and "Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: The Anthology 1961-1977 (MCA), and the reissue "Curtis Mayfield's Chicago Soul," (Columbia Legacy).