Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "I Feel Alright" (Warner Bros) the latest release by country-rock artist Steve Earle.

Michael Cuscuna and Charlie Lourie are co-founders of Mosaic Records, a label committed to reissuing classic jazz recordings, many of them originally recorded by Blue Note. The two have also collaborated on the new book, "The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff," (Rizzoli International Publications). It includes 200 photographs taken by Francis Wolff from 1941-1965, who also co-founded the Blue Note label. Many of Wolff's photographs were used as Blue Note album covers.

Milo Miles reviews "Heart of the Congos" by The Congos. (Blood and Fire, USA--in L.A.)

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.

Mezzo-Soprano Lorraine Hunt. She appeared in Peter Sellars' productions of Handel and Mozart. Hunt has been called the "reigning Handel diva of our day." Hunt's Handel recordings can be found on the Harmonia Mundi label. Her latest is "Handel: Ariodante."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the latest recording by mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt: "Handel's Ariodante" on the Harmonia Mundi label.

Rock historian Ed Ward on one of the forgotten heroines of rhythm and blues: Camille Howard. She played piano with Roy Milton and his sold Senders during the 1940s and 1950s. She also made a couple of hit recordings of her own. ("Camille Howard, Vol. 1: Rock Me Daddy" -- Speciality Records (Dist. by Fantasy, Berkeley, CA)

Rock critic Ken Tucker tells us about the latest British invasion: Spacehog (their new album is "Resident Alien"--Sire Records), Black Grape ("It's Great When You're Straight"--Radioactive Records) and Pulp ("Different Class"--Island Records).

Rosanne Cash. The singer/lyricist has released nine albums. In 1985 she won a Grammy for "I don't Know Why You Don't Want Me." Cash is the daughter of Johnny Cash. She currently has a new album, "Ten-Song Demo" (Capitol Records) and her first work of fiction: "Bodies of Water" (Hyperion) a collection of nine short stories. One reviewer writes, "her talent as a lyricist translates beautifully into short fiction."

Co-host of NPR's All Things Considered, Noah Adams, has written a book called "Piano Lessons,"(Delacorte Press) describing his one year study of the piano after years of admiration and longing, amidst the busy schedule of a twelve-hour work day.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new reissue of Anthony Davis's "Episteme" (Gramavision).

Rock Critic Ken Tucker review's Lou Reed's new album "Set the Twilight Reeling."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new two-disc set of historical recordings of the theater music of Kurt Weill: "From Berlin to Broadway," (Pearl Records)

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.

World Music critic Milo Miles comments on his three favorite Latin releases of the last few months.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg discusses Gerry Mulligan, jazz, and the use of the world cool.

Part Two of Rock historian Ed Ward's piece on the burgeoning Austin, Texas music scene. The SXSW (South by Southwest Music & Media Conference) is meeting at the Austin convention Center March 13-17.

Rock historian Ed Ward on the burgeoning Austin, Texas music scene. The SXSW (South by Southwest Music & Media Conference) is meeting at the Austin convention Center March 13-17.

Poet, musician Dave Alvin, is best known for his songwriting and guitar playing for the Blasters and the influential punk band X, as well as his solo career. He has a new collection of his poems and writings called, "Any Rough Times Are Now Behind You,"(Incommunicado)

Veteran music businessman Bill Alder, and poet Bob Holman are partners of Mouth Almighty Records which is distributing the condensed soundtrack of the PBS series, "The United States of Poetry", a MTV version of the spoken words featuring everything from rappers to beat poets. (the label Mouth Almighty, is distributed by Mercury Records, in New York, 212-333-8000)