Music

Guest film critic Steve Vineberg reviews "Georgia."

Arranger and baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan died Saturday, January 20th, from complications due to surgery. He was 68. We will rebroadcast a 1989 interview with him. Mulliagn was an innovator in modern jazz orchestration. Early in his career he was staff arranger for Gene Krupa's big band. In 1949 he collaborated with Gil Evans and Miles Davis in the Nonet. The nine-piece band shook up jazz arrangers and launched the era of so-called cool jazz. He achieved international acclaim when he started a "pianoless" quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker in the early 1950's.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the tribute album to Buddy Holly, "Not Fade Away."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Kirk Franklin and the Family.

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a recording by Maria Joao Pires and Augustin Dumay of Mozart and Brahms sonatas on the DG label. Schwartz is Classic Music Editor for the Boston Phoenix.

Record producer, musician, and composer Ben Vaughn. The New. Jersey-based musician, and a favorite with Fresh Air, has relocated to L.A. to work in film and television. He composed the theme music for the new sitcom, "Third Rock from the Sun," starring John Lithgow, and Jane Curtin, which premieres tonight (TUES, JAN 9, at 8:30 PM ET/PT on NBC). Vaughn most recent release is "Instrumental Stylings" (Bar/None).

Music commentator Milo Miles tells us about Mud Boy and the Neutrons. Their new CD is "They Walk Among Us" (Koch)

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new 3-CD box set of music by the Soprano Maria Callas, "Maria Callas at Juilliard--The Masterclasses" (EMI)

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives us his year's best.

A concert with jazz singer Rebecca Kilgore, accompanied by pianist David Frishberg. Kilgore is known as Portland's premier singer, and is just now emerging as a major talent. She and Frishberg comprise one of the longest running jazz duos in the country. Kilgore's latest CD is "I Saw Stars." "I Saw Stars" with Dan Barrett's Celestial Six, Arbors Records [ARCD 19136, 1994. Her first CD release was "Looking at You", with Dave Frishberg on piano, [PHD Music, 1994.] Includes a preview of tomorrow's concert with Dave Frishberg.

Commentator Milo Miles reviews the five-CD box set featuring Chicago and country blues performers from the early 60s. It's called "American Folk Blues Festival '62 to '65." (Evidence label).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new albums by The Smithereens: a new best-of, "Blown to Smithereens," (Capital Records) and a collection of rare old tracks, "Attack of the Smithereens."

Music review "Brasil: A Century Of Song" by Milo Miles. .

Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie. She's one of the world's few classical percussion soloists. And she plays with orchestras worldwide. But instead of hearing the music, she feels it. Glennie is deaf, and has been since the age of 12. She's made several solo albums, and several years ago wrote her autobiography, Good Vibrations (Hutchison Publishers, London). Glennie performs at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia Dec 15 and 16. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Today is Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday. So we've brought a number of people on the show to comment on Sinatra's life and work: Nancy Sinatra, Sinatra's daughter. She's recorded a few hits of her own including "These Boots are Made for Walking," and "Something Stupid," the duet she recorded with her father. Nancy Sinatra has written a book about her father, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend (General Publishing Group). Nancy Sinatra has a new album too, (her first in 20 years) "One More Time." (Cougar records).

Songwriter Matt Dennis. He wrote "Angel Eyes," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Let's Get Away From it All."

James Isaacs has co-produced reissues of Sinatra recordings for Columbia and Reprise.

Charles Granata is a Cop who has an extensive archive of Sinatra recordings. Many of the them have been used for Sinatra reissues. He was Project Director for the box set: "Frank Sinatra: The Best of the Columbia Years 1943-1952).

Trumpet player and arranger Billy May.

A concert and interview in the Fresh Air studio with John Doe, former bassist/vocalist with the punk rock group "X". He recently released a new solo album, "Kissingsohard," (Rhino's Forward label). There's also a new acoustic best-of live album featuring "X". It's called "Unclogged" (Infidelity Records, L.A., CA). Doe is joined by guitarist Smokey Hormel.