Music

Classical Music critic Lloyd Schwartz on a live performance of Bellini's opera "I Puritani" which features Luciano Pavarotti and Beverly Sills. (Legato Classics)

Musician, Singer, Record Producer and a Fresh Air favorite Ben Vaughn. He has a new release, "Mono USA: 8-track Home Recordings 1988-1992" (Bar/None).

World music commentator Milo Miles reviews some dancehall reggae by Jamaican-born New Yorker, Shaggy. His debut album is "Pure Pleasure," (Virgin)

Jazz Vibraphonist Gary Burton. He invented a four-mallet grip for the instrument that is used by many contemporary players. Burton left Stan Getz's quartet in the mid 60's (at the age of 24) to form his own combo; a few years later he hired a young guitarist named Pat Metheny, giving Metheny his first taste of big time jazz. Burton has been teaching percussion and improvisation classes at the Berklee School of Music in Boston; in 1985 he was named Dean of Curriculum there. Burton has over fifty albums to his credit and three Grammy award.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new Bob Dylan album, "World Gone Wrong." (Columbia)

Broadway Composer Charles Srouse. His hits include, "Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause," and "Annie." He's also written the film scores for "Bonnie and Clyde," and "The Night They Raided Minskys," and others. Strouse newest production is the sequel to "Annie," -- "Annie Warbucks." It's his second stab at an "Annie" sequel, and it comes after a string of flops. When asked if he'd ever just wanted to quit he said, "Never. . .

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives his list of bests (and a worst) for 1993.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz tells us about his favorite recordings from 1993.

Classical Music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Leonard Bernstein's "On the Town" and the television concert of the same show. (Deutsche Grammophon).

Comedienne Carol Leifer. She's been a longstanding regular as a stand up on Late Night With David Letterman, and a writer for Saturday Night Live. This year, she writes for comedy pal (and former boyfriend) Jerry Seinfeld -- some say the character of Elaine is based on Leifer. Last year she produced "Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue", a fictional recreation of the great "Blue" comediennes of the sixties: Belle Barth, Pearl Williams, and Rusty Warren (who's XXX-rated "Knockers Up" album sold six million copies in 1960).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Vs" (Versus) the new album by the Seattle rock band Pearl Jam. (Epic).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new CD-box set, just right for the jazz-lover in your circle of family or friends "Ornette Coleman: Beauty is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings," (on Rhino).

Ken Tucker on the new George Clinton record, "Hey Man, Smell My Finger".

Gospel singer Marion Williams. Her trademark, a long-lasting high A-flat "whooo," has been adopted by most gospel singers and soul singers like Little Richard and Aretha Franklin. A self- proclaimed "Holy Roller", Williams received the Kennedy Center Honors Award last night in Washington for her lifetime achievement in the arts. When she's not performing, Williams sings traditional gospel at the African-Methodist-Episcopal church in Philadelphia--the first black church formed in America. Her new album is "Can't Keep It To Myself" (Sanachie).

We pay tribute to Frank Zappa who died over the weekend with an excerpt of Terry's 1989 interview with him. (Rebroadcast of 1/17/1989)

Critic David Bianculli reviews an unusual departure PBS' Great Performances: a production of "PsychoDerelict", the new multi-media composition by the rock and roller, Pete Townsend.

Banjo player Tony Trischka. He's been called the "premier banjo madman of our time." Trischka incorporates jazz and rock and roll into his style, with bluegrass at the heart of his music. TTrischka's new album, "World Turning" (Rounder Records), is a "loose history of the banjo" with everything from an African banjo tune to banjo Dixieland style. He has a number of albums out on the Rounder label.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the jazz opera "Jonny spielt auf" (pronounced shpeelt auf) of the new series "Entartete" (pronounced ent-ART-a-tuh, London Records). It's a series of music banned during the Holocaust.

Pete Townsend. In the 1960's he made waves as the lead guitarist in the British rock group The Who. He was world famous for smashing guitars during concerts. Now, years after The Who split up, Townsend is busy with solo projects. "Tommy," the rock opera he wrote for The Who in 1969, is on Broadway. His latest album is called "White City."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Nirvana's new release, "In Utero."