Music

Johnston has four albums to his credit. The latest is, "Unlucky." His previous album, "Can You Fly," brought him to attention of many critics and garnered him much acclaim. Despite his love of hard rock, Johnston's songs have been described as "post-punk honky-tonk. . . performed by a lonely, heartbroken wiseass."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Shanghaied on Tor Road," a new release of German improviser and guitarist Hans Reichel playing an instrument of his own invention, the daxophone -- a stringless, amplified piece of wood.

World music critic Milo Miles tells us about a new strain of Merengue music: Merengue rap.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new Donald Fagen solo record, which was produced by Fagen's longtime Steely Dan cohort, Walter Becker.

Rock critic Ed Ward on the enduring legacy of British rock group Roxy Music.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD on Angel/EMI of collected Piano Trios by the celebrated 1920's chamber players Alfred Cortot, Jasques Thibaud, and Pablo Casals.

For many years Killen was the head of Tree International, Nashville's leading music publisher, writer and producer. Killen once played bass in Hank Williams' band for ten dollars a night; in 1989 he sold Tree to Sony for 50 million. He's worked with just about every star in the Country firmament: Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson; and many classics in the Country cannon: "King of the Road", "Okie from Muskogee" and the immortal "D-I-V-O-R-C-E". Killen's new autobiography is "By the Seat of My Pants."

A concert with the McGarrigle sisters, Kate and Anna. There are new CDs of their first two albums, released in the late 70s: "Kate & Anna McGarrigle" and "Dancer with Bruised Knees." The McGarrigles are known for their close and "subtle harmony." Their music is considered hard to categorize, although it sounds folky. The sisters absorbed an eclectic blend of music when they were growing up in Canada: Victorian ballads, blues, jazz, French-Canadian folk songs, Broadway tunes, and country music.

World Music commentator Milo Miles finds the ideal record to introduce Americans to Pakistani music: Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn and his "Devotional & Love Songs."

Lincoln's new record is "Devil's Got Your Tongue." Once married to legendary jazz drummer Max Roach, she's made her mark on jazz for almost 40 years, singing with giants like Benny Carter, Sonny Rollins and Coleman Hawkins. Lincoln has been hailed by one critic as the "Last Great Diva", and says herself that she sings in the tradition of Sarah Vaughan, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a newly discovered concert from 1957 of the Thelonious Monk Quartet featuring John Coltrane, "Live at the Five Spot."

For many years, Sheldon was bandleader and sidekick for Merv Griffin's talk show. He sang with Benny Goodman, was a childhood friend of Chet Baker's, and played burlesque with Lenny Bruce. He's just released a new record of standards, called "On My Own."

Singer and Songwriter Arthur Alexander died today. He had only recently begun performing again after a twenty year break. We remember him.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the debut album from Julianna Raye, called "Something Peculiar." He says it's something wonderful.

Legendary musician and band-leader Sun Ra died Sunday at the age 79; we pay tribute to his otherworldly brand of jazz with an excerpt from a concert he performed six years ago in Philadelphia

Pierce won the "Songwriter of the Year" award at the 1993 Austin Music Awards. A tribute album of her songs performed by other singers, "Across the Great Divide," won the Album of the Year Award. She's originally from Lubbock, Texas, and little known outside the state. Her songs are quirky, and spiritual. Pierce also wrote and performed the one-woman show, ""Bad Girls Upset About the Truth," told in story and song about her problems with men and Jesus.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker on a new direction in rap: PM Dawn's new album: "The Bliss Album: Vibrations of Love & Anger & the Ponderance of Life & Existence".

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews three releases featuring alto saxophonist Lee Konitz,a versatile musician known to be flexible depending on the context or ensemble he's in.

Producer Amy Salit interviews singer/songwriter and guitarist Joe Ely. He's been called the "underappreciated American rock 'n' roll legend." This country rocker hails from Lubbock, Texas and has been recording and playing music for 20 years, releasing nine albums. He began his career playing traditional country but now leans more toward the country-rockin' blues that has become a distinctive Texas sound. His latest album is "Love and Danger."

A conversation with singer/songwriter Arthur Alexander, whose songs were recorded on early records by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. He was slated to tour with Otis Redding the week Redding died in a plane crash. Alexander's new album, "Lonely Just Like Me," is his first release in twenty years.