Music

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Nocturne Parisian," by Graham Haynes, and "Overlays," by the Ned Rothenberg Double Band. They're both electric ensembles who work to bring new styles into the jazz tradition.

The L.A. based musician and performance artist fronted the punk-rock group, Black Flag. He's also the current leader of the Henry Rollins Band. His spoken word performances go back and forth between comedy and serious commentary. He has a new album of these performances, "Boxed Life," and a video, "Talking from the Box."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews new CDs by two women artists who go beyond their country-singer label: "Everytime You Say Goodbye," by Allison Krauss, and "Culture Swing," by Tish Hinojosa.

Producer Roger Kendis, AKA the Invisible Man, of Noisy Neighbors Productions. He's here in Philadelphia, and he's put together a rap recording with clips from Clinton's speeches, called "It's About Hope."

In the late 1970s, Costello burst out of Britian's pop-music scene as an angry young-man with a fresh sound. On his new release, "The Juliet Letters," he works with the Brodsky Quartet. His new songs are based on a correspondence addressed to Juliet Capulet of "Romeo and Juliet."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new reissue of the Budapest Quartet playing Mozart quartets and quintets.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews the music of Ivory Coast reggae star Alpha Blondy. Blondy's new album is "Masada."

Cahn died last Friday at the age of 79. We rebroadcast an interview Terry Gross recorded with him in 1985. Cahn wrote many of the songs that Frank Sinatra recorded, including Come Fly With Me, Teach Me Tonight and High Hopes. He also wrote the scores for many Broadway shows including Walking Happy and Skyscraper, and for the movies Come Blow Your Horn, Robin and the Seven Hoods, and A Pocketful of Miracles.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new release by singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by the avant-garde New York quintet, New and Used, called "Souvenir." It's on the Knitting Factory Label.

Terry talks with rock critic Ken Tucker about his list of favorite records from 1992 across genres.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Freedy Johnston, a 31-year-old rock musician from Kansas, now based in Hoboken.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us about a series of Christmas singles the Beatles made in the 60s. If you were a member of their fan club, you got one each year.

Rock musician Vaughn as been a cult staple for years in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area, where he's become known for his tongue-in-cheek lyrics and tunes that draw from rocks early influences. He'll perform some of his favorite Christmas songs with bandmates Gus Cordovox on accordion and Aldo Jones on bass. Afterward, he'll talk with Terry about his famous rock and roll holiday records.

World music critic Milo Miles tells us about Fellow Travellers, an English acoustic band who blends reggae with country music.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new, premium box-set of Billy Holiday recordings, "The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve, 1945-1959."

World Music critic Milo Miles reviews some music from India's Bollywood films. He says songs written for these movies tend to incorporate a wide array of influences, from lush strings to reggae. For a taste, Miles recommends "Dance, Raja, Dance," by Vijaya Anand

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album of Christmas music by Mel Torme. Torme wrote the classic, The Christmas Song, and he tries to repeat his success with this album.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews a new collection of vintage African rumbas on the French label "African." It's part of their "Merveilles du Passe" series.

Wainwright is best known for his 1973 hit "Dead Skunk ." Considered by many to be a satirical and caustic folksinger, his latest album, History, is a highly personal album. He sings frankly about marriage, parenthood, and child abuse.