Music

A live concert with The Jolly Boys. They're a Jamaican band that plays a style of music called mento (It's the Jamaican analogue to calypso, and it paved the way for reggae and ska). The Jolly Boys have a new album on Rykodisc, called "Sunshine 'N' Water." The Jolly Boys include: Moses Deans on banjo, drummer and singer Allan Swymmer, Noel Howard on guitar, and Joseph Bennett on thumb piano.

The first of a two-part interview with Sonny Bono. Today, Bono discusses his early years in the record business, his work with Phil Specter, and his meeting Cher. Tomorrow, he talks about the Sonny and Cher years, their breakup, and his going on to be elected mayor of Palm Springs, California. Bono has a new autobiography, called "And The Beat Goes On" (published by Pocket Books).

Record producer and consultant Colin Escott. Escott's had a long association with Sun Records, the company responsible for many of the great acts from the dawn of rock and roll. Escott has a new book about Sun, called "Good Rockin' Tonight" (published by St. Martin's Press).

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Mozart piano sonatas by Yugoslavian pianist Dubravka Tomsic (TOM-sich).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Luck of the Draw," the new album from Bonnie Raitt. It's the follow-up to her hugely successful 1989 album, "Nick of Time."

Rock Historian Ed Ward reviews a 9-CD reissue from the old soul label Stax, the Memphis label that brought us Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Sam and Dave, and Booker T and the MG's.

Singer Tony Bennett. Columbia Records has just issued a retrospective set of recordings covering Bennett's 40 years in the business.

Charlie Watts, the drummer with the Rolling Stones, has always loved the great alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. Watts just recorded a box set that pays tribute to Parker. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead is unimpressed.

World music commentator Milo Miles reviews music from Haiti by the group Boukman Eksperyans. ("Vodou Adjae", on the Mango label).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Crenshaw's new album, "Life's Too Short," which Tucker says features some of his most unabashedly rocking songs.

Thompson is a British musician first known for his work with Fairport Convention. He's since gone solo, writing dark songs which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues. His new album is called "Rumor and Sigh."

Rock critic Jimmy Guterman and editor Owen O'Donnell have a new book called "The Worst Rock 'n' Roll Records of All Time." Many of their selections are recordings made by some of the most popular artists, including the Doors, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, and the Moody Blues.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Blind Willie Johnson, an itinerant gospel singer who traveled the South between the 20s and the 40s. Unlike many of his peers, Johnson was a master guitarist.

Green is one of the greats of soul and gospel music. He's probably best known for his hit, "Let's Stay Together." He'll talk about his secular musical career in light of being a born again Christian.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Mighty Like A Rose," the new album from Elvis Costello.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead checks out new records from the bands Curlew and Doctor Nerve, which stretch the definition of jazz with the incorporation of rock attitudes, atonality, and computer-generated music.

Clasical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new, comprehensive CD box set of the pianist's interpretations of Beethoven.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells the story of "Sally Go Round the Roses," a strange, enigmatic song that was a hit in 1963, recorded by The Jaynetts.

Rock and roll historian Ed Ward plays some of the many 1960s artists who tried to cash in on the Bob Dylan sound.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Duke Ellington's Carnegie Hall Concerts," a new series of CD reissues that chronicle the annual performances Ellington gave during the 40s.