Music

Performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. plays the music of Harold Arlen. While his name may be known to few, Arlen wrote several popular and recognizable songs.

Rock critic Ken Tucker steps out of his comfort zone and reviews three recent best-sellers he otherwise wouldn't have listened to. He says Anita Baker's Giving You the Best That I Got is lush but soulless, while the Bangles' Everything is an excellent ripoff of a 1960s rock album. Duran Duran's Big Thing is the band's attempt to prove they're serious musicians -- but it's a hapless bummer.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the second volume of traditional music from the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir, called Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares. He says the singers' masterful renditions highlight the unusual harmonies not often found in Western music.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back on the Memphis-based soul label, which released hits by black artists like Ann Peebles and Al Green.

Despite recording throwaway pop and calypso songs, Dinah Washington called herself a jazz singer. Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the third volume of Washington's posthumous greatest hits collection, which features several of her collaborations with jazz musicians.

Performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. performs a few Duke Ellington songs.

Shear writes and performs his own material, but his music is most often heard when it's covered by pop stars like Cyndi Lauper and the Bangles.

Hal Wilner produced the compilation album Stay Awake, which features contemporary artists performing songs from Disney movies. Rock critic Ken Tucker says it's uneven but has unexpected moments of beauty and inspiration. It's more of a baby-boom curiosity than an essential recording.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews an all-star recording of Stravinsky's jazz-inspired theater piece, which features Sting, Ian McKellen, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Singer and civil rights worker Benice Johnson Reagon studied Euro-classical music in college, During her time in the Freedom Singers, she returned to her gospel roots. She joins Fresh Air to talk about how she combined her musical talents with her activism.

Part II of the interview with the folk-rock star. While serving time on drug charges, Crosby joined the prison band as a guitar player. He says it was the first time he performed sober.

Part I of the Fresh Air interview. The folk-rock singer and songwriter battled drug addiction and eventually served eleven months in jail. He's now clean, and has a new autobiography about his life. He tells Fresh Air host Terry Gross about what made his bands The Byrds and Croby, Stills & Nash unique.

Rock historian Ed Ward concludes his profile of the early rhythm and blues band the 5 Royales. They were known for their raucous live shows and their prominent lead guitar lines.

New Orleans-based performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. performs a few classic standards.

Nelson grew up picking cotton, and got his start as a musician playing in local Texas bars. Before finding fame as a singer, he sold songs he wrote to other performers, which later became hits. Nelson has a new memoir, called Willie, and an album of standards titled What a Wonderful World.

The Brazilian, guitar-playing brothers are in Philadelphia as part of their East Coast tour. They talk to Fresh Air guest host Marty Moss-Coane about their early music lessons and influences. The Assads' newest album, Alma Brasileira, features music exclusively by Brazilian composers.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, and Geri Allen. He says Haden's full, chordal bass playing compliments Allen's spare piano melodies. Motian's musical drumming is given equal weight.

Riley's breakthrough composition reduced melody to short, repetitive gestures, while still leaving room for improvisation. While hailed as the father of minimalist music, Riiey eschews the term. He is largely inspired by Indian raga, and performs often as an improvisor.

John Lennon's life and legacy are revisited in a new film and biography. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Albert Goldman's book The Lives of John Lennon is an inelegant hatchet job that portrays the musician in a harsh light; the film Imagine, on the other hand, is little more than treacly hagiography.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a recording of Tchaikovsky's lesser-performed, but equally excellent 2nd and 3rd piano concertos.