Music

Folk singer Michael Cooney performs a song so bad that it's good.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the soundtrack for the movie "Less Than Zero." Though the movie was something of a flop, the soundtrack continues to produce hits.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new compact disc issue of Haydn performances with trumpet virtuoso Gerard Schwartz leading the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Avant-garde accordionist and composer Guy Klucevsek. Klucevsek grew up in western Pennsylvania, where polkas were a poplar musical form. Klucevsek has since developed an alternative polka style, best exemplified in his work on `"Polka From the Fringe," 23 three-minute polkas composed by a variety of experimental artists.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the group Television, a band that helped launch the New York punk scene in the late-70s.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead pays tribute to Benny Carter, the elder statesman of the alto saxophone. He reviews the new American Jazz Orchestra recording of Carter compositions, featuring Carter, pianist John Lewis and bassist Ron Carter, among others.

Andrew Porter. He's the classical music critic for The New Yorker Magazine. He's just published a collection of his articles in a book titled Musical Events.

Country and blues guitarist Moses Rascoe returns to sing a few more songs.

Chicago-based composer, arranger and tenor saxophonist Edward Wilkerson. He leads the big band Shadow Vignettes, whose 1986 album, "Birth of a Notion," was on most jazz critic's lists as one of the top ten albums of that year. In Wilkerson's newest album, titled "Eight Bold Souls," he leads a smaller group, an octet.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Letters from Mississippi", a new album from Eddie Hinton that blends rock, soul and rhythm and blues.

The saxophonist and clarinetist, a student of Sidney Bechet and a specialist in early styles of the music, died Aug. 4 at the age of 91. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1988, excerpted here. (Hear the full interview through the Fresh Air archive.)

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new recording of Philip Glass's opera, "Akhnaten". The performance features Paul Esswood in the title role, and Dennis Russell Davies conducting the Stuttgart State Opera and chorus.

Jazz clarinetist and alto and soprano saxophonist Bob Wilber. Wilber is also a composer and arranger; He arranged the music for the film "The Cotton Club." And he's just completed his autobiography. It's scheduled for release later this spring and is titled "Music Was Not Enough." This Saturday, Wilber will lead a tribute at Carnegie Hall to the late Benny Goodman, the king of the jazz clarinet. It's the 50th anniversary of Goodman's famed concert there.

Rock historian Ed Ward plays songs by several top soul stars who got their start imitating Little Richard.

Photographer William Claxton. His new book, Jazz, is a collection of jazz photographs taken in the 50s and 60s and includes photographs of jazz greats like Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and Max Roach.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from alto saxophonist Richie Cole. It's called "Popbop" and is available on Milestone records.

Country blues guitarist Moses Rascoe will perform a few songs.

Duane Eddy, who is known for his famous twangy guitar sound. His hits from the fifties and sixties include "Rebel Rouser" and "(Dance with the) Guitar Man." On his new album, the first in a decade, he plays with guitarist Ry Cooder.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album from the dB's, entitled "The Sound of Music." This is their fourth album, but the first to attract attention in the U.S.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new Northeastern recording featuring flutist Fenwick Smith playing music by Aaron Copeland and Arthur Foote.