Music

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.

The Butch Thompson Trio was a regular on Garrison Keillor's syndicated radio show. Thompson's specialty is classic jazz from 1890s to about 1940, including the music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, and others. He has a new series of solo CDs entitled "Minnesota Wonder."

World music critic Milo Miles reviews music by the women's a capella group, Zap Mama.

Alexander's songs were recorded on early records by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His new album, "Lonely Just Like Me," is his first release in twenty years.

A live interview with the former Atlantic Records executive. Wexler was the producer behind some of the greatest soul music of the 60s, including classic sessions with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. His memoir of his career is called "Rhythm and the Blues."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the 60 year old country singer's new album, "Across the Borderline."

Delaria says don't call her a lesbian: she's a dyke who does standup and jazz singing. She has a new recording of songs, "Bulldyke in a China Shop."

Among his many roles in entertainment, Shearer is also one of the creators of and performers in the mock-rock group Spinal Tap. He also does several voices on "The Simpsons." Shearer has a new book of the columns he wrote for the Los Angeles Times Magazine. He'll also be appearing tomorrow at The Museum of Television & Radio in New York City, to talk about his work on "Saturday Night Live" and his syndicated radio program, "Le Show."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews VHS release of Handel's opera Julius Caesar. It's directed by the innovative Peter Sellars. Schwartz says all five hours just fly by.

Jazz critic Kevin White pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald who turns 75 this Sunday. He argues that there are two versions of the jazz singer -- an interpreter of ballads and standards, the other a "superhuman" scat singer.

Fresh Air Producer Amy Salilt talks with Peter Garrett, lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil, a band known for its environmental and political activisim. They have a new album called Earth and Sun and Moon.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD of the pianist performing five Beethoven concerti. It's conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the Evidence label's reissues of three early Sun Ra albums: "Bad and Beautiful," "Super-Sonic Jazz," and "Jazz In Silhouette." The LPs were originally recorded for Sun Ra's own Saturn records.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD of the opera "Lord Byron," by American composer Virgil Thomson. The librettist is actor Jack Larson.

Larson got his start playing Jimmy Olsen, the cub-reporter on the original "Superman" TV show. One of his poems, "The Relativity of Icarus," was part of a Joffrey Ballet." He's also written a couple of versed plays, "The Candied House," and "Cherry, Larry, Sandy, Doris, Jean, Paul."

Frisell is a prolific performer and recording artist; one reviewer likened him to both a "painter and sonic psychopath." His latest album, "Have a Little Faith," pays tribute to American music makers like Muddy Waters, Madonna, John Hiatt and John Philip Sousa.

Robinson recorded many classic blues and R&B sessions for his Red Robin, Fire/Fury and Enjoy record labels. He recorded Elmore Jones, Buster Brown, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. A new boxed set of work is called "The Fire/Fury Records Story."

Rock historian Ed Ward reviews Rhino Record's DIY anthology series chronicling the punk music of the 70s and 80s.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Rosanne Cash's latest album. He says, like Cash's previous effort, it deserves to be a hit.