Music

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new album "Duets and Arias" by married opera singers Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu.

Breedlove plays with the Jamaican group, The Skatalites. They're credited with creating the music known as ska, a precursor to reggae, which is often mistaken for reggae. The group got their start in the 1960s. Breedlove is an American musician who worked with Lionel Hampton, and began playing with The Skatalites about seven years ago. The Skatalites have a new album, "Greetings from Skamania."

An excerpt from the NPR program "This American Life" produced by Ira Glass. This is the story of a Tom Jones impersonator produced by Jay Allison and narrated by Dan Gediman -- brother of the ersatz celebrity.

In 1991, Turner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His 1951 hit "Rocket '88" is considered by some to be the first true rock n' roll recording. He discovered Tina Turner (then known as Anna Mae Bullock), and the two started performing together. Their stormy relationship was portrayed in the film "What's Love Got to Do with It." Turner spent 18 months in jail for drug charges in the early 1990s.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "She's the One," the soundtrack to the film of the same name and the first new album by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in over five years.

In the late 1970s Rodger's band Chic was one of the most successful disco groups. Its hits included "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Everybody Dance," and "Le Freak." Rodgers' is featured in "VH1 Presents the 70's," a new five part documentary series by the cable channel VH1 on the music of the 1970s. As a record producer, Rodgers has worked with Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Madonna.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews the new CD "Funk Power," a collection of recordings by James Brown and the J.B.'s during the heydey of his 1970s funk period.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Syd Straw, the singer of the New York cult band the Golden Paliminos.

The opera soprano and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Barbara Hendricks has appeared on over fifty recordings and has won critical acclaim in performances with all the major opera companies in the world--but she remains a relatively obscure figure in the United States. This is her seventh year with the UN Commission and she says through her music, she has been able "to get people to listen in a way they wouldn't listen to a diplomat or bureaucrat."

Another excerpt from "This American Life" Sarah Vowell tells us about a fan of the Seattle pop-punk band Fastbacks. He's no ordinary groupie, though, and dedicates as much energy to fandom as many performers devote to their music. "This American Life" airs weekly on public radio stations and is produced by Ira Glass at Chicago's WBEZ.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reflects on some of the performances he saw at this year's Lincoln Center Festival 96. It is a three week festival in New York City that celebrates the performing arts.

Commentator Milo Miles has this profile of late Nigerian Juju music master I.K. Dairo. His music became very popular in Africa in the 1960's.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews Toni Braxton's second album "Secrets." from La Face Records. Her debut album in 1993 yielded five hit singles.

Earle's new CD is "I Feel Alright" from E-squared/Warner Brothers. He also recently had a song in the movie "Dead Man Walking" called "Ellis Unit One." His new album is called "I Feel Alright." Earle had a past as a drug user and prisoner, but has since turned his life around.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two books on punk rock: "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored History of Punk," by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, and the novel "Go Now" by Richard Hell.

Collins has managed the band Aerosmith since 1984. A former addict and in his early days with the group, he often procured drugs for the band. He later helped the members get sober and revitalize their careers. Collins believes band managers and record executives need to work with musicians to overcome the systemic use and abuse of drugs. He works in Cambridge, MA as the founder and president of Collins Management.

Jazz Critic Keving Whitehead reviews a new re-issue of jazz saxophonist Lester Young. It's called "The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Lester Young" from Blue Note. Whitehead says these recordings from the 1940s prove that, contrary to popular belief, Young's playing remained intact after his military service.

Moody's new CD, "Young At Heart" is a collection of Frank Sinatra tunes. Just after World War II, Moody joined the bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie and played with Milt Jackson. His most famous recording is of an improvisatory piece he performed in 1949, now known as "Moody's Mood For Love." In the new CD, Moody performs as vocalist, tenor/alto/soprano saxist and flutist. He talks about his career and how his hearing problems have affected his career.

Kevin Whitehead review the new box set of the late alto sax player, flautist, and bass clarinetists, called "The Complete Prestige Recordings."

That's the title of an episode of Steve Rowland's documentary series "The Music Makers" featuring funk innovator George Clinton. We play this excerpt.