Music

James was a teenager when she was discovered by bandleader/talent scout Johnny Otis, who helped her record her first single, "Dance with Me Henry." Her career took off in the sixties, until she battled a drug addiction at the end of that decade. Although James mostly sang R&B, she has just released "Mystery Lady," featuring songs by her favorite jazz singer, Billie Holiday.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "The Montreal Tapes," a live recording featuring bassist Charlie Haden, trumpeter Don Cherry, and drummer Edward Blackwell at the 1989 Montreal Jazz Festival.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Sleeps with Angels," the latest collaboration between Neil Young and the band Crazy Horse. Tucker is a big fan of Young, but regrets he's mostly bored by the album.

Dibango is considered one of the founders of world music. His first album, "Soul Makossa," was a big hit in 1973. His latest album is called "Wakafrika" and blends traditionally African music with European pop. This album features such artists as Youssou N'Dour, Peter Gabriel and Sinead O'Connor. His new autobiography is "Three Kilos of Coffee."

World music critic Milo Miles reviews the new anthology album of Mexican folk violinist Juan Reynoso.

DeMent's music combines country and folk. Her latest album is called "My Life." She draws from her and her family's life experiences growing up in rural Arkansas, and Southern California. Her first album, "Infamous Angel' was released in 1992. Some of the music from it is used in the recent movie, "LIttle Buddha."

Cale was the violist, keyboardist and bassist of the 1960s avant garde band, The Velvet Underground. Since the breakup of the group in 1968, he has had a career as a solo artist. Most recently, he collaborated with former Velvet Underground member Lou Reed, on "Songs for Drella," the 1990 tribute to artist Andy Warhol. This past month, he released "Seducing Down the Door: A John Cale Collection," which is a compilation of his post-Velvet Underground solo recordings.

Ken Tucker reviews "Hungry for Stink" by L7. They're currently appearing in the Lollapalooza tour.

Music by blues singer and guitarist Robert Pete Williams has just been reissued. Williams, like Leadbelly, was a convicted murderer who sang his way out of prison. Commentator Milo Miles has this review.

Ken Tucker looks back at the career of the Irish rock band, who wrote brash songs about girls and boyhood. The Ryko label has recently reissued several of their album.

Cave and his band The Bad Seeds are best known for Cave's angry, twisted ballad-like lyrics. Their latest album, "Let Love In," is marked by a dark, bitter view of love and relationships. They've released eight albums to date, and have contributed songs to the last three Wim Wenders films, including "Far Away, So Close," and "Until the End of the World." Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are performing in this summer's Lollapalooza concert.

Hayes rose to the top of the charts in the 1970's on the Staxl record label. He released his first solo album, "Presenting Isaac Hayes," in 1968. His next album, "Hot Buttered Soul," became a gold record in the 1970's.

Alsop is the music director of the Colorado Symphony. One of the few woman conductors in the world, she has also served as music director of the Lond Island Philharmonic, and has been the guest conductor for many orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Her new CD "Victory Stride," features the work of the African American composer James P. Johnson.

While new music from Shoes and Freedy Johnston may not be as heavy as what's popular today, critic Ken Tucker recommends rock fans check out their latest pop-oriented albums.

We pay tribute to singer Dorothy Collins, who died yesterday at the age of 67. Collins was the star of the 1950's TV show "Your Hit Parade," and received a Tony nomination in1971 for her role in Stephen Sondheim's Broadway show "Follies." We will play "Losing My Mind," from that show.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two new Spike Jones reissues -- "The Spike Jones Anthology" and "Spiked!"

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Keith Jarrett's new album, "At the Deer Head Inn." Jarrett, on piano, teams up with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new country albums -- Hal Ketchum's "Every Little Word" and David Ball's "Thinkin' Problem."

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the Rolling Stones' new album, “Voodoo Lounge." He says their sound has been revitalized by the direction of producer Don Was

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new public television sitcom “The Steven Banks Show," starring the comedian of the same name. Bianculli says it's a little like "Seinfeld," but with more music.