Music

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new CD by avant-garde multi-instrumentalist Hal Russell, "Hal Russell and NRG Ensemble, The Finnish/Swiss Tour" (on ECM)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the hip-hop hits of TLC (their current hit is "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" on LaFace Records' "Ooooooohhh...On The TLC Tip") and Kriss Kross ("Jump" on Columbia's "Totally Krossed Out").

Jazz singer Sylvia Syms passed away yesterday at the age of 74. She had a heart attack just as she finished a performance at the Algonquin Hotel. Syms was known as the quintessential saloon singer, and foremost among her admirers was Frank Sinatra, who produced and conducted a 1982 album of standards called "Syms By Sinatra." Her one hit was "I could Have Danced All Night," from the 1956 musical "My Fair Lady." Her nightclub career spanned 51 years.

World music commentator Milo Miles reviews the new album by the Terem ("Ter-yem") Quartet from St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad). It's a group that couldn't have existed in the past. (Realworld Records)

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead surveys a recent boxed set of vintage recordings by blues singer Howlin' Wolf ("Howlin' Wolf: The Chess Box" is on MCA records).

Ice-T, the Los Angeles based rap musician.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us how not to do a reissue.

Rock and roll historian Ed Ward remembers The Memphis Jug Band.

Conductor and arranger John McGlinn. He re-orchestrated the Irving Berlin musical "Annie Get Your Gun" according to the original 1946 performance. In preparing the remake, McGlinn discovered that the 1966 revival of the show left out several musical numbers, which he incorporated into the current performance. McGlinn also included a song that had been written for the 1946 version, but never before recorded.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new release by Sophie B. Hawkins, "Tongues & Tails," (on the Columbia label).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews David Byrne's album "Uh-Oh."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Opera Finales performed by soprano Josephine Barstow. (on the Decca label).

Two members of the punk rock group Fugazi: singer-guitarist Ian MacKaye and guitarist Guy Picciotto. The Washington, D.C. band has become internationally known despite the fact that the band refuses to sign with a major label. They abhor commercialism and stardom. The impassioned band sings on it's new album, "Steady Diet of Nothing," about having control of their own bodies, TV - "nothing going on in there," and about the supreme court, "Justice Brennan, I know it's not your fault." (the new album is on "Dischord Records.")

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews TWO new albums by Bruce Springsteen, "Human Touch," and "Lucky Town," -- his first out in almost five years.

Singer-songwriter Peter Case. He took a Greyhound to California in the 70s, played guitar on the streets of San Francisco, and later got involved in the L.A. band scene in the early 80s, where he started a band called The Plimsouls. Since then, he's had a solo career. His new album is called "Six Pack of Love" (it's on the Geffen label).

World music commentator Milo Miles explores the eerie music of the master musicians of Jajouka, Morocco.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a recording of Stan Getz and Kenny Barron called "People Time" (on the Gitanes Jazz label), billed as Getz's last recording before his death.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the restored score of Voltaire's "Candide," conducted by Leonard Bernstein a year before his death.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Planet of Love," by Jim Lauderdale and "Wynonna" by Wynonna Judd.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead muses on the importance of swing to jazz with two new releases, "The Jelly Roll Joys," by Dave Burrell (on the Gazell label), and "Eugene (1989)" by Anthony Braxton (on the Black Saint label).