Music

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new EMI/Angel series titled "Great Recordings of the Century," vintage recordings that have been digitally remastered.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles "The Flamin' Groovies," a band that fought all the trends in the late 60s by putting out three-minute pop songs with anti-drug lyrics. Their best-known song was "Teenage Head."

Rock musician Joan Jett. Since 1979, Jett has led the group Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and earned the description as "the toughest, grittiest, hardest-working woman in rock and roll." She won praise for her film debut in 1987 when she co-starred with Michael J. Fox in the film "Light of Day." Time magazine's film critic Richard Corliss hailed her "mesmerizing surliness" and said Jett's presence dominated every scene she was in. Joan Jett and the Blackheart's new album is titled "Up Your Alley."

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Evening Star," the new album from guitarist Joshua Breakstone. Though Breakstone is 32 years old, his style is rooted in the 1940s.

Three members of the famed New Orleans cajun band Beausoleil, headed by Michael Doucet, will perform several songs from their most recent album.

Composer, arranger, conductor Gunther Schuller. One of the most ardent supporters of new music, Schuller is equally at home with the music of bebop and the big band era as he with the 12-tone classical composers. Schuller is the past head of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he founded the New England Conservatory's Ragtime Band. In the late 40s, when he first cultivated his eclectic approach to music, Schuller held jobs simultaneously with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and with Miles Davis' tuba band.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews new albums from rockers Rod Stewart and Boz Scaggs.

Singer Irma Thomas. Ms. Thomas has been making records since 1958, and had a string of New Orleans rhythm-and-blues hits in the early sixties. Her popularity, however, is due in large part to her energetic live performances. Her new album, "The Way I Feel," has just been released on Rounder Records.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Arbos," a recent recording of compositions by Estonian composer Arvo Part. Part's music has similarities to the music of the minimalists, but is also influenced by medieval liturgical music.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the late Gram Parsons, who added a country flavor to rock with groups like The Byrds.

A live concert with New Orleans songwriter, pianist and singer Allen Toussaint. Tousaint has performed extensively as a session pianist and producer and has written dozens of hits for New Orleans groups like The Nevilles, Irma Thomas, for Paul McCartney, The Wild Tchoupitoulas and The Meters.

Singer Susannah McCorkle performs the last of her tributes to the composer Irving Berlin.

Singer Helen Merrill. Her latest album features arrangements by the late Gil Evans, with whom she first worked over 30 years ago. Merrill was one of the most acclaimed jazz stars of the 50s when she left America for Italy and then Japan.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two new rap albums, one by Run-DMC, the top rap group, the other by D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, an emerging group that builds on the innovations of the first rappers.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD featuring French soprano Renée Doria. The selections were recorded between 1944 and 1970.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles The Funkadelic, a black psychedelic band whose big hit was the 1978 song "One Nation Under A Groove." Several members of the band, including leader George Clinton, started out with The Parliaments, a fifties Doo-Wop group.

Composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, who introduced America and Europe to bossa nova, the sensual, urbane musical idiom of Brazil. Before he started composing bossa novas in the 50s, he wrote symphonies, drawing from his training as a classical musician. His most widely circulated works include "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Desafinado."

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead profiles trombonist and composer Rod Levitt. Levitt, who wrote for marching bands and played in the pit at Radio City Music Hall, drew from every musical style available in the 50s.

Singer Susannah McCorkle performs a tribute to composer Irving Berlin. McCorkle will perform tributes to Berlin each week at this time throughout the month.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "Lovesexy," the new album by Prince.