Music

The saxophonist and clarinetist, a student of Sidney Bechet and a specialist in early styles of the music, died Aug. 4 at the age of 91. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1988, excerpted here. (Hear the full interview through the Fresh Air archive.)

Rock historian Ed Ward plays songs by several top soul stars who got their start imitating Little Richard.

Photographer William Claxton. His new book, Jazz, is a collection of jazz photographs taken in the 50s and 60s and includes photographs of jazz greats like Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and Max Roach.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from alto saxophonist Richie Cole. It's called "Popbop" and is available on Milestone records.

Country blues guitarist Moses Rascoe will perform a few songs.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album from the dB's, entitled "The Sound of Music." This is their fourth album, but the first to attract attention in the U.S.

Duane Eddy, who is known for his famous twangy guitar sound. His hits from the fifties and sixties include "Rebel Rouser" and "(Dance with the) Guitar Man." On his new album, the first in a decade, he plays with guitarist Ry Cooder.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new Northeastern recording featuring flutist Fenwick Smith playing music by Aaron Copeland and Arthur Foote.

Musician Allen Toussaint. For over twenty years he's been a force in New Orleans rhythm and blues as a singer, songwriter and piano player. He wrote hits such as "Working in a Coal Mine," written for Lee Dorsey, and "Mother in Law," written for Ernie K. Doe.

Pianist Ran Blake. He heads the Third Stream Music Department at the New England Conservatory of Music. Third Stream music, a term coined by composer Gunther Schuller, integrates classical and jazz traditions. Blake has extended the definition to include other kinds of music. A CD of Blake's 1961 recording with singer Jeanne Lee has just been reissued by RCA.

Regina Resnick. After a forty-year career as an operatic mezzo-soprano, she is now making her debut on Broadway in the revival of the musical "Cabaret."

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Roky Erickson and the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, a sixties group that put Texas on par with the psychedelic bands from California.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Wingspan," the new recording from pianist Mulgrew Miller and his quintet. This 32-year-old musician was inspired by McCoy Tyner, but his sound is more spare and compressed than Tyner's.

Fresh Air's rock historian Ed Ward discusses the roots of his own musical tastes.

Paul Grushkin, author of a new book titled The Art of Rock, which traces the last 30 years of rock through the art designed to promote concerts.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker surveys his picks for the year's 10 best releases.

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new Angel Records CD of previously unreleased performances of soprano Maria Callas.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead surveys his picks for the year's ten best releases.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker continues his review of new recordings with a Christmas theme. His survey begins with the punk band The Ramones and ends with Prince.

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two recordings of the Gershwin musicals "Of Thee I Sing" and "Let 'Em Eat Cake." They were both conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas earlier this year on the fiftieth anniversary of the composer's death.