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Renee Klahr/Think of the best songs of 2021 as a playlist catering to the most basic human urges. Within it, booties were called, muffins were buttered and bloody revenge was contemplated. It was quite a year. -
Renee Klahr/Think of the best songs of 2021 as a playlist catering to the most basic human urges. Within it, booties were called, muffins were buttered and bloody revenge was contemplated. It was quite a year.
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Starting in the 1920s, Hawkins made an afterthought of an instrument into one of the sounds we most identify with jazz. He also straddled the era of big band swing and later developments like bebop. Here are five songs that illustrate his genius. -
Born Peter Sims, the New York native played what he called his first jazz gig in 1957. It was immortalized as a Sonny Rollins live recording, and led to work with Joe Henderson, John Coltrane and more. The first-call player of New York's '50s and '60s heyday was 74 years old.
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The quintessential crooner talks about the significance of American popular song, his favorite songwriters and his love of painting in this program from 2004.
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Heavy Rotation is where public-radio tastemakers share their new favorite songs. For a limited time, download music from Foxygen, Marcus Miller, Rayna Gellert, Mary Bridget Davies and Esme Patterson.
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The producer of an upcoming Nina Simone biopic has cast Afro-Latina actress Zoe Saldana in the lead role — a move that's proved controversial. Critics say that while Saldana is a talented actress, she's too close to traditional light-skinned Hollywood beauty standards.
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Recap the episode in music: a present, future and living history of New Orleans trumpet featuring Irvin Mayfield, the all-female Pinettes Brass Band and legendary Lionel Ferbos. Plus, a treatise on Davis and Annie's relationship as musicians.
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There isn't a modern-day pianist with a greater love for Tin Pan Alley than Bill Charlap. Watch him take circuitous routes through "All the Things You Are" and "Sophisticated Lady."
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The saxophonist has built up an impressive educational pedigree. But he's really flourished by backing up greats like Kenny Barron and Idris Muhammad, and being a first-call player on both the East and West Coast. He leads his quartet live at his alma mater.
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As the Chicago-based independent record label celebrates 20 years, it continues to support sounds uncommon to its indie-rock peers. Drawing from an inclusive underground music community in the Windy City, here are five examples of the label's creative and improvised releases.
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Much like his father before him, French spent decades leading the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, a group in existence for more than 100 years. His outspoken, colorful personality made him a stalwart of the local music scene — and briefly won him national attention, too.
