Music

O'Farrill music combines American jazz with the rhythms of Cuban/Latin Music. The 79-year old's latest CD is called "Carambola"

Whitehead Reviews Ralph Gleasons Jazz Casual Series, a collection of Gleasons 1960s TV show on DVD and video.

Friedwald, the author of books like –Jazz Singing: Americas Greatest Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop to Beyond—, –Sinatra! The Song is You: A Singers Art— and a contributor to Tony Bennetts autobiography –The Good Life.— Most recently, he wrote the liner notes for Mosaic Records release of –The Complete Columbia Mildred Bailey Sessions,— a comprehensive 10 disc set of the legendary singers recordings. He talks today about Baileys influence in American music.

J.J. Johnson, a pioneer of the modern jazz trombone died Sunday at his home in Indianapolis. He was 77. It was an apparent suicide. Johnson was considered the definitive trombonist of the bebop generation. He played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Wood Herman, and Miles Davis, often balancing that with leading his own band. Later in life, Johnson moved to Hollywood to work as a composer and arranger for television.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the recordings Live at the Fillmore by the group Cypress Hill, and Restless by the rapper Xzibit.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the reissue The Eminent J.J. Johnson, Volume 2

Ward remembers rock and roller Eddie Cochran whose big hit in the US was Summertime Blues.

His new biography of Bing Crosby is called, Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams—the Early Years, 1903-1940 (Little Brown and Company). From 1930s to the 50s, Crosby was a pop culture icon, dominating American entertainment with his hit records and movies. In this first volume of the biography, Giddins chronicles the rise of Crosbys career. Giddins may be best known as a jazz columnist for the Village Voice. He won the 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award for his book Visions of Jazz. He was one of the experts featured in Ken Burns Jazz series on PBS.

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers the 60s band MC5.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new series of recordings called Live at the Left Bank"

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers South Texas singer Doug Sahm.

Tucker reviews When Somebody Loves You the new album by country singer Alan Jackson.

Rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and Guitarist Barbara Lynn. The left-handed guitarist was one of the first female practioners of the instrument. Her signature song is the 1962 hit Youll Lose a Good Thing. The Rolling Stones recorded her song Oh Baby (We Got a Good Thing Going) in 1964. After a lengthy hiatus to raise a family, Lynn made a come back in 1986. Her new album is Hot Night Tonight (Antone Records).

Miles remembers Czech musician Milan Hlavsa leader of the band The Plastic People of the Universe. He died on Jan 5th from cancer.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews the new box set by Little Feat: Hotcakes and Outtakes: 30 Years of Little Feat

Critics call Bill Charlap one of the strongest mainstream jazz pianists on the scene and one of the most gifted interpreters of standards. He has worked with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Benny Carter, Clark Terry and the Phil Woods Quintet where he remains. His most recent album, Written in the Stars (Blue Note) was released in 2000.

Ward considers the work of the bluegrass music duo the Stanley Brothers.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD boxed set of live performances by conductor Leonard Bernstein.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews “Bach Christmas Cantatas,” a new CD featuring the orchestra and chorus of Emmanuel Music.