Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Pianosaurus, whose new album captures the spirit of rock and roll without the the traditional instrumentation.

Rock historian Ed Ward considers the impact the Orioles, one of the first black doo wop groups to achieve mainstream popularity.

Tony Bennett's newest album anthologizes several of the singer's recordings with prominent jazz musicians. Critic Francis Davis isn't sure if the music qualifies as jazz, but it's a pleasure nonetheless.

The jazz pianist blends traditional forms with avant-garde harmonies. A favorite of the Fresh Air staff, he was commissioned to write and perform the program's theme song. He is joined by tuba and bass player Ralph Hamperian.

Blues singer and guitarist Homesick James can't remember how he got his moniker. He says it's a misnomer -- though he hails from Chicago, he doesn't call any place home. He performs two songs for Fresh Air.

Released six months ago, Jennifer Warnes' album Famous Blue Raincoat has gone gold, outselling every album by Leonard Cohen, who first wrote and recorded all the songs Warnes sings. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the popularity is deserved.

Music publicist Derek Taylor was the press agent for the Beatles; he also ghost wrote the memoir of their manager, Brian Epstein. His new book, about 1967 -- when he started working for Apple Records -- is called It Was Twenty Years Ago Today.

Composer John Harbison recently won the Pulitzer Prizer. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD featuring songs inspired by the poet Mirabai.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks at how the country music establishment reacted to the burgeoning popularity of rock music in the 1950s and '60s -- sometimes in inept, out-of-touch ways.

Jazz critic Francis Davis says that Steve Kuhn, who as a young man performed with John Coltrane's band, is only now finding his voice. Kuhn's new album is called Mostly Ballads.

Folk festival mainstay Michael Cooney performs several songs he learned while on the road.

Fiddler and folklorist Michael Doucet plays with the band Beausoleil. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the history of and techniques involved in the Louisiana-based genre.

The band's songs endure two decades on in new compact disc reissues and, rock critic Ken Tucker bemoans, radio and television ads.

Soprano Benita Valente isn't as visible as some of her peers, in part because she hasn't recorded as much as other opera stars. Lloyd Schwartz hopes a new album of lieder will raise Valente's profile.

The African American diva says she faced few racial barriers in the opera world. She credits the work of black singers who came before her, as well as the myriad performance opportunities available to her in Germany, for helping launch her career.

Rock historian Ed Ward takes a look at the Liverpool rock scene that produced the Beatles. Judging from early recordings, he believes it's no accident that the Beatles rose to stardom, while many of their peers were largely forgotten.

A new reissue of Dizzy Gillespie recordings showcases his pioneering music in a variety of different ensemble settings.

The writer's award-winning play, The House of Blue Leaves, enjoyed an acclaimed revival and is being produced for television. The story follows the life of an unsuccessful songwriter in Queens.

Jazz critic Francis Davis believes the saxophonist's new album demonstrates both compositional and improvisatory prowess.

In honor of the composer's 99th birthday, Fresh Air invites Peggy King to perform several of his songs in studio. She is accompanied by pianist Mike Abene.