Married and musical duo Tanya Blount-Trotter and Michael Trotter Jr's second full-length tackles topics of jealousy in relationships gone wrong and one of Michael's lowest moments.
Nézet-Séguin chose Verdi's Requiem for his 2012 inaugural performance as music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He says the piece now helps him find a sense of connection during the pandemic.
The full band got together to record performances exclusively for World Cafe and you'll hear how they decided to tweak the tracks from their new album, The Main Thing.
As jazz experienced an awakening in the late '60s and early '70s , a record label from Oakland was at the forefront of capturing it. Now, those records are finally returning.
The Grammy winning singer-songwriter started out in Johnny Cash's backup band. Now he's being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Stuart played some of his own music in this 2014 interview.
Ahead of the release of their debut album, Giver Taker, the Boston singer-songwriter talks to NPR Music about singing in choirs, healing through songwriting and being inspired by The Lion King.
Rollins recorded his first sessions in 1949, and played his last live shows in 2012. Kevin Whitehead offers an appreciation, then we listen back to a 1994 interview with the tenor saxophonist.
Every year, the Tiny Desk Contest attracts thousands of unsigned musicians — like powerhouse singer Danielle Ponder. Her entry, "Poor Man's Pain," was inspired by her work as a public defender.
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Bob James, better known as godfather of hip-hop and smooth jazz, about an album of his early work. Once Upon a Time was recorded in 1965 but just released now.
The Decemberists' Colin Meloy talks about his entry to the Morning Edition Song Project, a meditation on the banality of everyday life in the midst of an international emergency.
The accomplished songwriters are tireless activists for causes ranging from gun control to indigenous rights to the removal of confederate monuments from town squares.
NPR's Debbie Elliott asks former Elephant Revival band member Daniel Rodriguez about his new solo album — two years after Elephant Revival's final performance and breakup.
Fresh Air listens back to archival interviews with Max Roach and trumpeter Red Rodney, two musicians who played with Parker; and alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, who considered Parker a mentor.
The rapper Drakeo the Ruler titled his latest album after the prison phone service provider GTL, whose lines he used to record it, leaving a trail to follow the money through a controversial industry.
The pop music power house drops her new album, Smile, on Friday, and she's given birth to her first child. Perry talks about the loss of certainty and rebuilding her confidence while making Smile.
New bands still sound like Pylon and beloved bands still like them better than themselves. Ahead of a catalog reissue, its three remaining members discuss how it feels to last forever.
Since its release, fans are sharing stories of personal connection to Bridgers' latest album, one that's made many feel less alone in a time of self-isolation.
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Latin music star Prince Royce about his performance at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and why he's speaking out on the importance of this election.
Bright Eyes performs new songs off Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was and talks about finding bagpipe players for "Persona Non Grata" and remembering loved ones in the minutiae of experience.
The two country-leaning singer-songwriters on their time in Nashville, addressing the darkness of life while staying in the light and the difficulties of thinking forward in the South.
The soul singer talks about his entry for the Morning Edition Song Project which considers how the pandemic created space for a national dialogue on race after pausing many aspects of regular life.
