Mar 16th, 2010 · Sony Music has signed a historic $250 million deal with pop singer Michael Jackson's estate for previously unreleased music and the late singer's catalog. Ethan Smith, the music industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, says it's hard to say what's in the archives, but there could be two albums worth of songs.
Mar 16th, 2010 · What happens you blend the sounds of The Shins' frontman James Mercer and producer Danger Mouse? After meeting at a Danish music festival six years ago, the two are now collaborating under the name Broken Bells. Melissa Block tries to uncover the source of the duo's tweaked sounds in an interview.
Mar 16th, 2010 · Over the course of his life, Nat King Cole became a jazz innovator and an icon of American popular music. Take Five celebrates Cole's birthday — he was born on March 17, 1919 — with a "five-tool" (that's baseball lingo, we'll explain) approach, highlighting the breadth of his work.
Mar 16th, 2010 · What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with an Irish jig? The members of Solas are all American, but they play Celtic folk music with authority. In a session from Folk Alley, the quintet performs an instrumental from The Turning Tide, and two songs featuring vocalist Mairead Phelan.
Mar 15th, 2010 · When Newsom first emerged on the musical landscape in 2004 with The Milk-Eyed Mender, a lot of people thought she was a whimsical novelty act. But this year, the singer returned with a stunningly ambitious, three-disc collection called Have One on Me. Newsom's voice has matured; the orchestrations are richer and the themes darker. Hear the singer perform live in a full concert, webcast on NPR.org from Washington, D.C.
Mar 15th, 2010 · Sample the tasty fiddle flavors of music from Celtic roots with Catriona Macdonald, Pete Clark and Celtic Fiddle Festival.
Mar 15th, 2010 · Bach's cantatas contain some of his greatest music, but their individual sections are seldom performed out of context, least of all by celebrities. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says Hillary Hahn's new CD, Bach: Violin and Voice provides a welcome exception to this rule.
Mar 15th, 2010 · Folk Alley has assembled over 7 hours of music by some of their favorite Irish musicians. You'll hear a mix of familiar and new artists, including Mary Black, Solas, Danu, John Doyle, Donal Lunny, Connie Dover, Andy Irvine, Planxty, Grada, The Chieftains (of course) and much, much more! Sláinte mhaith!