New posthumous album from famed composer Ryuichi Sakamoto announced
A new posthumous album has been announced from the late Japanese composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto. The album is called "Opus".
Music & Culture
Oran Etkin's global jazz journeys and the magic of Timbalooloo
Oran Etkin creates musical connections around the globe. He also makes instruments come to life in his Timbalooloo program for children.
Fairport Convention band cofounder Richard Thompson looks back on his life in music
The British singer/guitarist spoke to Fresh Air in 1994 and '22 about about his formative years and about pioneering a new musical genre that blended rock with traditional music of the British isles.
Countertenor John Holiday isn't trying to make you love him
The versatile singer, who emphasizes self-acceptance, says his mission is to be a bridge from the classical community to pop, jazz and R&B. And if you’re not a fan, that’s okay.
The Culture Corner: How Cibo Matto quietly influenced New York in the '90s
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison explains how the alt rock band's 1999 record subverted stereotypes at the time.
50 years later, Steely Dan's 'Pretzel Logic' still sounds fresh
By 1974, Steely Dan's two albums had helped established the band as a viable business proposition. With Pretzel Logic, they began a quest for studio perfectionism that would last for decades to come.
Beethoven was a classical and romantic composer, but his body was full of heavy metal
Virtuosic pianist and composer Beethoven suffered from several debilitating ailments. A new study suggests lead poisoning may be at least partly to blame.
Shabaka trades in his sax for the flute on his solo debut album
The British jazz musician taps into the magic and curiosity that comes from learning something new on Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace.
3 exhilarating songs showcase music genres being explored in new ways
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs' “Dare To Dream," Tommy Richman's "Million Dollar Baby" and Jeff and Steven McDonald's “Born Innocent" feature spontaneous sounds rooted in deep knowledge of the past.
Flo Milli: Tiny Desk Concert
The Tiny Desk has humbled many artists, but Flo Milli strutted into NPR HQ for this set with the unwavering confidence of an OG.