Before He Joined Congress, A South African Janitor's Disco Past
The appearance of Penny Penny's Shaka Bundu in the American market is welcome not only in itself, but also as a sign of a larger trend. Five or six years ago, it was clear the music business was going...
View ArticleFight Sound With Sound: Grateful Dead's Arena Combat
The same week that Neil Young introduced his Pono music player designed to spark a huge boost in audio fidelity, I listened for the first time to a recording of a Grateful Dead concert I attended...
View ArticleGolem Ain't Your Grandparents' Klezmer
The New York City band Golem describe their music as punk-klezmer. Music critic Milo Miles says that on the group's new album, Tanz , they mange to find new ways to balance urban irreverence with folk...
View ArticleA Lost Piece Of Soul History Appears
In the early 1960s when soul star Sam Cooke had his own record label, SAR, he recorded songs by his younger brother, L.C. Cooke. Ten of the tracks were supposed to become L.C.'s debut album in 1964....
View ArticleFor Duo Tennis, Pop Is A Natural Language
Can you re-invent lively pop from the distant past? Fresh Air music critic Milo Miles says the songwriting team Tennis does just that with their new third album, Ritual in Repeat . Copyright 2018 NPR....
View ArticleMalian Bandleader Bassekou Kouyate Merges Rock And Soul In 'Ba Power'
Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of the latest release from Bassekou Kouyate, a veteran bandleader and musician from...
View ArticleCarlos Gardel's Tango-Cowboy Legacy Is 'Reborn And Remastered'
Copyright 2015 Fresh Air. To see more, visit . Transcript DAVID BIANCULLI, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. In Argentina, tango singer Carlos Gardel remains the country's most famous pop-star, even though he...
View ArticleUnadulterated Brass-Band Fun On Banda De Los Muertos' Debut Album
Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of the debut album by Banda De Los Muertos. Milo says this band updates traditional...
View ArticleRoman Diaz Makes A Spiritual Statement With 'L'ó Dá Fún Bàtá'
Copyright 2016 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Master percussionist Roman Diaz has releases his debut album as a leader called "L'o Da Fun...
View ArticleMusicians Pay Tribute To Blind Willie Johnson On 'God Don't Never Change'
Copyright 2016 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air .
View ArticleNaftule's Dream Returns, With A Fleshy, Folkie New Album
Copyright 2016 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air .
View ArticleBossacucanova's 'Best Of' Album Pulses With Lovely, Lively Music
Copyright 2018 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. As the Olympics nears its conclusion, we have some music from Brazil. Bossa nova was the most popular...
View Article'King of Highlife Anthology' Finally Does Justice To African Bandleader Mensah
Copyright 2018 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of a new anthology devoted to the pioneer African bandleader of the...
View ArticleNew Album Offers A Varied Introduction To 'Queen of Gospel' Mahalia Jackson
Copyright 2019 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of a new album by Mahalia Jackson called "Moving On Up A Little...
View ArticleSxip Shirey's 'Bottle of Whiskey' Is A 21st-Century Music Creation
Copyright 2018 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of a new album by Sxip Shirey, a performer he calls both eclectic and...
View Article'Synthesize The Soul' Offers A Perfectly Paced Dance Party
Copyright 2017 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of a new collection of synthesizer dance music from the Cape Verde...
View Article'Afrobeats' Offers A Sensual Blend Of Electronics, Vocals And Rhythms
Copyright 2017 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of "Afrobeats Hot Hits." The collection introduces a type of African...
View ArticleThe Kronos Quartet Explodes Its Range On Two New Collaborations
Copyright 2018 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Music critic Milo Miles has a review of two new albums by the Kronos Quartet. They're each collaborations...
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