Music

With the recent death of Israeli singer Ofra Haza to AIDS, World music critic Milo Miles reflects on the world musicians who have died of the disease, and the secrecy that surrounded their illnesses.

Singer/Actress/Performer Audra McDonald. McDonald has won three Tony Awards, for her performances in ‘Carousel,’ ‘Master Class,’ and ‘Ragtime.’ She recently performed on Broadway as the star of ‘Marie Christine,’ and just appeared in The Vagina Monologues at the Westside Theater in New York. She continues to appear on concert stages nationally. Her new CD is called ‘How Glory Goes’ (Nonesuch Records), and her PBS Special, ‘Audra McDonald at the Donmar, London,’ is airing nationally in March. (This interview continues in the second half of the show.)

Robert Moog is the Inventor of the Moog synthesizer, an electronic keyboard which makes unworldly sounding electronic music. He Invented It In 1965. Moog didn't invent, but he does manufacture the Theremin, the first electronic instrument. It was Invented 70 years ago by a Russian, and It's been used on many science-fiction films because of It's eerie, wavering tones.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews new recordings of some of Stravinsky's early vocal music: Natalie Dessay singing Stravinsky's The Nightingale (EMI), and Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky (box set on Sony).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “The Complete Django Reinhardt and Quintet of the Hot Club of France Swing/HMV Sessions 1936-1948 (Mosaic Records of Stamford Connecticut, mail-order)

Jazz mandolinist Don Stiernberg (STEERN-berg). Stiernberg is a 20 year veteran of music and studied under the jazz mandolinist Jethro Berns. His new jazz mandolin album is called “About Time” and is the debut album on a new label. (Blue Night Records, P.O. Box 4951, Skokie, IL 60076-4951, e-mail: HYPERLINK "http://www.bluenightrecords.com" www.bluenightrecords.com. Also available thru Amazon.com)

Songwriter, producer, and Instrumentalist of the alternative band Magnetic Fields, Stephin Merritt. The group has produced 6 albums. Their newest Is the three-CD "69 Love Songs," (Merge) which Is a genre blending collection of love songs like"Underwear" and "If You don't Cry." This album topped our rock critic Ken Tucker's list of the best CDS of 1999.

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers the record label Gee which recorded of the New York vocal group sound of the 1950s.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new CDS by Aimee Mann, the soundtrack for "Magnolia," and Michael Penn, "MP4."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews soprano Renee Fleming's new recording of Strauss Heroines with the Vienna Philharmonic, on the Decca label.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews “At the Close of a Century” (Motown) the new box set that collects the work of Stevie Wonder.

Historian Jon Wiener spent 14 years fighting to gain access to the FBI’s secret files on former Beatle John Lennon. Wiener’s Freedom of Information case went all the way to the Supreme Court before the FBI decided to settle. His new book “Gimme Some Truth” (University of California Press) outlines and reproduces the most important pages of the file, revealing that the Nixon administration plotted to deport Lennon in 1972 and silence him as a voice of the anti-war movement.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new solo piano CD by Keith Jarrett. It’s called “The Melody at Night, with You.”

Fresh Air’s Rock critic reviews the new CD by Fiona Apple.

Native American musician and songwriter Keith Secola. The music of Secola and his group, the Wild Band of Indians, is a hybrid of Rock, Folk and Tribal musics. Secola became a cult hero after the release of the contemporary Native anthem, ”Indian Cars.” Keith Secola and the Wild Band of Indians have a new CD called Fingermonkey

World Music critic Milo Miles shares the story of Savoy Records, an independent label that specialized in jazz, R&B, and gospel from the 1940s to the 60s.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Leon Kirchner: Historical Recordings" (Music and Arts)featuring the music of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Leon Kirchner who turns 81 this year.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews “The Raga Guide” (Nimbus label/Allegro) a four CD introduction to Indian Raga music.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Weatherhole" the new release by Michael Hurley, formerly of the Unholy Modal Rounders.

Conductor Benjamin Zander, of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been called "a Pied Piper" of classical music and "one of music's evangelists." His passionate performances have earned him quite a following. Through his teaching and his pre-concert discussions, he has tried to spread his love of classical music to a wider public. He has conducted the Boston Philharmonic for over 20 years. His recording of Mahler's Ninth Symphony was just nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance.