Music

In honor of Saint Valentine's Day, film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the 1946 romance, "Humoresque," with Joan Crawford and John Garfield. He says no recent romance films capture Hollywood's early edginess.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says, though there's a wealth of wunderkinds in the scene today, listeners shouldn't overlook more seasoned musicians. He reviews a reissue of tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan's 1961 album, Bearcat.

World music critic Milo Miles profiles Ali Farka Toure, a guitar player from Mali. Milo says Toure's influences are from Africa, but his sound has a lot in common with American blues.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a recent album by singer Shelly Hirsch and keyboardist David Weinstein. Their music draws from a diverse array of styles and traditions. Kevin says Hirsch is one of the most amazing singers in any genre.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Laura Lee, a gospel singer who in the late 60s and early 70s switched to soul. She became known for her feminist songs "Wedlock is a Padlock," and "Women's Love Rights." After a string of hits she went back to gospel music, recording with Al Green.

Rock critic Ken Tucker has never really liked the country singer's music, but he's long admired him. Yoakum's new album If There Was a Way stands out among the genre's recent, lackluster releases.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reflects on some recent songs that have come out in favor of or against U.S. involvement in Iraq, including those by Sean Lennon, Hank Williams, Jr., Andrew Tippin, and Randy Newman.

After seeing a performance the night the Gulf War began, classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz tells us about how music can be a poignant response to war.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma talks about how the Gulf War has affected him as an individual and as a musician.

Rock and roll historian Ed Ward looks back on the music of 1981 -- a year he says was great for black musicians in particular, including Prince, Rick James, and Grandmaster Flash. British bands like Duran Duran dominated, too.

Bernstein has composed the scores for around 80 films, including "The Man With the Golden Arm," "The Magnificent Seven," and "The Ten Commandments. He's done the scores for 2 new films -- "The Field" and "The Grifters." He joins Fresh Air to talk about how he works with directors to write his music.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the soundtrack from the movie "Tune in Tomorrow" composed by Wynton Marsalis and recorded by Marsalis and his band. Whitehead says it makes good use of the trumpeter's conservative, backward-looking approach.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews some commemorative recordings of the late Swiss composer and conductor Frank Martin, who isn't well known in the U.S. His music was often moody and unsettling, and religious in nature.

Rock critic Ken Tucker comments on the success of white rapper Vanilla Ice's debut, To the Extreme, and The Simpsons Sing the Blues, a compilation performed by the voice actors of the popular animated show.

Pizzarelli's new album, "My Blue Heaven," features his interpretations of some great songs from the swing era. He is the son of noted jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, and often performs in the New York cabaret scene.

Magnuson starred in the movies, "Making Mister Right," and "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon," and on the TV series, "Anything But Love." She's had numerous one woman monologue shows in Manhattan. She joins Fresh Air for an interview, and shares an excerpt of one of her life performances, about groupies following Doors' frontman Jim Morrison.

World music commentator Milo Miles examines the genre, which was developed in the Caribbean, developed in France, and was influenced by African and American traditions.

The Fresh Air rock critic gives us his ten best for 1990 and his thoughts on the music scene over the year.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new collaboration between composers and musicians Brian Eno and John Cale. Tucker says it's a gentle, pleasant departure from their more avant-garde work.

A live concert with Evan Lurie on piano, Alfredo Pedernera on bandoneon, and Jill Jaffe on violin. Lurie's music draws on the inspirations of the New Tango movement. Lurie is also a member of the the Lounge Lizards.