Music

Mapfumo is known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe," for his outspoken political stance during his home country's struggle for independence. Mapfumo and his band, The Blacks Unlimited, have a new album, called "Chamunorwa."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz previews a new PBS documentary about the groundbreaking, African American contralto.

Broadway composer John Kander of the songwriting team Kander & Ebb. They wrote the music for "Cabaret" and such songs as "New York, New York," and "And the World Goes 'Round."

A concert with singer Exene Cervenka, formerly of the punk-rock group "X." She's now has a solo career. Her most recent album is "Running Sacred." Her debut album from 1989 is "Old Wives' Tales."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "The Original All-American Sousa," a collection of marches by John Philip Sousa that includes both new recordings and rare clips of Sousa himself from 70 years ago.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by REM: "Out of Time," which he says has a diffidence and reserve that sets it apart from the group's string of albums over the past ten years.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews composer Meyer Kupferman's new release, "Images of Chagall," which includes musical depictions of Chagall paintings and incorporates elements from folk and jazz music.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back at some of the best soul music of the 70s. Rhino Records has just released a series of CDs collecting the best hits of that decade.

Richard Marriott, the leader of the San Francisco-based band The Club Foot Orchestra. They've written new music to accompany the classic silent films "Nosferatu," and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead give a profile of the FMP label. It specializes in free jazz and features many American and European musicians.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the "Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series," a three-CD set which covers three decades of Dylan's career. Tucker says it's interesting, but doesn't match Dylan's official albums.

World music critic Milo Miles profiles Ray Lema. He's a singer, songwriter, and bandleader from Zaire.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two recent recordings of American composer Elliott Carter's works. Now in his 80s, Carter is still composing, and shows no sign of slowing down.

Terry talks with ethnomusicologist Steven Feld. His new record, "Voices of the Rainforest," captures the songs of the Kaluli people of Paupa New Guinea. Feld also works for preservation of the world's rain forests, since if the forests are eliminated, so will much indigenous music.

McCorkle is a favorite of Fresh Air, and Terry thought it's been too long since she's been on the show. Today, McCorkle is joined by pianist Ben Aronov and bassist John Goldsby.

Parker has been singing and writing songs for 15 years. He is known for his angry, biting lyrics. He's just produced his 14th album, "Struck by Lightning," which reveals Parker's new, mature perspective on life.

Krauss is still a teenager, but she's already a veteran in the bluegrass scene, with three albums and a decade on the road to her credit. Her new album is called "I've Got That Old Feeling," on Rounder Records.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new solo albums, from Susanna Hoffs, a member of the Bangles, and from Alexander O'Neal. Both artists explore the theme of masculinity in their music.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album by Finnish bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala, on the ECM label.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the singer-songwriter's "Night Ride Home," which he says is a return to the pop sound that marked her great, earlier albums.