Brain Surgery Serenade: Man Plays Saxophone During Tumor Removal
Partially sedated, Spanish musician Carlos Aguilera played "Misty" and read sheet music to help neurosurgeoons preserve his talents.
Music & Culture
Old Hits, New Twists On Count Basie Orchestra's New Holiday Album
The legendary Count Basie Orchestra has a new album of holiday music. It features new takes on some old hits. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with lead trumpeter Scott Barnhart about "A Very Swingin' Basie Chirstmas."
Watch Public Radio's Favorite Sessions Of 2015
Public radio stations filmed thousands of performances this year. Here are a dozen favorites.
The Neuroscience Of Musical Perception, Bass Guitars And Drake
Recent research hints at how the human brain is uniquely able to recognize and enjoy music. Timing in your brain is nearly everything.
Latitudes: 10 Favorite Global Music Picks From 2015
This year, a plethora of mind-bendingly, cross-culturally deep albums and singles sparked our international music critic's imagination.
Jazz At Lincoln Center Celebrates 'Big Band Holidays'
To ring in the season, we cozy up with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra — and hear both their original arrangements and favorite holiday memories.
Rickie Lee Jones On World Cafe
Hear songs from The Other Side of Desire, Jones' first new album of original material since 2003.
From Hip-Hop To Country, Critic Ken Tucker Assesses The Best Of 2015
Rock Critic Ken Tucker presents his playlist for 2015, which includes the Alabama Shakes, Bruno Mars and Ashley Monroe, among others. For reading pleasure, he suggests Real Life Rock, by Greil Marcus.
Son Little: Tiny Desk Concert
A modernistic bluesman with a taste for electronics appears with just his acoustic guitar, his singing sister and a percussionist.
Viking's Choice: Aluk Todolo, '8:18'
Opening the French occult rock trio's fourth LP is a gnarly thing that sounds like Miles Davis' Agharta played by a Can/Hawkwind supergroup. Enter the endless abyss.