Podium Diplomacy: Conductor Takes Chinese Music West And Vice Versa
5 years, 40 works: Long Yu wants China and the West to know each other's contemporary music better. He's launching a big project to accomplish just that.
Music & Culture
In Modern Klezmer, 'The Oldest Old Guy' Is The King Of The Scene
Pete Sokolow has been called irascible and a tough-as-nails teacher. He's also one of the last living links to klezmer's immigrant pioneers — and to a new generation of musicians, he's invaluable.
In Oscar Nominations For Best Score, Some Hear Sour Notes
The distinctive music in the movie Birdman will not win an Oscar — in fact, it wasn't even nominated. Like other acclaimed film scores from years past, it didn't comply with academy rules.
After An Education In American Jazz, A Musician Tackles The Turkish Songbook
A Turkish jazz guitarist is converting Turkey's pop songs into popular jazz, the way American jazz musicians stylized tunes from the Great American Songbook.
Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon On Marriage, Music And Moving On
Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore were indie rock's power couple — until their marriage, and their band, ended in 2011. Gordon looks back on the experience in a new memoir called Girl in a Band.
Clark Terry, Ebullient Jazz Trumpeter, Has Died
A member of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestras, Terry also enjoyed a long freelance career which included jazz education and a featured slot in NBC's Tonight Show band. He was 94.
Clark Terry, Acclaimed Jazz Trumpeter And Composer, Dies At 94
The famed musician was one of the most prolific recording artists in jazz and performed with such greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones in a career that spanned decades.
To Set The Mood In Period Drama, A Composer Paints Around The Emotions
Gary Yershon is up for an Oscar for the score of Mr. Turner, his fourth collaboration with director Mike Leigh. The two men share a philosophy: Never tell the audience exactly how to feel.
Taylor Swift, Savvy Trademark Titan
Thinking of putting "speak now" on a T-shirt or bed linens? You'll have to ask Taylor Swift first. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks to intellectual property lawyer Mark Lemley about Swift's branding empire.
The Mavericks Release An Album, Minus Robert Reynolds
The country rock band The Mavericks are back with a new album, but this time without a founding member, Robert Reynolds. NPR's Scott Simon talks with bandmates Raul Malo and Eddie Perez about Mono.