Music

Rudy Van Gelder used his parents' living room in Hackensack, N.J., as his recording studio in the mid-1950s.

Music & Culture

Rudy Van Gelder, Definitive Jazz Recording Engineer, Has Died

4:29pm August 26, 2016

by Felix Contreras

The man who captured hundreds of jazz's greatest recordings — by Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock — died Thursday at his home studio. He was 91.

Music & Culture

Norah Jones On Piano Jazz

12:17pm August 26, 2016

The smoky-voiced singer reinvents standards like "The Nearness Of You" in a 2003 session.

Music & Culture

Hard Working Americans On World Cafe

11:45am August 26, 2016

Hear the Todd Snider-fronted supergroup perform songs from its new album, Rest In Chaos.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Sarah Potenza, 'Monster'

9:55am August 26, 2016

by Jewly Hight

The brassy roots-rocker's anthem conveys her determination to revel in her corporeality and flamboyant performance style. "That kind of flash is Americana," she says. "It is big."

Music & Culture

Nina Diaz: Tiny Desk Concert

9:37am August 26, 2016

by Felix Contreras

As a solo artist on leave from Girl In A Coma, the singer finds new ways to sound ferocious. Here, she performs three songs from an album due out in the fall.

In 1959, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was performed for the first time by an all-Chinese orchestra and sung in Mandarin.

Music & Culture

Tracing The People's Republic Of Beethoven

6:28pm August 25, 2016

by NPR Staff

The composer's music and life story are deeply woven into China's cultural, social and political fabric, inspiring revolution and providing comfort.

Queue Listen Now

Las Cafeteras' "La Bamba Rebelde" is featured in this Latin Roots segment.

Music & Culture

Latin Roots: Chicano Activism

4:22pm August 25, 2016

Beat Latino's Catalina Maria Johnson discusses the music of the Chicano Power movement of the 1960s.

Music & Culture

New Releases Capture 'Inimitable' Tenor Saxophonist In His Neglected '70s Prime

3:23pm August 25, 2016

by Kevin Whitehead

As one of the very first bebop tenor saxophonists, Teddy Edwards mixed awesome technique with irresistibly slinky phrases. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews two reissues, Inimitable and Feelin's.

Queue Listen Now

Ani DiFranco performs live for Folk Alley.

Music & Culture

Watch Ani DiFranco Play 'Binary' Live In The Studio

2:42pm August 25, 2016

by Linda Fahey

The singer-songwriter performs the politically charged title track from her forthcoming album, due in 2017, in a session recorded live for Folk Alley.

Anthony Hamilton (right) is inspired by a goat.

It's Been A Good Week For Goats

2:17pm August 25, 2016

by Marc Silver

They're helping needy families in Cameroon as part of a Red Cross giveaway. And in Indiana, a kid got a soul serenade from Grammy winner Anthony Hamilton.