Music

April 29, 2011 12:00 AM

Jazz legend Irv Williams

At 91, Irv Williams has earned the right to slow down a bit. But this Minnesota jazz legend has just released another CD and still performs. Irv stops by to talk about his life, his music and his work with Ella Fitzgerald and Fletch Henderson.

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April 27, 2011 12:00 AM

Janis Ian performs in the Maud Moon Weyerhauser studio

At age 14, Janis Ian wrote a controversial song that sailed to the top of the charts. It was 1964, and "Society's Child" told the story of a forbidden interracial romance. Nearly 50 years later, Ian is still making bold statements with her music.

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April 25, 2011 12:00 AM

What music does to the mind

Listening to your favorite song can have an intense emotional effect, triggering memories and feelings unlike anything else. But what makes music so expressive? Dr. Daniel Levitin and Thomas Plaunt join us to discuss what happens to your brain on music.

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April 15, 2011 3:55 PM

Mpls. musician takes low-key approach to his work

Minneapolis singer-songwriter Ben Weaver is known for deeply imagistic lyrics and an ability to reduce songs to their bare elements. He won't tell you what he thinks his song "East Jefferson" means. That's for you to decide.

by Chris Roberts

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April 12, 2011 9:51 AM

New music from three artists that call Minnesota home

It's a big week for the local music scene. Minneapolis-based hip-hop act Atmosphere, Duluth-based Indie rockers Low, and local songstress Haley Bonar all release new albums this week. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with David Campbell for a preview of their new records. Campbell is the host of the Local Show, Sundays on 89.3 The Current.

by Cathy Wurzer and David Campbell

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April 7, 2011 5:50 PM

Controversial dance returns 30 years after first run

In 1979 a dance performance at the Northrop Auditorium on the U of M campus in Minneapolis outraged the audience. Some people booed and walked out. The object of the derision was a piece simply called "Dance" by choreographer Lucinda Childs with music composed and performed by Philip Glass. Now 32 years later, they've returned to mount the piece again at the Walker Art Center this weekend.

by Euan Kerr

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April 5, 2011 5:32 PM

St. Paul musician writes a song a day, for a year

It's easier and cheaper than ever to make your own high quality recordings, and local musicians are getting more and more ambitious with their output. A St. Paul singer/songwriter is committed to reaching a formidable goal -- writing and recording a song a day for an entire year.

by Chris Roberts

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April 3, 2011 12:00 PM

Academics to dissect Bob Dylan at NY conference

Academics from around the country will examine the implications of Bob Dylan's classic song "Hurricane" and others during a conference in New York this week.