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In this episode: Author John F. Goodman interviewed jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus several times throughout the 1970s — originally for a proposed Playboy interview... (episode)
<p>"There's never been a better interview subject, in my opinion," says writer John F. Goodman about Charles Mingus, the man at the center of his new book, "Mingus Speaks."</p>
<p><em>Soundcheck</em> pays tribute to the late jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller by listening back to his appearance with Ron Carter's Golden Striker Trio in 2011.</p>
<p>Hear the blissfully noisy Portland psychedelic rock band Wooden Indian Burial Ground perform live in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio.</p>
In this episode: One of the things that made the television show "Arrested Development" such a fan favorite is the recurring musical jokes and goofy songs. Now that the series is back... (episode)
<p>Hear James Hunter perform in the studio.</p>
In this episode: Actress and soprano Audra McDonald recently starred in Broadway's revival of Porgy and Bess. Now, she's back with her first solo album in 7 years, Go Back ... (episode)
<p><em>SPIN</em> editor Chris Weingarten shares with <em>Soundcheck </em>host John Schaefer some of his thoughts behind the album. </p>
Award-winning composer, Paul Williams, collaborated with Daft Punk for their new album, Random Access Memories. Williams wrote the lyrics for the tracks "Beyond" and "Touch," which he...
<p>Actress and soprano <guest name="Audra McDonald">Audra McDonald</guest> recently starred in Broadway's revival of <em>Porgy and Bess</em>. Now, she's back with her first solo album in seven years.</p>
In this episode: The actor John Malkovich, perhaps most famous for, um, being John Malkovich, joins us to talk about The Giacomo Variations, a music-theater collaborati... (episode)
John Malkovich's salacious musical theater piece combines the life story of the famous lothario, Giacaomo Casanova, with music from three of Mozart’s greatest operas, including Don Gi...
<p>Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet's <em>My Cat From Hell</em>, talks about some of his favorite music, his own songwriting, and cats cats cats.</p>
<p><span>The New Mexico-based folk duo A Hawk and A Hacksaw has built its reputation on performing music rooted in Eastern European folk traditions. Hear a performance in the studio.</span></p>
<p>Stuck in transit this Memorial Day weekend? Take our hourlong special with America's funniest banjo player with you.</p> (episode)
In this episode: Illustrator William Stout talks about his new book Legends of the Blues. Plus: An unpublished lyric sheet from Bob Dylan is up for auction this summer. We ... (episode)
In 1980, the cartoonist R. Crumb released Heroes of the Blues, a set of beautiful, illustrated trading cards that catalogs 36 of the greatest bluesmen ever. Now, a new book by writer ...
<p>An unpublished lyric sheet from Bob Dylan is up for auction this summer. We hear about the song, hear some interpretations recorded by fans, and dive into some well known Dylan covers.<em></em></p>
<p>Hear violin-looping singer Emily Wells perform live in the studio.</p>
In this episode: Khaled Hosseini is the bestselling author of "The Kite Runner” and the new novel “And the Mountains Echoed.” Tonight, Hosseini shares his favorite tracks by the late ... (episode)
<p>Author Khaled Hosseini, who spent much of his childhood in Afghanistan, presents three Afghan songs from his childhood that still hold massive sway over him.</p>
Composer Phil Kline is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring by hosting a 24-hour marathon on Q2 celebrating different interpretations o...
<p>Hear Angel Olsen peform selections from her superb sophomore album, Half Way Home in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio.</p>
In this episode: Composer, arranger, producer, and musician Van Dyke Parks has worked with an array of artists from The Beach Boys to Bonnie Raitt to Skrillex. Now, he's rel... (episode)
Van Dyke Parks’ name may not ring a bell for the casual listener, but if you’ve been listening to music — even casually — for the last 45 years, you’ve heard his work. The composer an...
<p>Hear guitarist Benjamin Verdery perform live in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio at 2 p.m. ET.</p>
In this episode: Tom Jones, the Welsh singer who launched his career in 1965 with "It’s Not Unusual," just released the new album Spirit in the Room. In covering Leonard Cohen, B... (episode)
<p><span>Tom Jones has built his nearly 50-year career on epic arrangements and his iconic voice. But Jones goes in a different direction on his new record, Spirit in the Room.</span></p>
<p>Folk artist Sam Amidon performs in the <em>Soundcheck</em> studio.</p>
In this episode: Director Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel features a soundtrack packed with rap and hip hop. Wall Street Journal contributor Will Fr... (episode)
<p><span>Long running hip hop collective The Coup brings its trademark blend of funk, psychedelia and punk rock to the studio for a performance.</span></p>
The iTunes store was a game changer ten years ago, when it first emerged. Billboard editor Joe Levy discusses the online music and media store's impact on the music industry a decade in.