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Music

A painful history retold through jazz music
Growing up, jazz guitarist David Becker heard stories of how the Japanese captured his Dutch grandparents during the invasion of Indonesia in World War II. On his new album "Batavia," he retells his family's adventures through music.November 26, 2010
Ike Reilly's Thanksgiving tradition means Minneapolis rock and roll
Whether it's food, family, or the four-day weekend, Thanksgiving is about traditions. One musical tradition that has come to mark the holiday in the Twin Cities is Ike Reilly at First Avenue. The fiery Chicago rocker and singer songwriter has made his Thanksgiving eve show in the mainroom an annual event. Reilly told Chris Roberts of Minnesota Public Radio's Arts Unit that he and his Minnesota fans have a lot in common.November 24, 2010
Cantus: Under the bridge
The men of Cantus take their voices out of the concert hall and under a bridge.November 18, 2010
Cloud Cult chases time
The Minneapolis indie rock band Cloud Cult brings its orchestral flair, tribal energy, and a new album, to First Avenue's Mainroom for the next two nights.November 17, 2010
iTunes finally snags the Beatles
Apple has announced that its iTunes store will soon start carrying music by the Beatles. MPR's Jon Gordon explains what took so long.Midmorning, November 16, 2010
Reviving the great American songbook
Songwriter and musician Adam Levy is exploring the great American Songbook, a collection of songs created between 1925 and 1960 that he believes shapes our notions of American music. He performs some classics of the jazz canon live in the Maude Mood Weyerhauser studios, with help from some musical guests.Midmorning, November 12, 2010
Folk musician KT Tunstall reinvents herself
After producing such hits as "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See," folk Scottish singer KT Tunstall disappeared for a while. Now she's back with a new band, a new album and a new style.November 10, 2010
How music can affect perception
This political season, candidates' ads have used music to frighten, inspire, and motivate voters to get out to the polls. Music can do a lot more to communicate a message in TV, films, and other multimedia. Midmorning's experts explain how.Midmorning, November 2, 2010
Singer-songwriter collects friends along the way
Dar Williams' latest album is a retrospective with a twist. On "Many Great Companions," the coffee-house veteran collaborates with some of her contemporaries to breathe new life into some of her old favorites.Midmorning, October 29, 2010
Once bitten, twice shy
Midmorning examines the history and the science of things that bite -- bedbugs, leeches, rabid dogs, even vampires -- with Dr. Jon Hallberg and members of the Hippocrates Cafe.Midmorning, October 28, 2010
The musical chaos of STNNNG
"The Smoke of My Will" is the title of the new album from the blistering Minneapolis indie rock band STNNNG, which the group unveils Saturday night at St. Paul's Turf Club.October 22, 2010
Singer Darryl Holter celebrates Minneapolis' West Bank
Darryl Holter returns to the West Bank of Minneapolis to celebrate a time and a place.October 12, 2010
Mark Mallman embarks on 78-hour music marathon
Imagine staying awake for 78 hours straight. Now, picture yourself playing music continuously over the course of those three-plus days, and actually, playing just one song, and stopping only for bathroom breaks.October 7, 2010
At Sound Unseen, a quest for the Kinks
A mid-life crisis leads some people to buy expensive cars, take exotic trips, or even engage in illicit relationships. Journalist Geoff Edgers mid-life brought on a desire to try to get his favorite British band of the sixties to reform.October 6, 2010
Meg Hutchinson, a musician singing to writers
Singer-songwriter Meg Hutchinson says it's entirely appropriate that she's appearing at the Sinclair Lewis Writer's Conference this weekend, as she's always considered herself more of a writer than a musician.October 5, 2010