NPR Music

Victoria Monét. Meshell Ndegeocello. Sons of Sevilla. Host Stephen Thompson breaks down the best albums out Friday, Oct. 2, with DJs from around the NPR Music network: Ayana Contreras from KUVO in Denver, Evan Miller from WYSO in Ohio and DJ Llu from Vermont Public. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(01:53) Album No. 1
- Victoria Monét, 'Frequency Of Love'

(08:40) Album No. 2
- Meshell Ndegeocello, 'Synonym'

(15:28) Album No.3 
- Helen, 'Linda's Head'

(22:09) Album No. 4
- Wishy, 'Nature's Pill'

(28:36) Album No. 5
- Sons of Sevilla, 'It Could Be Today'

(34:27 The Lightning Round

- Greg Freeman, 'All Set the Bone'
- Miranda Lambert, 'Crisco'
- Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth, 'Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth'
- Lalah Hathaway, 'Made in Chicago'
- Beth Taylor, 'The Deeps Have Music'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guests: Ayana Contreras, Evan Miller, DJ Llu
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Elle Mannion, Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Lars Gotrich, Ann Powers and Tom Huizenga

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Jazz has often been called America's musical gift to the world. This week's guests remind us not only of the well-documented ways that Cuba revolutionized that gift, but also how it blossomed in South America.

Chilean tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana and Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba stopped by after their recent Tiny Desk performance to chat about their own personal histories with jazz and its lineage in their respective countries. The memories Rubalcaba shares about Havana's jazz scene in the 1980s adds another layer to a story we've talked a lot about on Alt.Latino. And Aldana looks back on her youth learning music from her father and grandfather, both of whom were Chilean jazz pioneers.

The conversation also covers the music they played at the Tiny Desk, which comes from their recent album, 'Filin,' a reexamination of a Cuban musical movement that lasted from the 1940s through the '60s. Ultimately, this week's episode is time spent with two master musicians to hear how their lives and experiences contribute to their mutual appreciation and love of jazz.

Check out Melissa Aldana and Gonzalo Rubalcaba's Tiny Desk Concert here.

This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

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We get big and loud this week with a surprise drop from Phoebe Bridgers and her song “On Video,” from the Primetime soundtrack; the monstrously disjointed “Placeholder” from Gilla Band; widescreened shoegaze from the Danish artist Trentemøller and more.  

NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton as they share their picks for the best new songs out now.

Tell us what you think with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(03:22) Phoebe Bridgers: “On Video”

(10:26) Gilla Band: “Placeholder”

(17:25) Trentemøller: “Swerve”

(23:31) Wednesday: “Carolina Murder Suicide (Avey Tare Remix)”

(30:29) serpentwithfeet: “sentinel”

(36:37) Lily Konigsberg: “Free Byrd”

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Leon Bridges. Blondshell. Joy Oladokun. Host Stephen Thompson breaks down the best albums out Friday, Sept. 18 with DJs from around the NPR Music network: Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee, Jewly Hight from WPLN in Nashville and Liz Warner from WDET in Detroit. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:53) Album No. 1
- Blondshell, 'Violins'

(07:43) Album No. 2
- Julia Jacklin, 'The Gem'

(15:13) Album No. 3
- Joy Oladokun, 'Hope Is A Heavy Thing'

(22:33) Album No. 4
- Leon Bridges, 'Happiness Anytime'

(28:52) Album No. 5
- Protomartyr, 'Hotel Usona'

(34:04) The Lightning Round

- Space Afrika, 'Quiet Storm'
- claire rousay & Martyna Basta, 'hotel room'
- Tinashe, 'Popstar'
- Mary Gauthier, 'Reckoning'
- Axel Boman & Superpitcher, 'Tell It To The Mountain'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guests: Erin Wolf, Jewly Hight, Liz Warner
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Elle Mannion, Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Sheldon Pearce and Ann Powers

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YEИDRY's music is almost as diverse she is. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Italy, the singer’s repertoire of genre and sound pulls from multiple continents, and even more unique cultural roots. It’s complicated to explain so many mixed identities, but, as we know quite well at Alt.Latino, music is an easy way to tell a complex story. From the first song she ever heard to a track that brings her peace, we’re presenting a playlist of YEИDRY, the artist and the person. It’s raw, unprepped, and just like YEИDRY: alive and constantly evolving.


Songs discussed in this episode:

- "Ese Hombre" by LA INDIA

- "Guitarra" by Yoskar Sarante

- "Weird Fishes / Arpeggi" by Radiohead

- "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy

- "To Zion (feat. Carlos Santana)" by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Carlos Santana

- "Paloma" by Angélica Garcia


This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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