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Faithfull's latest album, Easy Come, Easy Go, covers more ground than ever before. The veteran singer interprets songs by Randy Newman, The Decemberists, Dolly Parton and many others. To her, recording a cover is more about expressing the song than trying to emulate the original.

New Orleans is not only the cradle of jazz. It's also the birthplace of great jazz piano, dating back to the early 1900s, when Jelly Roll Morton tickled the ivories. Hear three pianists who are keeping upholding that great tradition — Allen Toussaint, Henry Butler and Jon Cleary — onstage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with Keys to New Orleans.

The mystery of which type of French horn Brahms intended for his lyrical Horn Trio may never be solved. But there's no denying that Brahms came up with some of the very best music for the horn, with or without valves, in the history of the instrument.

Los Angeles-based singer Maia Sharp may be on her fourth album, Echo, but she's mostly made her living writing songs for other performers, including Cher, Dixie Chicks and Bonnie Raitt. After a few brushes with success, this time around, Sharp feels like she's ready to break through.

From sorrow, the music builds to a climax of intensity, and finally reaches serene acceptance. Commentator Rob Kapilow conducts a guided tour of Barber's best-known piece.

The jazz trumpeter chats about and performs songs from his album Yesterday You Said Tomorrow. He tells guest host Audie Cornish about how he developed his signature breathy sound, and his education in jazz which came from his family, formal schooling, and the clubs in his hometown of New Orleans.

Yes, even within the hallowed halls of classical music, one can find all manner of hoodwinking, horseplay and even a raunchy song or two. Hear Renee Montagne and Miles Hoffman spin some of the more lewd and laughable musical jokes.

Maya is the third full-length album by M.I.A., and it rattles with hard-edged and well-produced beats and electronica. Reviewer Oliver Wang says that even if it's not her best work, the record still offers reminders of why M.I.A. is one of the most compelling and unusual artists in pop today.

The band formed in 1997 and quickly gained attention in its adopted hometown of Austin, Texas. On a new album, its members honor their idol Bob Wills, "The King of Western Swing."

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with musician Wryn about their Tiny Desk Contest entries and their forthcoming album.