Mahalia Jackson: Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement
The gospel singer was born about 100 years ago in New Orleans, and when she was 16, she traveled the well-worn path up the Mississippi to Chicago. Beginning in the 1940s, she was one of the first singers to take gospel out of the church, drawing white audiences and selling millions of records. In the process, she inspired generations of singers.

Dessa: Breaking The Rules Of Rap
The Minneapolis rapper known as Dessa doesn't have a typical hip-hop profile, but her talent more than compensates. Maggie Wander graduated from college at 20 and then worked as a medical writer. She's an outspoken fan of Jeff Buckley. And, under the name Dessa, Wander just released a terrific hip-hop album called A Badly Broken Code.

Hope I Die Before I Get Old: When Should Death Break Up A Band?
I know that at least a few of you watched Super Bowl XLIV. I know that, because 106 million people watched yesterday's game, which makes it the most-watched telecast ever. Perhaps you tuned in to see if New Orleans might finally get its due — not just as a team, but as a city. Or maybe you wanted to see those crazy (pro-life, sexist, unadventurous and/or boring) advertisements for which companies paid a gazillion dollars. Lastly, a scant amount of you might have tuned in because The Who was playing the halftime show.

RJD2: A 'Colossal' Return To Form
Colossus marks a departure from the relatively traditional pop-rock sound of RJD2's 2007 album, The Third Hand. His pop influences surface on tracks such as "The Glow," but his textures are driven by kick and snare patterns that resemble the hip-hop of his earlier work.

Lyle Lovett: Quiet, 'Natural Forces'
In a session from WXPN, Lovett showcases his inventive combination of folk, swing, blues, jazz and even gospel music. That mix pushed him to the forefront of country music, and he continues down that path on his new album, Natural Forces.

Jazz Ensemble Empirical Recalls Eric Dolphy
Out 'n' In, the latest album from Empirical, is a tribute to the late musician Eric Dolphy. The record contains six original pieces that adopt Dolphy's style and adaptations of two songs from his album Out to Lunch!

It's Over Now: Songs For Heartbreakers
Lovey-dovey romantic types get all the attention on Valentine's Day. But not everyone wants to be in love right about now, and some relationships just happen to be hitting their expiration date this very minute. Listen to five songs that are perfect for those looking to break someone's heart.

Edmar Castaneda: Tiny Desk Concert
Castaneda is the sort of musician who isn't afraid to challenge the established order. He's carving out a place for himself in Latin jazz on an instrument you don't often hear in his style of music: the Colombian harp. Castaneda recently parked himself behind Bob Boilen's desk and crafted a transporting mix of tradition and improvisation.

Dierks Bentley On Mountain Stage
Country singer Dierks Bentley once worked in the videotape library for The Nashville Network, soaking up tradition while singing his nights away for tips. But these days, his career as a musician takes center stage.

Exclusive First Listen: Shearwater
Shearwater's delicate, dramatic new album, The Golden Archipelago, wasn't built for earbuds or tinny car stereos: This is immersive, artful music, meant to be examined in-depth from every angle. The album will stream at NPR Music in its entirety for the two weeks leading up to its release on Feb. 23.

k.d. lang: An 'Immortal' Voice, Patiently Preserved
Tony Bennett once said that k.d. lang is in a league of singers that were "blessed with a destiny." Twenty-five years later, that destiny is celebrated with a retrospective album called Recollection. But she didn't get that voice without discipline.

Highlights From 'Song Of The Day'
NPR Music's Song of the Day features a new track every weekday, with analysis of the music, links to each artist's Web site and, of course, a chance to hear the song itself. Here, Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson talks about recent selections by Hiromi, Frightened Rabbit, Sharon Van Etten and more.

Asylum Street Spankers: Going Gospel
For 15 years, the band has blended acoustic blues, swinging jazz, folk and even some kids' music. In NPR's Studio 4A, the group performs gospel music from its new, modestly titled album, God's Favorite Band.

Gil Scott-Heron Makes A Striking Return
His hugely influential 1971 spoken-word piece "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" has inspired generations of imitators. Today, after multiple stints in prison, Scott-Heron returns with a more introspective collection of music: I'm New Here. It's his first new recording in 16 years.

Bassekou Kouyate And The African Lute
Mali's Bassekou Kouyate, currently touring with banjo king Bela Fleck, demonstrates his prowess on the ngoni — an African lute — on his latest release. Recorded with his band Ngoni Ba, it's titled I Speak Fula.

Exclusive First Listen: Lionel Loueke
Loueke is a jazz guitarist and vocalist. But if you've never heard him, his music sounds nothing like the work of the crooning strummer that description conjures. Hear his new album of spare yet intimate duos and trios, Mwaliko, in its entirety prior to its commercial release on Feb. 9.

Ahmad Zahir: The Voice Of The Golden Years
Zahir was a showman who, appropriately enough, once recorded an Elvis tune; just like Elvis, the Afghan singer kept his fan base for decades after he died in the 1970s. When you hear his story, you learn a lot about how people relate to music, and you learn even more about Afghanistan.

Lolo Beaubrun: A Voice Of Hope In Haiti
Beaubrun, one of Haiti's most popular and recognizable musicians, leads the 12-person band Boukman Eksperyans. Now more than ever, he's singing in an effort to transform his home country.

Burkina Electric: 21st-Century African Music
A unique collaboration between African and European musicians, Burkina Electric is a group of six performers, singers and dancers from Burkina Faso, Germany and Austria — all now based primarily in New York City. Led by composer Lukas Ligeti, the band performs for KEXP.

Tommy T: Ethiopian For The Untrained Ear
After working with a number of bands, Tommy T is following a new path as a solo artist. His album The Prester John Sessions presents listeners with what he calls "music without boundaries." It features improvised arrangements with The Abyssinian Roots Collective, Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz and Pedro Sprazo, and famous Ethiopian singer Gigi.

Exclusive Video: The Last Songs From An African Legend
Ali Farka Toure died of cancer in 2006. Shortly before his death, he got together with his young friend, the kora player ToumanI Diabate, and made his what would be Toure's final record. That record, Ali and Toumani, will be released on February 23rd.

La Cumbiamba eNeYe: GlobalFEST 2010
Originally from Colombia but now based in New York, La Cumbiamba eNeYe cooked up a dance party at Webster Hall in New York City on Jan. 10. The fusion of Colombian sounds made for a festive atmosphere from the moment the band took the stage.

Cedric Watson In Concert: GlobalFEST 2010
As a singer-songwriter growing up in the hills of east Texas, Cedric Watson took an interest in Cajun music that made him want to learn the fiddle and accordion. Watson moved to Lafayette, La., to learn zydeco music. There, he played amongst the Creole community, and eventually formed his own band, Bijoux Creole. Hear Watson's gripping zydeco music, recorded live at New York City's GlobalFEST on Jan. 10.

Alif Naaba In Concert: GlobalFEST 2010
Naaba opened GlobalFEST 2010 in New York City on Jan. 10, and his was a welcoming voice — warm and friendly. His spirit was infectious and the music made the crowd at Webster Hall smile and sing along, and that was after only a few minutes of hearing "The Barefoot Prince" perform.

Nguyen Le In Concert: GlobalFEST 2010
At GlobalFEST in New York City on Jan. 10, Nguyen Le's group made some of the best music Bob Boilen heard that day. There, the performer cut a small figure, but with a mighty electric-guitar sound. It helped that he was flanked by the extraordinary Mieko Miyazaki on koto (a zither-like Japanese stringed instrument) and Prabhu Edouard on tabla.

Bela Fleck Throws Down His Heart In Africa
Throw Down Your Heart captures Fleck's travels to explore the banjo's native roots. The documentary and its accompanying soundtrack follow the multi-instrumentalist across Africa as he collaborates with local artists along the way.

Playing For Change: Making The Band
Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono founded Playing for Change as a way to connect the world through music. Their videos of musicians worldwide playing the same song were viral hits, and now a group of musicians has been brought together to create the Playing for Change band.

The Thistle And Shamrock: Berry Pickers, Song Makers
They camped across the land performing seasonal farm labor and repair work for the settled community. Along the way they picked up songs and stories and became a great source of traditional balladry and storytelling. We hear the music of the travelling folk of Scotland and Ireland this week.

Slurping Through Tokyo
This weekend's Travel section cover story, "One Noodle at a Time," was the fulfillment of a years-long dream.

Q&A With Ben Nemtin From 'The Buried Life': Four Guys and a Bucket List
Four friends asked themselves, "What do you want to do before you die?," then they hit the road in search of low-budget adventure.

Your Trip Is Ready for Its Close-Up
With a few tips and the right equipment, frugal travelers can now shoot decent videos at a fraction of what it cost just a few years ago.

Rail to the Trails
Metro-North Railroad's one-day getaway to Thunder Ridge Ski Area, in Patterson, N.Y., may be the cheapest, easiest ski trip in the region.

Access in the City? Wi-Fi in New York
Tips on how to find a free connection in the city, so you'll never be without a digital tether.

Resolved: Smarter and Frugaler in 2010
Putting down the iPhone, traveling lighter, learning to love buses, seeing more and spending less all make the Frugal Traveler's list of New Year's resolutions.

Q. & A. With Matt Kepnes, a k a NomadicMatt.com
This 28-year-old Bostonian has managed to turn travel blogging from a pastime into a fairly lucrative profession.

Frugal, but With Plenty to Give
There are several travel-related charities and nonprofits that can use some help, no matter how little you can afford to give.

Readers Go Even Deeper for the Cheap in New York
From restaurants to museums and theater tickets, readers share their tips for experiencing the best of the city on a budget.

Going Deep for the Cheap in New York
With a little research, you can bring the price of a New York vacation down to earth. Find a listing of the best resources for discovering affordable dining, shopping and sleeping options.

Q&A: Michael Feigin on Being Fit and Frugal
This frequent traveler and Brooklyn gym owner shares techniques for staying fit when time and space are lacking.

The Frugal Traveler's Holiday Gift Guide
A list of gifts perfect for the frugal travelers in your life that will inspire them to cross oceans and deserts - and give them the tools to do so easily, cheaply and with style.

Finder's Keepers: Souvenirs on the Road
What makes a great souvenir, especially when you don't want to spend a lot of money? And how do you find unique items of real value?

Sailing the Caribbean, the Frugal Way
With no boat to call my own, or budget to rent one of the many luxurious yachts that trawl the Caribbean each winter, I shelled out $55 a day to join the crew of the 75-foot schooner S.V. Illusion. For two weeks, I plied the waters between St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, making stops at small islands along the way.