'The Magic Bowl' | Circle Round 68

<p>In this encore, we revisit an Italian folktale starring Bobby Moynihan ("Duck Tales," "SNL") about a father who gives seemingly simple gifts to his three sons. But there is more to these family heirlooms than meets the eye. </p> <p>Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Li ... Show More

<p>French comedian Gad Elmaleh stars in this episode about one little armadillo who doesn't let anyone discourage him from following his dreams. This lively Bolivian folktale tells the origin story of the "charango," a small Andean stringed instrument.</p> <p>Sign up for our mon ... Show More

<p>This week, we're bringing back a listener favorite. Richard Kind ("Inside Out") stars in this Middle Eastern folktale about a clever man who teaches his village a thing or two about the dangers of judging a book by its cover. </p> <p>Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The L ... Show More

<p>Jennifer Higdon wrote her Concerto for Orchestra for the Philadelphia Orchestra and its then-Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch who gave the work its premiere in 2002. Since then it's been recorded by the Atlanta Symphony and, on a new Naxos album just out, by the Houston Symp ... Show More

The final night at the South By Southwest music conference offered our team in Austin new favorites, classic performances and a few welcome surprises. 

The Cuban vocalist and her parents perform a three-song set from Havana for this stop of our "El Tiny" tour of Latin music.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy 

A power trio of an entirely different kind, the Houston band led a journey through globally-influenced funk, jazz, surf and psych-rock — before creating a live, instrumental hip-hop mixtape. 

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the tenor saxophonist and his roots in the thriving Los Angeles jazz scene. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and S ... Show More

In the 1970s, Earth, Wind and Fire gave birth to a new brand of pop music—one that brought us hits like “Shining Star” and “September.” Their sound was steeped in jazz and R&B, and it bridged the gap that had often separated the musical tastes of black and white America. We’re pl ... Show More

Jupiter Bokondji and his band Okwess play music that feels both African and American, with Jupiter's early musical tastes inspired by The Jackson 5, James Brown and the sounds of Motown.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy 

Synopsis No four notes in classical music are more familiar than those that open Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Their powerful psychological resonance has often extended beyond music into overtly political contexts. For example, on today’s date in 1941, the British Broadcasting Comp ... Show More