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Day to Day asked artists to send their musical takes on the California Dream. Among dozens of submissions, one track stood out because of its unique approach: The instruments are urban sounds. Quinn Kiesow spent 80 hours piecing together an array of noises to make "Los Angeles."

From before bebop to the present day, some of the best jazz albums of all time have been issued by Blue Note Records. The label celebrates its 70th anniversary this week, and to honor the occasion, pianist Bill Charlap has chosen five of his all-time favorite Blue Note songs.

The Detroit-based band, which Kramer founded in the 1960s, is considered a forerunner of punk rock. Kramer, who died Feb. 2, spoke to Fresh Air in 2002 about the early days of the MC5.

NPR's Debbie Elliot speaks to singer/songwriter Britti Guerin about her debut album, "Hello I'm Britti."

Guitarist Tom Verlaine, best known for his work with the New York punk band Television, talks about his own work and shares some of his favorite recordings.

Wexler grew up hearing jazz, and after a while, she decided to try singing it. The jazz vocalist, noted for her versatility, speaks with Susan Stamberg about the songs on her new second album.

Commentator Miles Hoffman offers a classical variation on a political theme: insults and endorsements among the great composers. Invectives hurled at their colleagues and competitors were effective means of shaping public opinion. Whether positive, negative or the all-too-common flip-flop, classical-music criticism, just like political commentary, is little more than biased opinion in time.

From the swirling sounds of 18th-century Ottoman court music to hypnotic, modern chants from Kiev, NPR Music's Tom Huizenga and Weekend All Things Considered host Guy Raz spin an extra-wide assortment of new classical music.

From sensuous-sounding Chopin to a radical remix of Terry Riley's IN C, NPR Music's Tom Huizenga and All Things Considered host Guy Raz spin a wide assortment of new classical CDs.

Jazz icon Louis Armstrong didn't just leave behind a treasure trove of musical recordings; he also documented hundreds of his private conversations on tape. Those recordings served as the basis for Terry Teachout's new biography of the legendary musician, Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong.