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The 14-piece Washington, D.C.-based afrobeat orchestra blends rhythms from all across the African continent, and then some. And as their name indicates, the band might just be crazy enough to pull it off.

Mendelssohn was born 200 years ago Tuesday. Although the composer is sometimes criticized for "peaking early," critic Ted Libbey points to Mendelssohn's long-lasting legacy. Hear the composer's "Scottish Symphony," an essential recording in the NPR Classical 50.

Brian Blade, a reed of a man, sits up straight at his drums, lifting a shoulder. Born in 1970 in Shreveport, La., his father has been the pastor of the Zion Baptist Church there for almost 50 years. The dedication that started in church has expanded in the Fellowship Band, which plays a second set from the Village Vanguard.

You probably haven't heard the band Freezepop on the radio. But if you've played the games Guitar HeroM or Rock Band, you've probably played along to its music. The Boston band spoke about playing for crowds and playing for Playstation.

The Chicago native was recently the runner-up on BET's Sunday Best. And with a new ministry, a new album and an upcoming appearance at an inaugural ball, her career in gospel music seems to be falling into place.

Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the rock band Weezer, has released a solo set of at-home demos called Alone and Alone II.

The singer-songwriter has written a new memoir about his journey from New York to San Francisco, where he began his musical career. Here, he performs songs from his latest album, Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John.

Meloy is turning out to be one of this decade's most recognizable songwriters, both solo and with his main band, The Decemberists. Here, he talks about the group's forthcoming The Hazards of Love; it's the rock opera many have long expected from the band.

After nearly 20 years without recording for a major U.S. label, jazz singer Abbey Lincoln has a new album, World is Falling Down.

In the midst of hundreds of artists, McCarley still stood out at the 2008 South by Southwest music festival. Her debut album, Love, Save the Empty, pulls off a key element of pop greatness, marrying reflective lyrics with memorable tunes. She performs songs from the album in a session from WXPN.