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In 1928, violinist Louis Kaufman became the first person to buy a painting by Milton Avery. A year later, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., became the first museum to acquire a work by Avery. NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on a new exhibit at the Phillips that celebrates the long friendship between the two artists. See paintings and photos from the show.

The Return, a new Russian-language film, tells the story of two brothers whose prodigal father returns unexpectedly after more than a decade. The intense family drama marks the feature-directing debut of 40-year-old former actor Andrei Zvyagintsev. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

For the past several years, recordings of symphony orchestras on major record labels have dwindled. In an effort to get their performances out to the public, some orchestras have started releasing records themselves. Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports.

The Village Voice releases its annual Pazz & Jop poll, which surveys the nation's rock critics on the best new music. Over the last three decades, the poll has developed a reputation for spotting emerging talent overlooked by the Grammys. NPR's Bob Edwards discusses this year's survey results with Village Voice music editor Robert Christgau.

Filipino poet Nick Carbó grew up in Manila, surrounded by American pop culture. He now writes about the oddness of being Asian in America. For Intersections, a Morning Edition series about artists and their inspirations, Carbó describes how John Wayne and other U.S. cultural icons helped shape his witty, often subversive point of view.

Researcher Dan Starer provides bestselling authors with all manner of background information for their novels. Starer has dug up historical and scientific tidbits to give the ring of truth to more than 100 bestsellers. He speaks with NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Viktor Krauss, a bassist of choice in Nashville, has issued his first album as a group leader. The new recording, Far From Enough, doesn't showcase Krauss's bass. Instead, it places him in the more traditional role of bringing out the best in his colleagues. Critic Jim Fusilli has a review.

The warships passed through the Turkish straits into the Black Sea on Tuesday on their way to waters near Ukraine. Russia insists the movement is part of a planned naval exercise.

Before Frank Sinatra sang "My Way" into the American musical lexicon, a French singer-songwriter had his own version of the ballad. Twenty-five years after his death, Claude Francois is still drawing fans to his former home, which has been turned into a museum. NPR's Nick Spicer reports.

Sam Miltich is an 18-year-old who lives in the Minnesota woods and plays jazz guitar in the style of Django Reinhardt. He practiced for nine hours a day to become good enough to play in Amsterdam with one of Europe's hottest swing guitar groups -- and also at Lincoln Center. Chris Julin of Minnesota Public Radio reports.