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WBGO’s Pat Prescott talks with keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith about releasing his first album in 25 years and his memories of the halcyon days of the 70s.

WBGO’s Gary Walker talks with filmmaker Dorsay Alavi about her new documentary, ‘Zero Gravity,’ on the life and music of saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.

WBGO’s Janis Siegel talks with fellow jazz vocalist Veronica Swift about her creative process and her new self-titled album on Mack Avenue.

WBGO’s Pat Prescott talks with singer and songwriter Lalah Hathaway about her musical lineage and her storied career.

Legendary singer Madonna was criticized on social media for her new look after an appearance at the Grammys. Novelist Jennifer Weiner defends the artist's "new face" as a beautiful provocation.

The 24-year-old led for the entire two-lap sprint and clocked it in 49.45 seconds. After winning, he celebrated with his closest competitor, Kristof Milak from Hungary.

Critic Tom Moon reviews the new CD from the rock band P.J. Harvey, called Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. The band is led by British singer/songwriter Polly Jean Harvey, who has earned a certain reputation for intensity. Her songs move from feverish punk distortion to rich acoustic blues, always with a heavy gloomy atmosphere. There is a sense of lives unraveling and promises shattered for her songs' characters. (4:45) Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, is out today from Island Records, catalog # Islf 15162-2. See http://www.pjharvey.net or http://www.islandrecords.com for more information.

Man Man's freewheeling waltzes reside somewhere between Broadway musicals and vintage 45s. Singer Honus Honus's gruff-but-lovable growl recalls Tom Waits or Nick Cave, while the rest of Man Man wields pots and pans, whistles and chimes, xylophones, flutes and trumpets.

In the late 1960s, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson began work on an ambitious album called Smile. It was never released. Now Wilson is touring Europe, playing a 45-minute concert version of the music to high praise from critics. Hear "Surf's Up," a song originally recorded for Smile.

James McMurtry's sixth album, Saint Mary of the Woods, has a lot in common with his previous work — depressed characters leading sad or lonely lives populate his songs. McMurtry thinks that writing about unhappy people is more interesting, so he's not changing his tune. NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with McMurtry about his career and the song "Choctaw Bingo," off the new album. Saint Mary of the Woods is released by Sugarhill Records. (8:45)