Natalie Merchant's new, self-titled album is due out next Tuesday, May 6, but you don't need to wait till then to hear it: her sixth solo collection is streaming in full all this week in the New York Times's Press Play feature. Merchant will perform at the Beacon Theatre in NYC on September 13. Watch an in-depth video conversation with Merchant, in which she discusses the new album and the "intimate portraits" she creates in its songs, here. 

Joshua Redman has joined forces with the International Rescue Committee to become an IRC Voice to help raise awareness of the needs of refugees and others who have been impacted by war and disaster. “I've been greatly impressed with the depth of the International Rescue Committee’s devotion to human beings and the breadth of its work in defense of human dignity,” Redman said. As an IRC Voice, he plans to travel with the IRC to Africa later this year.

Jacob Cooper’s Nonesuch Records debut album, Silver Threads, is out now. The album comprises a six-song cycle performed by soprano Mellissa Hughes. Cooper wrote the title track for Hughes in 2011, setting a haiku attributed to Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō for voice and electronic track. To expand it into a full cycle (for voice and track), he enlisted five other poets to write text inspired by the haiku. Silver Threads is Album of the Week at WQXR's Q2 Music, which calls it "stylish, with a youthful energy." Hughes performs music from the album at (Le) Poisson Rouge in NYC on May 7.

The Black Keys, after performing “Fever,” from their new album, Turn Blue, on Che Tempo Che Fa in Italy Sunday, performs on BBC Two’s Later … with Jools Holland tonight and Friday. On Wednesday, The Black Keys perform on BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe. The band is featured on the cover of the new issue of Mojo magazine (pictured at left), and Turn Blue is Album of the Month in Uncut, which exclaims: “Turn Blue turns out to be The Black Keys’ sneakiest, subtlest and most seductive album.” The Independent gives it five stars, calling it "a post-modern blues-rock marvel."

Nonesuch Records releases saxophonist Joshua Redman’s Trios Live on June 17, 2014. The album was recorded at Jazz Standard in NYC and Blues Alley in Washington, DC during stands with two different trios: drummer Gregory Hutchinson and bassists Matt Penman (Jazz Standard) and Reuben Rogers (Blues Alley). Trios Live features four original tunes by Redman and interpretations of three additional songs. Nonesuch Store pre-orders include an instant download of Redman’s song “Soul Dance” from the record, which you can preview here.

The video for Natalie Merchant's song "Ladybird," the opening track from her forthcoming self-titled album, has premiered via Rolling Stone. "A lilting lullaby for happier times, the song is vintage Merchant," writes Rolling Stone's Gavin Edwards. Merchant spoke with Edwards about the song; the new album, her first of entirely original songs in 13 years; life in upstate New York; and more. Watch the video here.

The Black Keys will return to Saturday Night Live for their third musical guest appearance on May 10. The program will be hosted by Charlize Theron and will feature songs from the duo’s new album, Turn Blue, which will be released the following Tuesday, May 13, on Nonesuch Records. "Fever," the first single off the album, is currently #1 on AAA radio and #5 on Alternative radio.

Stanford Live has announced its 2014–15 season, and featured among the performers taking the stage at Bing Concert Hall are a number of artists familiar to readers of the Nonesuch Journal: Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer, Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté, Emmylou Harris, Kronos Quartet, and Brad Mehldau Trio, as well as the world premiere of a new piece by John Adams and a celebration of the work of Stephen Sondheim.

Caetano Veloso and many other celebrated Brazilian musicians, inspired to protect the rainforest of their native Brazil from further destruction, came together in Rio de Janeiro’s Floresta da Tijuca to create a music video and original composition in celebration of today, Earth Day 2014. The project supports the Rainforest Alliance, which works in partnership with Brazilian nonprofit Imaflora—as well as farmers, forest communities and cattle ranchers—to protect Brazil’s magnificent and ecologically fragile natural heritage.

Happy Record Store Day! Today is the seventh annual celebration of the unique culture surrounding independently owned record stores around the world. For the occasion, Conor Oberst releases a limited-edition 7" single including "Hundreds of Ways," off his forthcoming Nonesuch debut album, Upside Down Mountain, along with album outtake "Fast Friends" on the B-side.

Carolina Chocolate Drops' Rhiannon Giddens is featured on the latest episode of Nurse Jackie, airing on Showtime this Sunday, April 20. She performs four traditional tunes, backed by her bandmate Hubby Jenkins and three other old-time musicians, with Giddens doing square dance calls and playing fiddle. The episode is available now via Showtime's online streaming service, Showtime Anytime. The New York Times, reviewing Carolina Chocolate Drops' recent show in Brooklyn, called it a "rollicking, revelatory concert," lauding Giddens as "ridiculously charismatic." Times columnist Paul Krugman called the show "totally amazing."

Nonesuch Records marked Kronos Quartet's 40th anniversary year with two releases this month: the Kronos Explorer Series five-CD box set and a new album, A Thousand Thoughts. As a highlight of its anniversary season, Kronos was in NYC to perform at Carnegie Hall late last month and was the subject of a marathon stream of music and tributes on Q2 Music, the online new-music station from WQXR. The event culminated in a live, performance by Kronos Quartet from The Greene Space at WQXR, which you can watch here.