Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy, whose Nonesuch debut album, Grá agus Bás, was released earlier this year, is in Chicago for the performance of his 2002 piece To Herbert Brun. Musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Cliff Colnot, kick off the 2011/12 season of the CSO's MusicNOW new-music series with tonight's concert, held at the Harris Theater. Dennehy's piece features guest soprano Carrie Henneman Shaw. The program also include works by John Corigliano, Kirsten Broberg, Alejandro Viñao, and Paula Matthusen.

Björk, whose new album, Biophilia, was released this week, is the featured guest on PRI's Studio 360. Björk leads host Kurt Andersen through different tracks on the album and the App, which features a separate component for each track on the album. "For the last two decades, Björk has pushed every boundary she could find," says the show. Now, on Biophilia, "Björk’s odes to the mysteries of the universe can be as intoxicating as any love song." Listen to the segment here.

Randy Newman is the guest on this week's episode of On Canvas, the performing arts program from Philadelphia public television station WHYY. Newman's performance was recorded at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Collingswood, New Jersey, shortly before the release of his latest album, Songbook Vol. 2. Philadelphia-area fans can tune in tonight at 10 PM ET on WHYY. Fans around the world can watch the complete episode online starting Friday morning. Watch Newman perform "I'm Dead But I Don't Know It" in a preview of the show here.

Inspired by a news headline about the Wall Street bailout, Ry Cooder began work on his new album, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down, with the track “No Banker Left Behind,” an ode to the corrupt few spared from the financial crisis while most were left to fend for themselves. The article appeared on Truthdig, which is now giving away a copy of the album and Cooder's new book, Los Angeles Stories. Simply share your favorite protest song for a chance to win.

Jessica Lea Mayfield performs at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville tonight for the Americana Music Association's 10th Annual Honors and Awards. She has been nominated for the award for New/Emerging Artist of the Year. The ceremony also includes live performances by this year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Lucinda Williams, Jerry Douglas, and Gregg Allman. The show will be webcast live at npr.org and broadcast in an edited version on PBS's Austin City Limits in November.

Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman, longtime friends and frequent collaborators, head out for a brief duo tour of the United States, starting in Easton, Pennsylvania, tonight, followed by stops in Philadelphia, New York City, Ithaca, and San Francisco, where the duo makes its West Coast debut at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. As the San Francisco Chronicle writes: "Two of jazz's most gifted improvisers converse in the moment." They head to Europe next month for a tour of Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.

Laurie Anderson will be honored at Legends 2011, a scholarship benefit from New York's Pratt Institute. She will be presented her award by Salman Rushdie in a ceremony held in Manhattan on November 1, at which she will give a special performance. Also receiving the award are Juan Montoya and William Wegman. "The Legends 2011 scholarship benefit will provide hundreds of talented students the opportunity to pursue and achieve a Pratt education," said Pratt President Thomas F. Schutte. "It is my privilege to honor Laurie Anderson, Juan Montoya, and William Wegman as this year's Pratt Legends."

Björk, whose new album, Biophilia, was released this week, is in her hometown of Reykjavik, Iceland, to celebrate with the launch of a nine-show Biophilia residency at the brand-new Harpa Concert Hall, beginning with two nights as part of the Iceland Airwaves Festival. The residency is fully sold-out. But not to worry: Nonesuch has teamed up with Icelandair to offer a lucky US fan tickets to the November 7 closing-night performance, plus airfare and hotel accommodations. Enter to win!

The Black Keys’ new album El Camino will be released December 6 on Nonesuch Records. Produced by Danger Mouse and The Black Keys, the 11-track album was recorded at singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio in the band’s new hometown of Nashville during the spring of 2011. "This record is more straight ahead rock and roll," says Auerbach, "raw, driving, and back to basics.” Pre-orders of El Camino begin today at theblackkeys.com and nonesuch.com and include a download of the single, "Lonely Boy," which will be delivered on October 26.

Björk’s new album, Biophilia, is out now. Additionally, the complete Biophilia App is now available in the iTunes App Store. Biophilia is featured on this week's Science Times podcast from the New York Times. Björk spoke about the project with NPR's All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, who says: "Björk is a visionary." CNN says the project "really takes technology, music, and even education to a new place." 

Pat Metheny brings his 20-city US tour with bassist Larry Grenadier to a close with a special week-long engagement at the Blue Note in New York City. Metheny and Grenadier launch a European tour with drummer Bill Stewart next week and reunite as a duo for a week's run at the Blue Note in Tokyo in January. All About Jazz calls Metheny's latest solo album, What's It All About, "an essential record ... [H]e has made a record that can lure the listener into emotional spaces that enchant, seduce and delight."

The celebrations of Steve Reich's 75th birthday head to Paris for Steve Reich: Pulsations, a week-long series of concerts, dance performances, and other events at Cité de la Musique. Pulsations begins with a concert by Ensemble Modern, Synergy Vocals, and the composer himself. The all-Reich program includes the French premiere of his Pulitzer Prize-winning piece Double Sextet paired with Drumming (Part 1) and Music for 18 Musicians. The concert will be broadcast on France Musique next month.