John Adams led the London Symphony Orchestra in the French premiere of his new piece, City Noir, Tuesday night at Salle Playel in Paris, part of the Domain privé John Adams series. Adams and the LSO had recently given the European premiere at London's Barbican Hall, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Performance on 3 last night, now available online. The BBC called it "one of the season's most eagerly awaited concerts."

Brad Mehldau's latest Nonesuch album, Highway Rider, has been released to critical acclaim. The pianist/composer and his album are the subject of an extensive profile on NPR's All Things Considered. Jon Brion, the album's producer, says of Mehldau, "I just like the fact that he keeps changing it up, and I think that this is just another example of that." Saxophonist Joshua Redman explains: "He has the best groove on the planet."

Brad Mehldau and his forthcoming Nonesuch release, Highway Rider, were slated to be featured on tomorrow's episode of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday, but the segment has been postponed to a future date. The Guardian, in a five-star review of the album, calls it "the real deal," saying: "Highway Rider's contrasts and dramatic entries spring constant surprises, and show how much progress the mesmerising improviser has made as a big-ensemble composer."

Pat Metheny and his recent Nonesuch release, Orchestrion, were slated to be featured on NPR's Morning Edition tomorrow morning, but will be rescheduled for a later date. Metheny was featured on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction earlier this week. The album is full of "lush diatonic harmonies and sweetly melodic improvisations," says Sequenza21, but "what makes this disc so special" is Metheny's "interaction with a robot ensemble" and its "surprising richness and warmth."

The Carolina Chocolate Drops were on NPR's Fresh Air earlier this week, talking with Terry Gross and performing songs off Genuine Negro Jig. WNYC's Soundcheck names the album among its CD Picks of the Week. The Winnipeg Free Press gives it four stars, citing the "definite feel-good vibe." The Huffington Post reports from the Chicago show that the band "wrapped you in the sheer joy of this music played out loud."

The Carolina Chocolate Drops will appear on NPR's Fresh Air today to talk about their recent Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig. The trio is currently on a US tour, which stopped at Schubas in Chicago last night. "It’s easy to enthusiastically recommend Carolina Chocolate Drops," said Time Out Chicago. "They’re extremely talented and original musicians, proving that youthful old-time music is not an oxymoron."

Out now is Ali and Toumani, the second and last album pairing Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté. NPR's All Songs Considered calls it "breathtaking." The Philadelphia Inquirer gives it four stars, calling it a "moving, peerlessly beautiful album." The New Jersey Star-Ledger says there is "a timeless depth, a gentle profundity" to it. "It’s irresistible." Dusted calls it "timeless" and "transcendent." Popdose says: "You’ll feel it speak to you on a level few pieces of music ever reach."

k.d. lang followed up her recent performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the Vancouver Winter Olympics with a rousing rendition of "Constant Craving" on ABC's Good Morning America this morning. She spoke with host Robin Roberts about Recollection, her new career retrospective. Says Roberts: "One thing that has not changed—her voice. Your voice is timeless." k.d. spoke with BBC Radio 5 about the album yesterday afternoon.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops' Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, is in stores around the world today, not least the Nonesuch Store, where CD orders include an instant download of the album with seven exclusive bonus tracks recorded live. The band was featured on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday, discussing and performing three tunes off the new album. The US tour begins next week.

Following The Magnetic Fields' sold-out show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, NPR's Carrie Brownstein reported that she "left the concert feeling lucky that The Magnetic Fields exist." That same night, the band's latest Nonesuch release, Realism, was the subject of a feature on NPR's All Things Considered including an interview with the band's Stephin Merritt and Claudia Gonson and a solo performance from Merritt.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops, whose Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, is out worldwide on Tuesday, is the subject on an extensive profile on NPR's All Things Considered due to air Monday. The band, having just completed a UK tour, returns to the States to tour the US. Today, the Drops announce they'll return to the UK to play the Cambridge Folk Festival this summer.

k.d. lang's latest, Recollection, is out now. Just before the release, NPR.org published a profile of k.d. citing Tony Bennett, who compared her to Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Hank Williams. NPR agreed: "It's prestigious company that k.d. lang deserves to keep." The statement was affirmed as NPR broadcast the profile on Morning Edition. The Calgary Herald says the new album "provides a great look at k.d. lang's artistry and her ambitious career arc."