Pianist Jeremy Denk was a guest on WNYC's The Leonard Lopate Show yesterday. He talks about his latest Nonesuch release, a recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, and performs from the piece. "I think of Bach as this really generous spirit," Denk says, "encompassing all of humanity's possibilities in a more perfect way than most humans are able to. For me, this piece has an incredible geniality and charm and invention, and then these moments of tremendous pathos." Listen to the interview and performance here.

Rokia Traoré spoke with NPR's All Things Considered about her new album, Beautiful Africa, and the inspiration behind its songs, not least her fellow Malian and African women. "These women are simply amazing because when I feel tired, I imagine them in their life of every day. They never show that they are tired. They are like iron women: all the time working, but working and smiling and taking care of everything with nothing to support them," she explains. "I wanted to ... say thank you for being my source of inspiration."

Ry Cooder's new album, Live in San Francisco, his first live album in more than 35 years, was released earlier this month. He spoke about the new album on the 4 O'Clock Report with Jon Wiener on Pacifica Radio's KPFK 90.7FM Los Angeles yesterday afternoon; the show also includes four tracks from the new album: “Crazy ‘bout an Automobile,” “Do Re Mi,” “Lord Tell Me Why,” and “School Is Out." The Morton Report says of Cooder's new album: "Once this man hits the high beams and races into it, there is A+ action guaranteed ... It's called live music and there is nothing better."

Iron and Wine's Sam Beam, who kicked off a North American fall tour with a sold-out show at First Avenue in Minneapolis last night, stopped by the studios of Minnesota Public Radio's 89.3 The Current while in town for the tour launch. He spoke about Iron and Wine's recently released Nonesuch debut album, Ghost on Ghost, and performed intimate solo takes on three songs off the new album: "Caught in the Briars," "Grace for Saints and Ramblers," and "Winter Prayers." You can watch the performances of the latter two songs here.

Rokia Traoré's new album, Beautiful Africa, is due out September 24, in the US, following its critically acclaimed international release earlier this year. But no need to wait till then to hear it. The album is streaming in full all this week as an NPR First Listen. "Beautiful Africa is just as smart and lovely as its creator," says NPR Music's Anastasia Tsioulcas. Rokia Traoré kicks off her North American tour at Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival in November.

Bombino has performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, the 300th episode in the series of intimate sets at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, featuring three songs from his Nonesuch debut album, Nomad. Boilen praises his "fierce, hypnotic guitar playing" and "amazing jams." Watch the performance here. Bombino, currently touring Europe, will launch the next leg of his US tour in November.

Rokia Traoré, whose new album, Beautiful Africa, will be released in the US on September 24, is featured on the latest episode of NPR's All Songs Considered. The show closes with "Kouma," the second track off her new album. "'Kouma' is the work of the amazingly talented Rokia Traoré," says the show. "Talk about a beautiful voice." Traoré kicks off a North American tour at Lincoln Center's White Light Festival in November.

Iron and Wine, who returns to the road this fall touring North America, stopped by SiriusXM's Outlaw Country while on tour earlier this year to perform three songs from the Nonesuch debut album, Ghost on Ghost—"Grace for Saints and Ramblers," "The Desert Babbler," and "Grass Widows"—plus the song "Lean Into the Light." Watch all four performances here. The fall tour from singer-songwriter Sam Beam and a 12-piece band kicks off at First Avenue in Minneapolis on September 18 and includes stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, and more.

Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright was the guest on NPR's World Cafe yesterday to discuss the double-disc set Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle, which features highlights from three tribute concerts Kate's children, Martha and her brother Rufus Wainwright led with McGarrigle's sister Anna in honor of the late singer and Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame member. On World Cafe, Wainwright shares stories of her mother and gives intimate performances of two McGarrigle tunes: "I Am a Diamond" and "Talk to Me of Mendocino." 

Chris Thile was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday yesterday. The mandolin virtuoso spoke with host Rachel Martin about his new album, Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 1, on which he performs three Bach works written for solo violin. "There's the mandolin and then there's the mandolin when Chris Thile puts it to work," says Martin. "Chris Thile is stretching the limits of his instrument yet again, this time taking on Bach." Thile kicks off a US tour with his fellow Goat Rodeo Sessions musicians this week.

Chris Thile stopped by the studios of New York public radio station WNYC to perform some music from his new album, Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 1, on Soundcheck and talk with host John Schaefer about the album. "Chris Thile plays well with others," says the show. "But on his latest recording, Thile stands alone, translating the works of Bach—originally composed for solo violin—with exceptional precision on mandolin." Listen to the Soundcheck episode here.

Sam Amidon was the guest on NPR's World Cafe yesterday, talking with host David Dye and performing intimate takes on four songs off his new album. "On his fourth album, Bright Sunny South, Amidon draws from a variety of traditional folk material, weaving it into his own mesmerizing compositions," says the show. "With the help of [Thomas] Bartlett as a bandmate and producer, several tracks on the new album go beyond tradition to include free-jazz influences, as well as a cover of Tim McGraw's 'My Old Friend.'" Amidon is currently touring Europe and begins a month-long tour of North America in September.