James Farm, the collaborative band featuring Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, and Eric Harland, is the subject of a feature article in Spinner, which spoke with Harland and Parks about the project and their new album. "Yes, many will call James Farm an all-star band," says Spinner. "[T]he band certainly has some of the leading lights of today's jazz scene. But to hear Harland and Parks speak about the band's origins, James Farm seems something organically grown rather than a self-conscious assembly of heavy hitters."

Kronos Quartet will give the European premiere of Steve Reich's WTC 9/11—the composer's musical response to the attacks of September 11, 2001—at London's Barbican Hall this weekend, following Saturday's NY premiere at Carnegie Hall. The New Yorker's Alex Ross writes: "It is a dark, raw, haunting piece, its detached fury indicative of the undiminished powers of a great American artist who will celebrate his 75th birthday in October." Nonesuch will release the first recording of WTC 9/11 in September. You can listen to an excerpt of the recording here. [Ed: Excerpt no longer available.]

Nonesuch Records releases What’s It All About—a solo acoustic album from guitarist and composer Pat Metheny—on June 14, 2011. After nearly 40 recordings under his name, this marks the first time there is not a single Metheny composition represented. Rather, What’s It All About comprises 10 classic songs, some very well known, that hold personal meanings for the guitarist. (The double-LP edition includes two additional tracks.) It is available for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store with a limited-edition photographic print, a number of which will be signed, and a free instant download of the album track “Alfie."

Randy Newman's Songbook Vol. 2 is out next week. He sat at the piano to discuss the album and his career on BBC Radio 4's Front Row. The Daily Telegraph gives the album a perfect five stars. "Known for the clever orchestral arrangements on his album work, the stripped-down feel of the Songbook series allows the sharp craftsmanship of Newman’s playful writing to shine through," says the Telegraph. The new album "is an invigorating celebration of the joys of great songwriting and proof of the power of one man and his piano."

Audra McDonald helps Carnegie Hall celebrate its 120th birthday as part of an all-star gala benefit concert tonight featuring the New York Philharmonic, performing songs by Duke Ellington. Pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Gil Shaham, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma join the Philharmonic as guest soloists in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, and the orchestra performs Dvorák’s Carnival Overture and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. The concert will air on PBS’s Great Performances on May 31.

Laurie Anderson launches an international spring and summer tour at the Donau Festival in Austria tonight. The tour includes performances at venues and music festivals in Germany, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the Netherlands, Israel, Norway, and Ireland. Anderson returns to her home city of NYC to perform at the River to River Festival and Lincoln Center Out of Doors later this summer. She recently spoke with the BBC about technology in music. "The Laurie Anderson sound has evolved as she grasped new technologies," says the BBC, "adapting instruments and software to suit her genre-defining artistic vision."

Emmylou Harris performed two shows in Norway over the weekend, at which she proved why she is the "Queen of Country Rock," says the Bergens Tidende. Harris appeared on Steve Earle's Hardcore Troubadour Radio show; you can watch their very special duet on rollingstone.com. Watch a web-exclusive performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" from the Late Show with David Letterman here.

James Farm, the collaborative band featuring Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, and Eric Harland, released its self-titled Nonesuch debut last week. Now the group has launched a new website, jamesfarmmusic.com, with songs from the new album, photos, a free download, and more on the project. All About Jazz says the album "positions this über-quartet of established and rising stars as a clear force with which to be reckoned." Jazzwise gives it four stars, saying it "draws out a rich melodic seam of group inventiveness." The Revivalist says the band sets "a new bar for themselves and the genre of Jazz as it continues to evolve.” The world tour begins next week.

Today marks the release of Tell My Sister, a three-disc set comprising remastered versions of Kate and Anna McGarrigle's beloved 1976 self-titled debut; its equally praised 1977 follow-up, Dancer with Bruised Knees; and a collection of previously unreleased songs and demos. Rolling Stone gives the new release four-and-a-half stars, calling the debut album "idiosyncratically perfect." The Boston Globe describes it as "a dizzying but exhilarating ride," the demo disc a "real revelation," and the sisters' music "too enchanted, too singular to ever be forgotten." The Philadelphia Daily News gives Tell My Sister an A.

Nonesuch Records wishes to congratulate Kronos Quartet, which has been named the recipient of two internationally renowned awards: in the United States, the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, awarded for outstanding achievement and excellence in music, and in Sweden, the Polar Music Prize, an international music prize awarded to individuals, groups, or institutions in recognition of exceptional achievements. No other musician or ensemble has ever won both prizes, let alone in a single year. Also receiving the 2011 Polar Music Prize is singer/songwriter/poet Patti Smith.

Carolina Chocolate Drops are performing on the Grand Ole Opry tonight, broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Tonight's special star-packed show, dubbed Play On, Nashville!, marks the first anniversary of the flood that devastated much of Nashville. Among tonight's other performers are Alabama, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and Charlie Daniels Band. The band has chosen the top five finalists in the search for a new logo. Now's your chance to vote on the winner.

The Low Anthem performs live on KUT in Austin, Texas, today at 2 PM CT, prior to tonight's concert in Austin. The band "frequently dazzles on both recordings and in live performance," says KUT. Their recent performances at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center for WXPN and on Mountain Stage are both available at npr.org. The Low Anthem's Hear Ya Live Session is also up now and includes the song "Boeing 737," which Hear Ya calls "triumphant, almost prophetic." Watch it here.