Bill Frisell's latest Nonesuch release, History, Mystery is due out this Tuesday. The BBC exclaims: "[T]he whole album stands as yet another testament to the man's place at the very epicentre of modern American music. Yes, he's done it again ... refining and expanding his palette with every release." The Guardian, in a four-star review of the album says it is "studded with gems."

T Bone Burnett's Nonesuch debut album, Tooth of Crime, is out this Tuesday. The album features "ghostly echoes of tambourine and twang, and the subdued lowing of mournful horns," says the Independent, in arrangements possessing "great depth and diverse character." The paper praises Tooth of Crime as a modern-day "update of the jazz 'n' poetry format," through which lens the album's "abundant pleasures become apparent."

The Black Keys played a MySpace Secret Show last night at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, the site of their first-ever show six years ago, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Akron-based duo is "white-hot" following the release of Attack & Release, their "lushest" album yet.

Steve Reich spoke with BBC Radio 4's Today show, the network's flagship daily news and current affairs program, this morning about his latest Nonesuch release Daniel Variations and the composition of its title track, inspired by slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. T Bone Burnett is scheduled to appear on the show tomorrow morning to preview his forthcoming Nonesuch release, Tooth of Crime.

"There is a paucity of quality female vocalists in the music charts today," writes the New Zealand Herald in a review of k.d. lang's performance last night at Auckland's Aotea Centre. While there is certainly no lack of pop starlets, says the review, for quality, "one woman stands alone." That would be k.d., who "enraptured the audience with her remarkable vocal range." Her live performance of tunes from Watershed was "pitch-perfect and soulful."

Just a reminder for fans of The Black Keys within getting-to distance of Cleveland: the band will play a MySpace Secret Show tonight at Cleveland's Beachland Tavern, the site of the first-ever Black Keys gig. For the rest of us, Pat and Dan gave an interview to MTVu's Backstage Pass and answer a few all-important questions from some college fans.

Bill Frisell introduced his new quintet to European audiences at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Sunday, and, writes The Times, it was "the highlight" of the four-star event. The Telegraph says Frisell offered his trademark "beautifully shaped lick," bringing the set into focus with his "favourite territory of musical Americana, with blues and bluegrass and Miles Davis alongside Frisell's own compositions." All About Jazz says Bill "comes up trumps again" with his new album. "It's a delight of the first order."

Steve Reich and Glenn Kotche will be among the artists celebrating the unveiling of the re-imagined Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York during the two-week Opening Nights Festival, February 22 through March 8, 2009. On March 3, each will take part in New York, New Music, New Hall, a marathon event of new and seminal works. Kotche will join Bang on a Can All-Stars for the NY premiere of one of his compositions, and Steve Reich & Musicians and Synergy Vocals come together for the composer's groundbreaking 1976 work Music for 18 Musicians. Also on the bill is Alarm Will Sound.

Kronos Quartet was joined by Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq at Disney Hall in Los Angeles Saturday for a night of premieres. The Los Angeles Times writes: "The playing all evening was passionate and superb. If ever an ensemble has found a fountain of youth, it is this one." Variety says that "even after three decades of continuous activity, the Kronos Quartet continues to come up with fresh ideas from out of the blue." As examples, he points both to Saturday's program and the group's recording of The Cusp of Magic.