Carnegie Hall announced, with its 2010-11 concert season, a season-long residency by Brad Mehldau as holder of Carnegie's Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair, the first jazz artist to hold this position. Included in his residency are the live, NY premiere of Highway Rider; a solo program; an expanded version of his Love Songs with Anne Sofie von Otter; and the world premiere of a new work. Among other season highlights: a celebration of Steve Reich's 75th birthday and a Carnegie Hall 120th anniversary concert with Audra McDonald and the New York Philharmonic.

The Celtic Connections festival is underway in Glasgow with no shortage of Nonesuch artists participating. Ry Cooder joined the Chieftains in the Royal Concert Hall's Main Auditorium last night, while the Carolina Chocolate Drops played the Hall's Strathclyde Suite. The Low Anthem plays Thursday night, as does Natalie Merchant, who performed live on BBC Radio Scotland’s Global Gathering last night. Sara Watkins joins the festival's multi-artist Transatlantic Sessions this weekend.

Christina Courtin will perform a special all-acoustic set—with no mic and no amps—at New York's Rubin Museum this Friday as part of the Naked Soul series. Now, through a special offer, you can pick up tickets for just $15, 50% off the regular list price, by entering the coupon code Christina when you order. The first week in February, Christina will open for Josh Rouse in Virginia, New York, and Philadelphia.

Realism, The Magnetic Fields' latest album, is aptly titled, says NPR's Fresh Air, given that singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt—that "master of the cutting understatement, as well as the elegant overstatement"—has created in these songs "a realism that is vivid, hard-headed and never half-hearted. He does something true," perhaps even creating "a statement bigger than their creator may have intended." SPIN gives the album four stars.

Realism, The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, is available in stores across the globe today. Last night, the band joined fans and friends to celebrate the occasion at New York's Beauty Bar, with Stephin Merritt at the DJ booth. Now we celebrate with the launch of the fifth and final segment of the video series in which Merritt and Claudia Gonson discuss the new record, here answering: "Why Realism?"

Pat Metheny's new album, Orchestrion, is out now. In a review on the ABC News site, the Associated Press says the latest project from this "inveterate tinkerer who constantly imagines new soundscapes" finds Metheny taking "the notion of a solo album to a new dimension through some technological wizardry."

Chris Thile joined the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and conductor Jeffrey Kahane for the California premiere of his Mandolin Concerto this past weekend. The Los Angeles Times compares Thile to Duke Ellington and Astor Piazzolla for his ability to move beyond the confines of genre, calling the new piece "surprising and often amazing," its composer "an astonishing exponent of his instrument" with "protean talent."

Pat Metheny's Orchestrion—which pairs him with remarkable, custom-made robotic instruments for a "solo" recording unlike any other—is out tomorrow. The Kansas City Star says that "one of the most creative performers and composers of his time, has now blazed another trail." The Lexington Herald-Leader, calls it "a grand reminder of Metheny's gift for compositional melody." All Music gives it four stars, exclaiming: "Metheny exceeds our expectations, and perhaps even his own."

The Carolina Chocolate Drops' Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, is out now. The Sunday Times says to "file under quality music." After a Boston show, the Boston Herald said "an evening spent in this young trio’s exciting presence proves they are really about one thing: entertainment." The reviewer described Rhiannon Giddens voice as "among the most dynamic, startling instruments" he has ever heard.

Nonesuch Records releases Highway Rider, a double-disc of original work by pianist and composer Brad Mehldau, on March 16. The album is his second collaboration with producer Jon Brion and features performances by Mehldau’s trio—drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier—as well as drummer Matt Chamberlain, saxophonist Joshua Redman, and a chamber orchestra led by Dan Coleman. In a Nonesuch Store Exclusive, orders include an early demo recording in which Mehldau explains to Brion how he'd like the title track to unfold.

Ali and Toumani—an album of duets from the late guitarist Ali Farka Touré and kora player Toumani Diabaté—will be released February 23 on World Circuit / Nonesuch Records and is available for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store with the exclusive bonus track "Kenouna." MusicOMH gives the album four-and-a-half stars, calling it "the most perfectly pitched and unselfish of pairings, a meeting of wonderfully-matched musical minds and skills." NPR calls Touré "one of the most remarkable artists of the past century."

There's just one day left before the release of The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, Realism, and that means two things: the fourth installment of the five-part video series about the new record (today revealing which room in the house offers the best acoustics for recording) and the CD release party, which the band hosts at New York's Beauty Bar tonight. All are welcome; admission is free. The Independent names Realism its CD of the Week.