Sara Watkins and her band, including her brother Sean, recently performed a Daytrotter session, featuring songs from her self-titled Nonesuch debut album. The album "brings all of the aspects of hers that were so loved in the Nickel Creek songs where she sang the vocal lead," says Daytrotter, "displaying all of the vulnerability and swooning moonlight into the storylines that slipped into every young heart, corralling their intentions and their every thought."

Natalie Merchant launches her first UK tour in eight years with a sold-out show in London on Saturday. She is featured on NPR's World Cafe, discussing and performing songs from her new album, Leave Your Sleep, which host David Dye calls "extraordinary." Billboard says it "soars with gorgeous folk arrangements and Merchant's daring creativity." In the Times of London, Alain de Botton says: "It’s poignant and tuneful and the voice is, as always, sheer genius."

Pat Metheny brings Orchestrion home to NYC ... The Kennedy Center's Perspectives: John Adams comes to a close ... Carolina Chocolate Drops play festivals in Indiana, Utah ... Bill Frisell, Kronos Quartet, Youssou N'Dour have shows in Germany ... Philip Glass Ensemble celebrates its 40th in Rome ... k.d. lang sings for San Francisco Symphony ... Natalie Merchant launches UK tour ... Punch Brothers open for Josh Ritter, play with Dierks Bentley ... Allen Toussaint Gulf Aid concert airs on Fuse ... Sara Watkins plays her hometown ... Wilco tours Scandinavia ... and more ...

Timothy Andres's debut album, Shy and Mighty, released earlier this week on Nonesuch, has been described by New York Times music critic Allan Kozinn as "a richly imaginative 10-movement work for two pianos." The album has now received a perfect five stars from Audiophile Audition, which cites its "fresh new and creative take" and suggests Shy and Mighty "should appeal to a wide variety of listening tastes."

The Black Keys rocked out at New York's Housing Works Bookstore Café for the lucky few fans in attendance; a few thousand more get to see the band open for Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden tonight. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney talk about their new album, Brothers, and perform on the latest New York Times Music Popcast and NPR's World Cafe. Carney spoke with Akron's BuzzBin about the album, about which PopMatters says: "That the Black Keys are still exploring new territories with enthusiasm is cause for celebration, and Brothers is the reason why."

Timothy Andres performed the music of his new album, Shy and Mighty, in New York City on Monday. He performs again in New York today in two concerts with the Metropolis Ensemble: a free mid-day event at Trinity Wall Street and a ticketed show at the Angel Orensanz Center, featuring the world premiere of Andres's Paraphrase on Themes of Brian Eno and the New York premiere of his Home Stretch, plus works by Anna Clyne and Mozart.

Caetano Veloso's new Nonesuch release, zii e zie, is the latest Staff Pick from the PRI show Studio 360. "Veloso continues to make music with the grace of a poet and the ebullience of a kid," says Studio 360, which praises the "sharp edges" added to his new work while insisting that "the jagged rock and funk flair never buries Veloso’s deep roots in samba and bossa nova." The Washington Post has published an interview with Veloso on subjects from Animal Collective to David Byrne to Michael Jackson.

The Black Keys' Brothers is in stores now, including the Black Keys pop-up store at NYC's Housing Works Bookstore Café, featured in today's Wall Street Journal. Pitchfork says "Brothers is the loosest they've sounded since 2004's Rubber Factory" and praises Dan Auerbach's vocals. Washington Post Express does too, saying he's "never sounded more loose, comfortable or soulful." Seattle Weekly exclaims: "Brothers is sure to go down as one of the best albums of 2010."

k.d. lang and Tony Bennett reunite on stage this Saturday at Davies Symphony Hall for the San Francisco Symphony’s 2010 Black & White Ball benefit concert. Bennett tells the Oakland Tribune: "k.d. has a gift ... I can't ask for a more pleasant thing to listen to than to listen to k.d. sing." For her part, lang says: "To be mentored by Tony, it's the kind of thing that is irreplaceable."

Brad Mehldau will soon return to London's Wigmore Hall in a continuation the Jazz Series he is curating there; he performed the last of the series' concerts for the season in June. Wigmore Hall has just announced the line-up for the second half of his residency, to take place during the 2010/11 season, including duo concerts with Chris Thile and with Joe Henry.

Kronos Quartet has just announced its summer tour dates, which will bring the group to venues in Europe, the United States, and Taiwan. Summer being festival season, Kronos will take part in some of the best, including Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Edinburgh International, Monterey Jazz, and Cabrillo. The group will also perform with Wu Man, Alim & Fargana Qasimov, and with Philip Glass, performing his score to Dracula, and will help celebrate Terry Riley's 75th birthday.

Today's the day: Brothers, The Black Keys' highly anticipated new album, finally hits stores. To mark the occasion, The Black Keys pop-up store has launched at New York's Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, where the band will perform tomorrow night, May 19, with proceeds going to support Housing Works' advocate for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Today also marks the premiere of the official "Tighten Up" video.