Aaron Cohen

Jamaican singer Derrick Morgan recorded the song "Conquering Ruler" in 1967, and it was no empty boast. He dominated his country's airwaves in the early '60s when he was barely...

For Melvin Van Peebles, chance trumps contemplation. This belief comes up when he describes an encounter involving one of his sculptures. "Somebody came to my apartment in New York, saw...

A sense of wonder permeates Lee Fields' voice. This feeling comes through when he sings with The Expressions, a young band that has absorbed the techniques of early '70s soul....

Iraqi maqam vocalist Hamid Al-Saadi usually refrains from dramatic expressions when he performs. While his voice flows across different registers, he remains seated and focuses forward. This outward calm also...

Guitarist Vieux Farka Toure conveys a sense of restrained urgency on his disc, "The Secret" (Six Degrees). His minimalism leaves room for international guest musicians, while he responds with subdued...

About 12 years ago, Chicago cellist Tom Clowes went to Haiti to teach in a music camp program. The deprivation in Port-Au-Prince was shocking, but he also found the culture...

Otis Clay has worked the international gospel and rhythm and blues circuit for more than half a century. He turned 70 last year but avoids terms like stamina when asked...

Otis Clay has worked the international gospel and rhythm and blues circuit for more than half a century. He turned 70 last year but avoids terms like stamina when asked...

In the third season of the New Orleans television drama "Treme," disc jockey/songwriter Davis McAlary (Steve Zahn) recruits Irma Thomas to sing in his opera about their city after Hurricane...

Years before singer Nikki Hill began performing, she wanted to create a persona for herself. This involved combining sources that wouldn't seem to fit together. Hill, now 27, revisits the...