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Sophie Milman has a classic jazz voice that evokes smoky lounges, softly clinking glasses and the cool of the night. Her second CD, Make Someone Happy, contains her interpretations of many jazz standards, but also includes some surprising choices.

Amos Lee's soulful folk-pop music, clear voice and grounded lyrical observations bring to mind artists such as Otis Redding and Bill Withers. Lee performed highlights from all three of his albums during a recent appearance on Mountain Stage.

The National make thoughtful, melancholy rock in the spirit of Joy Division or Leonard Cohen, with singer Matt Berninger's warm baritone voice set against deftly orchestrated instrumentation that's as epic as it is intimate. Hear the group recorded live in concert on NPR.org.

As a teen idol, Dion rose to fame in the late 1950s and early '60s. Considered a doo-wop pioneer, the voice behind classics like "The Wanderer" and "Runaround Sue" is crooning the blues. With Bronx in Blue, Dion revisits his roots.

The muted beat that opens Rose Kemp's "Tiny Flower" is nothing but modern: It sounds like feet crunching in snow, but had it been mixed higher, it might have sounded like something unleashed by hip-hop producer Timbaland. Then, in swoops the voice.

With his second solo album in eight years, Sean Lennon returns with Friendly Fire. His parentage is legendary — and by no means a qualifier for musicianship — but his beautiful, simple melodies and evocative voice are more than enough for him to make his own mark.

"The Sun Shines Down on Me" ranks among the best material from Daniel Johnston's early homemade tapes. While the recording quality is almost as ragged as his voice, the low fidelity only adds to the song's mystery, melodic genius and charm.

Amos Lee's voice sounds tired on "Night Train" — quietly worn from long days of trouble and a need for rest. But the quietness draws attention to every syllable, every subtle inflection and shift of instrumentation. In the middle of everything, it creates a moment of utter peace.

The Bird and the Bee's "I'm A Broken Heart" functions as a great big open wound of a song, a tale of heartbreak that doesn't sound at all heartbroken. Inara George's feathery voice helps render the song eerie and effective, and a miracle of restraint besides.

Bessie Smith became known as "the empress of the blues" in the 1920s, when most vocalists called themselves blues singers. On The Essential Bessie Smith, she shows how her famous voice could captivate a room without the aid of a microphone.

Her music has been featured on HBO, with the band Zero 7, and in your local Starbucks. But with a new album out and a U.S. tour about to start, the singer known as Sia says she's finally beginning to hear her own voice.

Drummer and singer Levon Helm has survived his membership in The Band, a close brush with bankruptcy and a battle with throat cancer that temporarily took away his voice. Now he's back with Dirt Farmer, his first solo album in 25 years.

Colombian singer Shakira has soared to worldwide fame with her sultry voice and swiveling hips. Latin America's most successful crossover artist recently returned to her hometown, to praise her birthplace and to express her concern about the region's poverty.

Infected Mushroom resides at the forefront of an emerging musical genre called psy-trance — complex electronic music with the sophistication of rock or jazz. The group expanded from a voice-and-keyboard duo to a quintet in an effort to make electronic dance music more interesting.

Political cartoons have a long history in Iran and give voice to critics of the authoritarian regime. Lately cartoonists have been increasingly persecuted for their work. A recent book, Sketches of Iran, pairs 40 political essays with cartoons depicting life in Iran today.

Two years ago, Raul Midon burst onto the scene with remarkable guitar chops and a voice whose expressiveness recalls the legends of soul. His new sophomore album finds him in a broader frame of mind, both musically and in terms of commercial pursuits.

Vocalist Rebecca Parris has won fans and critical praise for her impeccable phrasing and classic sense of swing. Her rich and sultry voice has spawned comparisons to Rosemary Clooney and Dinah Washington, but Parris's sound is very much her own.

Amid efforts to jump-start stalled negotiations on an Iraqi constitution, thousands gather near President Bush's Texas ranch. Many are there to voice support for his Iraq policy. Others back Cindy Sheehan, a Gold Star mother who opposes the war.

From Osvaldo Golijov's cross-cultural musical fiesta to the chestnut-colored voice of Rolando Villazon, NPR Music's Tom Huizenga and All Things Considered host Guy Raz spin a few of the most notable classical recordings of the past ten years.

From the soaring voice of a young soprano on the rise to the turbulent sounds of the Berlin Philharmonic in full cry, NPR Music's Tom Huizenga and Weekend All Things Considered host Guy Raz spin new classical recordings from young musicians and composers.