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Fred Ho, the baritone sax player, composer, and bandleader, died this weekend in Brooklyn. He was 56. And that tells you nothing you need to know about Fred Ho. Soundcheck host John Schaefer reflects on the life of the iconoclast musician and political activist.

Kronos Quartet has been celebrating its 40th anniversary this season – 40 years of upending and then rebuilding our idea of what a string quartet can be. Here's a rundown of 10 of the quartet's most essential recordings.

Hear the new album from the Tropicalia pioneer in its entirety and download the song “A Bossa Nova E Foda” before it's release on March 25.

You couldn’t make it to South By Southwest this year? That’s okay. Soundcheck's John Schaefer didn’t go either. So, what shall we do this week, here in New York City -- which is suddenly only the second-best musical center in the country? Well, here are some suggestions.

All week, Soundcheck challenged listeners to nominate The Most Romantic Song Ever -- and to make a case for why that song was right and all the hundreds of other songs people were suggesting were somehow wrong. Soundcheck host John Schaefer wades through the results and presents this crowd-sourced playlist.

With the 50th anniversary of The Beatles's legendary performance on the Ed Sullivan Show this sunday, we take a look at the modern bands who owe John, Paul, George, and Ringo some credit. From Radiohead to Broken Bells, John Schaefer, host of WNYC's Soundcheck, explains why so many bands draw on the experimental yet harmony-driven music of The Beatles.

The Opening Ceremony to the Sochi Olympics will feature an array of national anthems and the Olympics theme song.  But for Russians, and Russian Americans, the music of Sochi and of the nation goes far beyond the slopes and podiums. John Schaefer, host of Soundcheck, shares some Russian tunes to enjoy during the Olympics.

Hear select performances from the 2014 New York Guitar Festival Marathon, held at New York's Merkin Concert Hall.

Pete Seeger wasn’t just a folk singer: He was the model, the exemplar of what most Americans mean when they say “folk singer.” Soundcheck host John Schaefer has this remembrance of the folk artist and activist, who died Monday at age 94.

The Hold Steady is set release Teeth Dreams, its first record since 2010's Heaven Is Whenever on March 25 and the band has given fans a first taste with the song "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You." Members of the Soundcheck team give the new track a spin and have these first impressions.

The year is only a little over a week old, but Soundcheck host John Schaefer thinks John Newman's single "Love Me Again" may be the next big thing from the U.K.

It was a year when Beyonce surprised fans with an unexpected new album. And she made history becoming the first woman to hit number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her five studio albums. Her husband Jay-Z and pop star Lady Gaga also had new records out. And a teenager from New Zealand, Lorde, became a hit. But John Schaefer, host of WNYC's Soundcheck, says it was New York that ruled the music scene in 2013, and he has a list of ten reasons why.

It may seem odd to trumpet New York’s musical clout in a year when New York’s biggest names did not rise to the occasion. But New York music still ruled the world in 2013. Soundcheck host John Schaefer counts down his top ten reasons why.

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president and a treasured symbol of hope in the struggle against racial oppression, died Thursday at 95. Soundcheck host John Schaefer has this musical remembrance.

All November, WNYC's classical music sister station is celebrating Mozart Month. Soundcheck host John Schaefer shares this handy A-Z guide to the prolific icon.

The author and musician James McBride won The National Book Award for his novel The Good Lord Bird. Soundcheck host John Schaefer reflects on the book and talking to McBride in a recent session with his band.