Correspondences is an ever-evolving project between Soundwalk Collective and Patti Smith. Spanning over 10 years, it traverses a wealth of geographies and their natural environments, where the artists have uncovered sonic steps left by poets, filmmakers, revolutionaries, and the impact of climate change. Soundwalk Collective’s founder, Stephan Crasneanscki, has explored, captured, and collected the world’s remotest places in sound to awaken a sonic memory within the landscape, uncovering traces of past and current histories of the world we are living in. The resulting compositions are made of sound that reflects our relation to this world, the environment, the soul of our existence, and the creative process of the artist.

Last year Joan Baez released a documentary, "I Am a Noise", that teases a deep dive into secrets buried within unpublicized writings and recordings. [...] As Baez emerged as a folk queen in the early 1960s, she followed her conscience by marching for civil rights, desegregating concert venues, and committing herself to non-violence in opposition to any war. [...] The so-called “Queen of Folk” is clearly a significant political force around the world, and in this time of recurring despair and small victories she remains relevant as a gallant siren, not a “noise,” as this latest documentary has it. The Quaker Maiden continues to warn us of danger and call us to action.

Legendary folk singer, activist, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Baez has announced she is releasing her first book of poetry When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance – out April 30. Joan Baez, a Staten Island native, is a dynamic force of nature. Her commitment to music and social activism has earned global recognition, ranging from induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, to the Ambassador of Conscience Award – Amnesty International’s highest honor.

U2 is fresh off their first Las Vegas residency and ready to head into their next chapter. But while the world waits for completely brand new music from the Irish rockers, they have announced a year-long series of musical re-releases, ones which will surely be of interest to their most die-hard followers. On Friday (April 5), U2 dropped a new collection of remixes and alternate editions of their single “Discothèque.” [...] The new album runs an hour and 12 minutes long, with plenty of renditions of “Discothèque” for fans who can’t get enough of the tune. The tracklist includes the original radio edit, as well as remixes that come with names like the DM Deep Club Mix, Howie B, Hairy B Mix, and the Hexidecimal Mix, among others.

Campbell, master of all things strings and former accompanist to Bob Dylan and the late Levon Helm (among others), and singer-actress Williams have been together for four decades. Their chemistry is again evident as they alternate lead vocals and harmonize beautifully on this 10-song set — with seven Campbell originals — that chronicles a bond both hard-earned and enduring.

In a new episode of Inside Africa, CNN joins five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo who is on tour celebrating her 40th anniversary at the top of the global music industry. She says: “Being on stage for me is just the best thing ever. It’s the best place, and the safest, and the most beautiful place that exists on earth for me.” The Beninese star is out to change perceptions of ‘African music’ one audience at a time: “People still think that classical music has nothing to do with African music. That there is any music on this planet that has nothing to do with Africa. So, why is Africa the cradle of humanity? Where do we come from? And the way that we can dissociate ourself, for me, is a manifestation of fear. Because the narrative that I’ve been told about Africa is so negative, that no one wants to be associated with it. So, if you want to change the narrative, let’s start with music.”

They’re killing babies in the name of freedom opens Kris Kristofferson on his 1990 song “Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down).” Released months before the U.S. was about to invade Iraq, no specific conflict is referenced in the song by Kristofferson, who served as a captain in the U.S. Army. At the time, Kristofferson’s political views were crystal clear, and he opposed the recent military policies enforced by the then George W. Bush Jr. administration and remained outspoken about his more left-wing stances. [...] Soon after the release of Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down),” the title became Kristofferson’s catchphrase. He even said the words to Sinéad O’Connor, after she was booed at a Bob Dylan tribute concert at Madison Square Garden, shortly after her controversial appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 where she tore a photograph of then-Pope John Paul II to shed light on the unspoken sexual abuses by priests in the Catholic church.

CNN joins five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo backstage on her global anniversary tour, and brings Davido, Stonebwoy and Yo-Yo Ma along for the ride.

John Leventhal was producer on Rosanne Cash’s string of remarkable albums in the 2000s, including "The List" (especially impactful on me) and the Grammy-winning "The River And The Thread" (2014). And then he made more honest, gorgeous albums for others - "This Is Where I Live by soul artist William Bell" in 2016 and Sarah Jarosz’s "World On The Ground" in 2020 - both major award winners. Amid it all, Leventhal was named Americana Instrumentalist of the Year in 2015. And yet for all of this, John Leventhal made it to age 70 having never released music of his own. That changed in late January with the release of "Rumble Strip", a collection of three songs and thirteen instrumentals, made by John working alone and playing all the instruments, not counting the duo vocals of Rosanne Cash on a couple of timeless cuts.

Steely Dan’s 50-year-old third album, Pretzel Logic, conceals its dark satirical vision of modern society beneath immaculate studio production. This 1974’s album marked the transition between their beginnings as a conventional rock band and their later incarnation as a studio collective under the leadership of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Founding guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter performed on Pretzel Logic, while original drummer Jim Hodder got bumped in favor of session men Jim Gordon and Jeff Porcaro. This perfectionism, involving 16 studio musicians, made Becker and Fagen infamous as rock’s geekiest dictatorship.

Warren Haynes has unveiled the ambitious new Now Is The Time Tour, set to stage three special concerts in the Northeast this June. Alongside The Dreams and Sounds Symphonic Experience, this series will feature the debut of the highly-anticipated new Warren Haynes Band. Each show will be composed of three frames: two pioneering sets of symphonic music, capped off by a final presentation of Haynes’ inimitable blues-rock prowess. Throughout the performances, Haynes will explore the highlights of his sprawling catalog, including unheard arrangements of favorites from Gov’t Mule, the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead, as well as revived compositions from the lauded Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration series.