Jake Shimabukuro“Nashville Sessions”(JS Records)Jake Shimabukuro draws sounds both traditional and innovative from his ukulele on “Nashville Sessions,” an adventurous, dazzling album.Using the instrument from his native Hawaii to explore a variety of styles in the company of drummer Evan Hutchings and bassist Nolan Verner, Shimabukuro broadens his sonic palette on 11 original compositions stretching from jazz fusion to rock and beyond.The 39-year-old virtuoso sticks to the instrument’s natural v

Kwiz“The Black Light Chronicles”(Rhythm Lab Music)It seems odd to describe the discussion of the black experience in America a “hot topic” -- after all, the examination of the African-American experience has been explored for hundreds of years in some fashion, even before black people were considered Americans and were just considered property.But with all the focus on the Black Lives Matter movement, the killings of black men at the hands of police, political rhetoric and the waning days of the

Bob Weir“Blue Mountain”(Columbia/Legacy and ROAR)The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, showing more than a little touch of grey at age 68, delivers a heartfelt and earthy solo record with “Blue Mountain.”It’s Weir’s first solo effort in a decade and the first of entirely original material in 30 years.Weir, who sang with the Dead that he may be going to hell in a bucket but at least he’s enjoying the ride, strikes a more reflective pose on “Blue Mountain.” It’s a deeply personal collection of cowboy song

Global K-pop icon Big Bang is gearing up for a new album.　“Big Bang’s new release will be unveiled shortly,” member Seungri announced on his live-broadcasting channel “Hello Seungri” on Naver V Live + on Wednesday. “I can’t disclose the specific details of the schedule, but we plan on sharing a very good new track with everyone.”　The group’s management agency YG Entertainment also confirmed the news Thursday.　“Despite their hectic schedules, Big Bang members have been preparing for a new album,”

Singer Se7en has finally revealed details about his return to the spotlight. 　“Se7en will be releasing a new album ‘I am Se7en’ on Oct. 14,” according to the singer’s management agency Eleven9 Entertainment on Thursday morning. This is the singer’s first album in over four years, since the release of his mini album “Se7en New Mini Album” in 2012. 　Written and produced in part by the artist himself, the album will boast a wide array of genres, including dance and funk. 　 Most recently, the 31-yea

K-pop girl group Twice is getting ready for its return to the spotlight.　The nine-member act is currently working on a new release, scheduled to be unveiled sometime next month, according to the group’s management agency JYP Entertainment on Wednesday. 　Although the date and the concept behind the upcoming release is as of yet undecided, the girl group is reportedly collaborating with Black-eyed Pilseung, the leading producer and songwriting duo behind the group’s hit tracks “Like Ooh-Aah” and “

NEW YORK (AFP) – Adele’s “25” has topped 10 million sales in the United States, her second album to cross the threshold as the English singer cements her status as the century’s top-selling artist.The US industry body presented Adele a plaque certifying that “25,” released in November, had gone diamond platinum, or sold 10 million, at a ceremony backstage at New York’s Madison Square Garden where she just played six sold-out shows, her publicist announced Tuesday.The Recording Industry Associati

NEW YORK (AP) -- Simon Rattle thought back to his first staged performance of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” in Amsterdam in 2001.“I remember wanting to lie down on the rostrum and curl up in a fetal position and sob,” he said. “While every bone of my body was asking me to do that, the rest of me was saying, no, actually you have to be professional and keep on conducting.”Wagner’s hypnotic love story, composed from 1857-59 and premiered in 1865, returned to the Metropolitan Opera on Monday night

Classical music fans may be seen flocking to the Seoul Arts Center in the upcoming autumn months of October and November to witness some of the finest one-night-only performances from three world-class musicians. 　Anne-Sophie Mutter has been internationally regaled as being one of the greatest violin virtuosos of modern times for the past four decades. The four-time Grammy Award winner gives concerts in all the world’s important music centers, her fame much accredited to her early career under t

Boy bands are churning out new releases in time for fall. Returning with a new look just this week was the band GOT7, with the group’s first studio album in two years, “Flight Log: Turbulence,” released Tuesday. The music video for the album’s title track “Hard Carry” was also unveiled on the same day. SHINee also announced new releases Tuesday. The five-member act will roll out its fifth full-length album “1 of 1” on Oct. 5 at midnight, according to the group’s management agency S.M. Entertainm

Like fingerprints, musician’s sound should withstand time, Lee says

Glamorization of stick-thin figures has led to health risks among female entertainers

Entertainment agency FNC Entertainment is getting ready to lift the veil on its first boy dance group, Sensational First 9, or SF9, next month.　SF9 will release its debut single “Feeling Sensation” and its music video on local music and video platforms on Oct. 5, according to FNC Entertainment on Monday. 　The nine-member act is also scheduled to hold a showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul on the same day at 8 p.m. 　 The boy band was formed through Mnet’s survival reality show

K-pop girl group Apink has returned with full force.　Following the release of their third full-length album “Pink Revolution” on Monday morning, the album’s lead track “Only One” topped seven local music charts -- Naver Music, Olleh Music, Mnet, Genie, Bugs, Monkey3 and Soribada -- in less than 12 hours, according to the group’s management agency PlanA Entertainment on Monday. Produced in collaboration with a leading producer and songwriting team Black-eyed Pilseung, “Only One” is the group’s fi