For Valentine's Day, or most any day when love is in the air, here are some swinging, close-harmony renditions of the Great American Song Book with The Western Wind. It’s sophisticated singing in the mostly wonderful sense. There are some '70s-'90s pop songs included as well.

Tunes are interspersed with the (love) poetry of Langston Hughes, e.e.cummings, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Nikki Giovanni read by and Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis. Ms. Dee is especially present in Hughes' Miss "Blues'es Child."

Although a few of the renditions are a bit hit and miss, I think there's plenty of groove, edge and swoon. Besides, it's always good to hear the curious, clever and often masterful use of language and syntax in the introductory verses, as is the case with "I Got Rhythm" and "My Funny Valentine."

Meet the music lovers, fiddle players and lifelong amateur musicians from musical families pursuing music for its sheer joy and pleasure.

"Fiddle-icious" the radio piece, and the Fiddle-icious ensemble, preach and practice getting lost in the music, minimizing the nerves and music conservatory and performance gridlock — but they also make the case for reaching certain musical standards of excellence with the having-fun component.

Nice audio postcard, and as is often the case, the story is heard in the individual voices and their inflections.

A good fit during your arts magazine program, or as a tie-in to your local music and music education scene. Could also work during a local Americana music shift, with proper forward promotion and handling.

This is a wonderful introduction to the act and art of Pipa playing.

Pipa, the "pear-shaped lute kind of instrument with four strings," has a modern day champion named Wu Man. She became one of the stars of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road tour, and is now enjoying an international career on her own, and alongside the Silk Road Ensemble and other ensembles.

Superbly mixed by Dmae Roberts, "Wu Man - Pipa Player" has a place on your arts magazine program, can be linked to the world music scene in your market or serve as an enhanced Promo-PSA should Wu Man come to your town.