There's a theory of American history that goes something like this: the country holds together because of its founding documents, its institutions, and its laws. That's certainly part of the story. But another part lives in the songs people sang when they were scared, broke, separated from the people they loved, or simply trying to believe that things would get better. The American Songbook, that sprawling collection of standards, ballads, and show tunes from the first half of the twentieth...

Felix Peikli, Norwegian clarinetist talks Vegas tunes, handwritten letters, tuxedos, and dreaming big at Carnegie Hall Our artist interview series is all about getting to know the musicians behind our albums and shows a little better, not just as performers, but as people. This time, we’re featuring clarinetist Felix Peikli, whose mix of old-school swing and sharp style has made him one of the most exciting entertainers on today’s jazz scene. Born in Oslo, Norway, Felix fell in love with jazz...

Lorenz Hart, who struggled with drinking, career stress, and loving people who didn't love him back, wasn't theorizing when he wrote "My Funny Valentine." That matters if you want to understand why the song feels so different from most Valentine's Day tunes. Richard Rodgers wrote the melody in 1937 for Babes in Arms , but it's Hart who gives the song its lasting weight. Already deep into the sharper, more raw phase of his writing (and life), Hart avoided the sugar that Broadway audiences...