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As a founding member of Jefferson Airplane, Jorma Kaukonen's masterful guitar work helped define psychedelic rock in the '60s. In a session from World Cafe, he performs songs from his new collection of acoustic blues and country, titled River of Time.

Composers seem to equate villainy with the bass voice. All the better for Samuel Ramey, whose resonant low tones have thrilled opera audiences worldwide as he plays libertines, devils and scoundrels.

World-renowned trumpet visionary Jon Hassell composes what he calls Fourth World music. It's an innovative sound that melds various ethnic styles, particularly African and Asian, with electronic techniques. On World Cafe, his band performs three songs from his new album in a session with host David Dye.

The singer-songwriter with the weathered but vulnerable delivery has been touring and recording since his 1980 hit, "Romeo's Tune." With a new album out called The Place and the Time, he visited NPR headquarters for a solo performance and interview.

Idan Raichel has made his name by mixing cinematic Israeli pop with the sounds of his country's immigrant community. His latest album reaches even farther afield, with singers from Colombia, Rwanda and the Cape Verde Islands.

Late in his career, Mozart explored feelings of extraordinary emotional agitation in his symphonies. Ted Libbey recommends recordings of these works that balance power and passion, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic.

Gomez's music constantly evolves, combining hefty rock beats and pop choruses with hints of country, folk and blues. They've lent their tracks to television programs such as Grey's Anatomy and House, and now gear up to promote their newest album, A New Tide.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Together Through Life, Dylan's 33rd solo album. Throughout the disc, Dylan sings in cobwebbed moans, growling croons and spoken-word chants.

Wearing dark shades throughout its session at The Current, Glasvegas played with only two members for a sort of ambient-inspired folk sound. Wading through the strong Glasgow accents might be difficult for the untrained ear, but the music of Glasvegas connects the dots.

Keene's songbook contains some of the best rock to come out of the '80s post-punk era. Balancing his roles as a solo artist and a hired gun for acts like Robert Pollard and Paul Westerberg, Keene has earned acclaim for his hook-writing mastery and thunderous guitar work. There's a healthy dose of both on Keene's latest release, In the Late Bright.