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NOMO has a tiny name, but the group makes a big impression when it drives into town. NOMO is eight musicians from Ann Arbor, Mich., with dozens of instruments and just one van. On Ghost Rock, the octet proves that its jazz- and funk-inspired instrumental music is much more than a Fela Kuti tribute.

Taking on Duke Ellington's music is a daunting task for most composers, but for Graham Reynolds, it was a rewarding journey. On his new album, DUKE! Three Portraits of Ellington, jazz standards are perfomed by a big band, by a string quartet — and remixed by DJs.

Spending her early career in the British punk band X-Ray Spex, Poly Styrene is no stranger to making musical statements of principle on her own idiosyncratic terms. Her new album is Generation Indigo.

By the mid-1990s, the art-rock band Throwing Muses had found more than just critical success. But co-founding member Kristin Hersh almost didn't make it there.

For nearly three decades, Kim Wilson has been the voice and soul of the Texas band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. He's also an accomplished solo recording artist, and in the minds of many people, the greatest harmonica player performing today. His new CD is entitled Lookin' for Trouble. Wilson recently joined NPR's Scott Simon for a chat about his craft.

As head of the songwriting, arranging and producing team known as The Corporation, Richards was behind hits such as The Jackson Five's "ABC" and The Supremes' "Love Child."

The famous cosmologist will appear on the track "Talkin' Hawkin' " on the upcoming album The Endless River, set for release next month. It's his second inclusion on one of the band's songs.

Singer MEL TORME. For more than 50 years, Torme has been one of most accomplished and versatile pop and jazz singers. Known for years as "The Velvet Fog," Torme, who grew up in show business, first made his reputation in the Big Band era as a songwriter, arranger, drummer and singer. He later sang in MGM musicals. Described by Ethel Waters as "the only white man who sings with the soul of a black man," Torme is one of the few white performers to share the spotlight with jazz greats like Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. "The Mel Torme Collection: 1944-1985," a four CD box set, has just been released. (Rhino) (REBROADCAST FROM 10/19/88)REV.: Another segment from Ira Glass' new show, "This American Life": Chinese-American writer SANDRA TSING LOH with a story about her eccentric father who lives in LA. He was hitch-hiking one day and was picked up by actress Angelica Houston.

Joshua Redman nearly became a lawyer, but the pull of jazz was stronger. Redman's father was the famous saxophonist Dewey Redman, and the sounds of jazz inspired him to take up the sax himself at age 10.

Hear this week's essential listening with new music from My Morning Jacket, Sharon Van Etten, Conor Oberst's Desaparecidos and more.