Three mixtapes, four hours of music. In celebration of Carnival we present a New Orleans Mardi Gras music mixtape. We follow with a mixtape of recent music from Toumani Diabate, a master of the kora from Mali. We conclude with 12 versions of Luiz Bonfa‘s "Manha da Carnaval" from the cinema classic, Black Orpheus. Enjoy to the max!

Hard news this week. We open with Viet Nam-era testimonies conducted by Wallace Terry with musical accompaniment. New work from Grace Jones. And we close with 13 versions of "Nature Boy" featuring John Coltrane, Nat King Cole, Maria Bethania, Jacky Terrasson, Abbey Lincoln, Ike Quebec, Phillippe Mall, Kevin Mahogany, Claudia Acuna, Alex Wilson, Nnenna Freelon, Johnny Hartman and Rene Marie.

We start off with tracks from Useni Perkins’ musical stage play, The Black Fairy. Then Mtume offers a special Valentine’s Day Mixtape featuring Zero 7, Ayo, A Race Of Angels, Bill Withers, Sheila Hylton, Bossacucanova with Roberto Menescal and Cris Delanno, King Britt, Jose James, Common and Mary J. Blige, Lhasa, Massive Attack, Optimistics, Gilberto Gil, Lenine & Suzano, Sade, John Martyn, Meshell Ndegeocello plus a bonus track from Laura Izibor. We conclude with live performances and remixes of Ashford & Simpson. Let love rule.

This week we feature classic experimental jazz from tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Then we journey to Norway to check out Beady Belle. We close with a birthday mixtape of Sade remixes. Beautiful music.