Top Picks: David Bowie's 'Blackstar,' the documentary 'East of Salinas,' and more
Change agent
It鈥檚 remarkable that an artist who had made music for half a century just released one of the most modern rock albums ever, and it鈥檚 tragic that he died two days later. On , David Bowie teamed up with New York鈥檚 talented Donny McCaslin quartet, and while the result is not jazz, the new music embodies the freedom and exploratory spirit that word promises. Bowie鈥檚 talent at reinventing himself is a testament to his creative genius.
Resilient children
The 鈥淚ndependent Lens鈥� documentary follows third-grader Jose Ansaldo, who is an undocumented immigrant and the son of farmworkers. Jose is gifted in school but has just begun to realize that some doors may be closed to him because he is not an American citizen. Meanwhile, his teacher, Oscar Ramos, tries to decide how best to help his students, many of whom have migrant parents. The one-hour documentary is available at http://bit.ly/EastofSalinas.
Musical visionaries
A PBS documentary that centers on those who strive to build strong musical communities has been released as a Web series, Music Makes a City Now. The first season follows the charismatic conductor Teddy Abrams, who comes to Louisville, Ky., to become its orchestra鈥檚 youngest musical director. Be sure to check out the Jan. 13 episode, 鈥淜entucky Royal Fanfare.鈥� It鈥檚 available at .听
Danish warmth
As icy winds whistle past your house, it鈥檚 time to explore how the Danes stay cozy. The Danish concept of hygge (HOO-guh), a lifestyle that embodies easy warmth and enjoyment, has spread around the world as a way to defy the dark days. A video from VisitDenmark explores what hygge means to Copenhagen residents. Check it out at .
Creative talk
Alec Baldwin has smart and insightful conversations with artists, performers, and policymakers to figure out what makes them tick creatively on WNYC biweekly podcast Here鈥檚 The Thing. Recent interviewees include Sarah Jessica Parker, composer/conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, late-night host Jimmy Fallon, and newsman Dan Rather. Check it out at
