And now for something American--a couple of things American, actually.(MUSIC)(Sound recording review)

* And now for something American--a couple of things American, actually. Harmonia Mundi gives us a disc called American Angels: Songs of Hope, Redemption, and Glory, sung by "the Anonymous 4," who are, in fact, a quartet of women perfectly happy to supply their names and photographs. Over the years, they have recorded a range of literature, most of it early (as in Hildegard von Bingen early). On the American disc, they sing folk hymns, gospel songs, and the like from the Federalist period to just after the Civil War. These tunes are northern and southern, all of them reminding us of a remarkable heritage, and a religious one. The Anonymous 4, however, have the annoying habit of scooping up to a note--any top note comes off as though preceded by a grace note. This is a habit that has long infected American singing, so I guess that, alas, is part of our heritage too.

One of the least annoying parts of our heritage is Art Tatum, the great jazz pianist ...