One of the quiet revelations of "Meredith Monk: The Recordings" (ECM New Series) is that Monk herself confides that it was Janis Joplin who set her —and her voice— free. The 13-CD set chronicles the thrust of her expansive career.

You know that feeling when you hear a singer's voice and it enters your soul, becomes a part of your very being. That's what happens when out singer/songwriter Ruthie Foster sings.

Former San Franciscan Sean Patrick Murtagh offers an impressive debut CD with "The Mario 101," an homage to the great Hollywood tenor Mario Lanza. He'll return to San Francisco for concerts at Martuni's Dec. 18 & 20.

The cast of the Broadway touring company of "Ain't Too Proud" and special guest Paula West filled A.C.T.'s Strand Theater with soulful jazzy music on November 28 at the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation's first live benefit concert in three years.

"In retrospect, it had to be a violent end," says Kenny Mellman, recalling the demise of "Kiki and Herb" back in 2007, not long after the locally-formed twosome's last San Francisco performance. They've now reunited for a holiday-themed tour.

It wouldn't be Christmas in San Francisco unless chanteuse extraordinaire Connie Champagne brings her annual Judy Garland holiday show to Martuni's.

The Adler Fellows class of 2022 will appear in their final concert of the year, 'The Future Is Now: Adlers in Concert' on Friday, Dec. 2 at the Herbst Theatre.

Christmas will commence early this year when the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus returns with "Holiday Spectacular," an all-new holiday show in four venues, including their Castro Theatre concerts on Christmas Eve.

From campy drag to chorus boys, classical music to "A Christmas Carol" —not to mention eight different "Nutcrackers" to choose from— if you're gay in Bay, there's something that's sure to bring joy, laughter, and inspiration to your holiday season.

The bass player and guitarist in The Claudettes, and an openly queer musician, Zach Verdoorn discussed the new album "The Claudettes Go Out!," his third with the band, and his earlier years with other groups.

Born at Berkeley Repertory and now playing at the Golden Gate Theatre as part of a post-Broadway national tour, "Ain't Too Proud" is not so much a musical as a deliciously slick nightclub act regularly interrupted by readings from a reference book.

Combining studio footage, along with numerous vintage visual and audio clips, "The Return of Tanya Tucker: featuring Brandi Carlile" paints a compelling portrait of Texas-born and Arizona-raised Tucker as an influential country music artist.

The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center or "culture alley" on Van Ness Ave., is ablaze with activity this month. The Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall, and Herbst Theatre are presenting festive and diverse musical events.

Whether out singer-songwriter Amy Ray is performing with longtime musical partner Emily Saliers as one half of the Indigo Girls —as she has since the mid-1980s— or going solo as she did with her solo debut "Stag" in 2001, you can recognize her instantly.