IOWA'S ALTERNATIVE

Guitarist Sean Shibe pushes his instrument to the limit in new music written for him by Thomas Adès, and softens the vibe with intimate pieces by Bach, Mompou and the eccentric street musician Moondog.

The Miami-born, Cuban American musician, who died Dec. 8, played music that embraced Latin rhythms, roots, rock 'n' roll, and country. Originally broadcast in 1995.

The song, which came out in 1994 and first hit the top 10 in 2017, has now led the chart for the last seven holiday seasons.

In a year when hip-hop was frequently absent from the pop charts, NPR's music critic found that looking in darker corners revealed a genre that was flourishing.

The editorial director of WRTI in Philadelphia shares his favorite albums of the year, including a "thinking person's thrill ride" of a jazz guitar album.