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Rudresh Mahanthappa's Kinsmen blends South Asian music with American jazz. The jazz saxophonist says his inspiration to explore Indian music on the saxophone came from a CD his brother gave him as a joke called Saxophone Indian Style.

The Houston-born pianist studied classical piano and was accepted into a select group at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance. To preview her concert on JazzSet, here's a performance of "Shall We Tango," recorded live.

Duke has put out more than 30 albums, which have incorporated jazz, pop, Latin and R&B to critical and commercial success. On his latest album, Dukey Treats, he pays tribute to funk, soul and Sly Stone.

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and his Afro-Cuban band show some Miami style while pianist Cyrus Chestnut sets the direction for his show with the title "Spirituals to Swing." JazzSet mixes these two concerts from January 2008, recorded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Norah Jones is one of the most popular musicians in the world today, and her soulful vocals were on display when she joined Marian McPartland at the 2003 Tanglewood Jazz Festival. The sold-out crowd watch the duo perform duets and standards.

For Speak Low, blue-eyed-soul legend Boz Scaggs had a sound in mind long before recording his interpretation of jazz standards. But the concept was blurry until he pinpointed the instrumentation: a combination of strings, horns and vibes.

It's been a remarkable year for jazz, and narrowing down a Top 10 list for 2008 takes a bit of work. Once again, there's room for enthusiasm and optimism about the state of jazz and its ability to inspire musicians and listeners alike. Here's a look (and a listen) back at some of the year's highlights.

Covering music from Marian Anderson to ZZ Top, 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List covers all genres in its more than 900 pages. It's driven by the notion that "the more you love music, the more music you love." Author Tom Moon submits his picks for the best summer recordings.

The new CD, One Ounce of Truth, puts the vivid words of poet and writer Nikki Giovanni to music, using a wide range of musical styles like bossa nova, jazz and soul. NPR's Tony Cox talks with Giovanni and singer Capathia Jenkins about the project.

Horace Silver is a piano-playing, pencil-packing papa whose songs showcase a family of jazz characters such as "Sister Sadie" and "Senor Blues." His music filled Dee Dee Bridgewater's album Love and Peace: A Tribute to Horace Silver. This concert in his honor comes from the Discoveries at Walt Disney Concert Hall series in Los Angeles.