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When saxophonist Frank Foster played with the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1950s, the band took out deductions for Social Security and a union pension. But the retirement benefits don't cover his expenses and a debilitating stroke left him unable to earn a living.

Pianist and composer Dave Burrell was an important part of the free jazz scene of the 1960s, recording with Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown, Archie Shepp and others. His new CD with his Full-Blown Trio, Expansion, marks Burrell's first recording for a U.S. label in almost 40 years.

Frank Foster is among many jazz musicians who spent the 1940s and '50s playing jazz and thinking more about getting girls then getting paid. But Foster never planned to live this long. We discuss making a living in jazz.

Legendary jazz musician Charlie Parker died 50 years ago Saturday. Poet Joe Pacheco recalls one of Parker's last performances, when the saxophonist known as "Bird" played in Manhattan. The poem is from Pacheco's book The First of the Nuyoricans/Sailing to Sanibel.

With a catalogue of more than 400 songs, including "Over the Rainbow," "Stormy Weather," and "Get Happy," the timeless music of Harold Arlen has kept America swinging, and singing, for decades. NPR marks the centennial of the songwriter's birth with an hour-long special.

Musician Jimmy Smith, who made the organ into a standard instrument in jazz, has died. Smith began his career in the early 1950s and is credited with creating the distinctive sound of "soul jazz."

In his 30-year career, musician Fred Hersch has performed in solo, duo, trio and quintet settings. In 2003 he received the prestigious Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, which he used to work on his latest project, Leaves of Grass. For it, Hersch leads a 10-piece ensemble, which includes vocalists singing the words of Walt Whitman set to compositions by Hersch. He is touring the ensemble this month.

As music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR's Ned Wharton supervises music continuity for the show and keeps tabs on what's new and noteworthy in the music world. He looks at a pair of CDs designed to be appreciated with visual components.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews And now... The Revolutionary Ensemble. The three-man group uses instruments ranging from violin and harmonica to acoustic bass and a wide range of percussion.

Although he was a solo artist for only seven years, John Coltrane became one of the most renowned saxophonists in history. In 1963, Coltrane teamed with Johnny Hartman to record this classic compilation of ballads. It was Hartman's first record in eight years.