Search results for

k.d. lang performs songs from her latest CD, Hymns of the 49th Parallel. The disc is a tribute to Canadian songwriters from Leonard Cohen and Neil Young to Bruce Cockburn and Jane Siberry.

When legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker died in 2001, he was working on songs for what would be his last recording, Face to Face. His daughter, Zakiya Hooker, produced the album after his death and talks with NPR's Jennifer Ludden about his musical legacy.

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to filmmaker Taylor Hackford about his new movie Ray, a biographical feature about the life and music of Ray Charles. Jamie Foxx's performance as the legendary musician, who died last June of liver disease, is already generating Oscar buzz.

Pianist Billy Taylor hosts an encore presentation the 2002 Jazz Piano Christmas at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Freddy Cole, Henry Butler, Andrew Hill, Jason Moran and Bill Charlap play swingin' holiday classics.

Oscar Brown Jr. travels the United States to tell stories of African-American history. His song "Bid 'Em In" — in which he plays the part of a slave auctioneer — prompted an animated short film now eligible for an Oscar. Hear Brown and NPR's Tavis Smiley.

Outrageously sexy, multi-talented entertainer Eartha Kitt has been igniting crowds for more than half of a century. Kitt turns 78 years old this January, but still has that legendary velvet purr to her voice. Kitt recently sat for a chat with reporter Allison Keyes about her latest project — a stage play called Expectations.

NPR's Ed Gordon catches up with Grammy nominee Al Jarreau, rehearsing at a "Grammy Salute to Jazz" event on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Jarreau performs and talks about creating a jazz album for the first time. Jarreau's CD Accentuate the Positive is up for the Best Jazz Album Grammy.

With his latest CD, Ivey Divey, bandleader Don Byron pays homage to saxophonist Lester Young. Byron is a prolific musician who gets inspiration from all kinds of music. One of Byron's most-played recordings is Bug Music, heard, among other places, on NPR.

When I recently mentioned offhandedly to my colleagues at WRTI that this is my 50th year on the air, they were doubtful that could possibly be true for someone of my youthful appearance. “Prove it," they challenged. This two-part “scrapbook” is the proof.

Henry Grimes was an A-list jazz musician in the 1950s and '60s. But then he dropped out of the music scene and fell into emotional isolation. Now at 69, the bass player is making a comeback. His story concludes a series on the plight of aging jazz musicians.