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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.

Jazz pianist Dr. Billy Taylor is retiring from public performance this week, but will continue his educational endeavors. Taylor, who suffered a stroke three years ago, reflects on his deep friendships with many giants of the genre and the jazz scene of the 1940s.

Bill Summers has traced the rhythmic links of African, Caribbean and American music for many years. He draws on years spent with Herbie Hancock and his own group to discuss rhythms and beats.

The Turtle Island String Quartet consists of classically trained musicians who turned to jazz. The quartet has bended the lines between classical, jazz, blues and world music for two decades.

Lead singer Karen Peris of The Innocence Mission turns American standards into dreamy, jazzy lullabies on the group's sixth CD, Now The Day Is Over.

NPR's Piano Jazz and WBGO in Newark honor the jazz singer and pianist Bobby Short with a look back at two of his live performances. The encore presentations include an appearance on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland.

Early in March, almost three months after the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami, 40 renowned pianists converged in New York for a concert to benefit victims of the disaster. The Faust Harrison "Pianothon" lasted from noon until midnight, with performances from Steve Kuhn, Philip Glass and Ursula Oppens.