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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.

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.