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This week marks the centennial of the birth of Coleman Hawkins, the jazz saxophonist who helped define his instrument. A new recording compiles some of Coleman Hawkins' best work, and critic Jim Fusilli says it's a must-have for any fan of American music.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Careless Love, the CD from singer Madeleine Peyroux.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead gives the lowdown on new jazz releases that are perfect for the music lover on your last-minute shopping list. He says that this year, there is something for every budget, from affordable classics to handsome box sets.

Delayed for a U.S. release because of its Cuban connections, Briyumba Palo Congo transforms the sounds of Havana into classic jazz. Recorded by Chucho Valdes, the album frequently pays homage to Gershwin and Ellington. Don't miss the swinging Latin version of "Rhapsody in Blue."

Saxophonist Stan Getz once said that Frank Sinatra's A Jolly Christmas was "the greatest Christmas album anybody ever made." On this holiday classic, "Ol' Blue Eyes" belts out "White Christmas," "Jingle Bells," and other popular tunes.

Dr. Billy Taylor is perhaps best known as one of the founders of public radio. He also is a pianist and composer who has produced more than fifteen albums. Solo was his first solo piano recording. Album highlights include "All Bit of Bedlam" and "All the Things You Are."

It would be impossible to put all of Charlie Parker's significant recordings on one album, but Yardbird Suite: The Ultimate Charlie Parker Collection comes close. This two-CD set contains most of Bird's 1945 bebop sessions, as well as "Ko-Ko," one of NPR's "100 Most Important Works of the 20th Century."

Timbales virtuoso. Vibraphonist. Bongo player. Saxophonist. These are just a few of Tito Puente's titles. Perhaps best known for his appearance in the 1992 film The Mambo Kings, he also helped fuel the cha-cha craze in the 1950s. This five-disc set gives a broad overview of Puente's innovative, danceable style.

Django Reinhardt was burned in a fire when he was 18 and lost the use of two fingers. Yet he managed to rise to the top of the jazz world. The Classic Early Recordings allows us to hear Reinhardt in his early years, when his unique gypsy flamenco guitaring was just becoming popular in the United States.

By the time Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster recorded this album, they already had an established working relationship. For years, the two saxophonists had been playing in informal, private jam sessions in Los Angeles. The CD reissue of Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster has five bonus tracks.