Search results for

Irakere was formed in Havana, Cuba in the late 1960s by the masterful pianist Jesus Chucho Valdes. Its music ranges from Afro-Cuban to bop. The album, The Best of Irakere, has a playful cover of a Mozart concerto, among other diverse tracks.

Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean wrote the liner notes for Let Freedom Ring, proclaiming that bebop artists could break away from the genre and develop their own sound. McLean did just that, creating an intense, distinctive style that diverged from his early "hard bop" years in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Fletcher Henderson and saxophonist Don Redman invented a mechanism for ensemble playing that fueled the initial swing craze. Henderson's innovative style is apparent on Ken Burns Jazz: Fletcher Henderson, which spotlights his achievements from 1924-1940.

Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is frequently cited as being the best-selling jazz album in history. Released in 1959, this classic from the master trumpeter has sold more than five million copies and is still going.

Long before he became a mega-star in the 1950s, Nat King Cole's velvety voice was captivating audiences as part of the Nat King Cole Trio. Formed in 1937 after an inn manager needed a club act, the group went on to stardom, ranking No. 1 on the first ever Billboard album chart.

Bluesman Chris Whitley's career has flourished in the indie-label world of shoestring budgets and creative freedom, and he has an intensely devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic. Now, Whitley has a new album called Soft Dangerous Shores. It's a collaboration with renowned producer/engineer Malcolm Burn. Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers interviewed Whitley and has this profile.

Brazilian bossa nova music became a worldwide sensation in the 1960s. Since then, it's become a virtual cliche for soft, sensual romanticism. These days, a new generation of Brazilian singers is revisiting the genre. One of them is Celso Fonseca.

Cuban music, African folklore, jazz, and hip-hop all collide on a new recording by Cuban percussionist Miguel "Anga" Diaz. Diaz, commonly referred to as simply Anga, has played congas in many projects, Cuban and otherwise. His new CD, Echu Mingua, marks his debut as a bandleader. Reviewer Banning Eyre says it's a landmark recording.

Vocalist Cassandra Wilson draws her inspiration for song from some unusual sources. That didn't stop Time magazine from naming her the best singer in America. Ed Gordon talks to the powerhouse singer about what drives her creatively, and about her latest CD, Thunderbird.

NPR's Tavis Smiley talks with the great George Benson about his long career and new album, Irreplaceable, which is dedicated to the younger crowd.