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Grammy-winning singer and composer Cassandra Wilson has made a career out of using her jazz and blues skills to transform pop songs. On her latest album, Glamoured, Wilson applies her rich, husky voice to a variety of musical genres. NPR's Michelle Mercer has a review.

A new CD by Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen has captured the attention of our reviewer Jim Fusilli. Here Gustavsen plays with a trio, and the music is an exquisite mix of slow passionate sounds and sparse melodies, reminiscent of Bill Evans or Keith Jarrett. The CD, available from ECM records, is called Changing Places.

For the past three years, All Songs Considered, NPR's online music show, has showcased the talents of both established artists and new voices. A newly released CD collects compelling music from the wide range of genres — from Latin jazz to electronica and Afropop — heard on the show. NPR's Scott Simon talks with All Songs host Bob Boilen.

Blues singer Buddy Guy is playing a different kind of music than he used to. Guy — known for the bright, loud, electrified Chicago blues style — has recently unplugged his electric guitar to explore the roots of blues in acoustic form. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Guy about his new CD, Blues Singer.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the CD, Passing Ships, by Andrew Hill, which was recorded in 1969 but never released until now.

Blue Note, the uniquely American jazz label, was formed by German immigrants who loved the music form and wanted to tell the world about it. In Blue Note Records, The Biography, author Richard Cook tells the story of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, who formed the label that's been synonymous with jazz since 1939. Hear an extended interview with Cook.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Steel Guitar Jazz, the reissue of a 1963 album by Buddy Emmons.

Jazz bassist Keter Betts describes his music. Betts, 75, appears on some 200 albums — he played with Dinah Washington, Stan Getz and Ella Fitzgerald.

Correspondent Tony Cox speaks with Latin jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri about his unique sound, the 30th anniversary of his Grammy for the Last Tango in Paris score and his new album, The Shadow of the Cat, which is up for a Latin Grammy.

Host Bob Edwards talks to music historian Peter Guralnick about Sam Cooke's 1957 crossover from gospel to rock-and-roll, his immediate first hit, "You Send Me," and the many others that followed. Cooke combined black and white musical styles, aiming his songs at a multi-racial audience. He owned the rights to his compositions and a record label and had creative control over how his music was recorded. (The digitally remastered CD's are on the Abkco label, as are DVD and VHS versions of the documentary, Sam Cooke: Legend.)