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Host Tavis Smiley talks to jazz violinist Regina Carter about her career and her latest project, Paganini: After A Dream.

NPR's Scott Simon and cultural commentator Murray Horowitz reflect on the impact of "Ol' Man River." It's the 75th anniversary of Paul Robeson's powerful recording of the hauntingly beautiful song from Show Boat.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new collection Carmell Jones, featuring jazz trumpeter Carmell Jones. The album is currently available only through Mosaic Records.

Regina Carter, a classically trained jazz violinist, is one of the few people in the world who have been allowed to play "The Cannon," Italian composer Paganini's beloved 18th-century violin. She performed on the rare violin in Genoa, Italy, and has now recorded a CD with the instrument. Hear an extended version of Carter's interview with NPR's Renee Montagne and tracks from the album.

Torch is a new collection of "torch ballads" from contemporary artists such as Elvis Costello and Cassandra Wilson. The CD combines the sultry pathos of a torch song with electronic rhythms and sympathetic arrangements. Jim Fusilli offers a review.

Chick Corea loved to collaborate. His former bandmates are honoring his memory with two star-studded concerts.

His album, Down in the Alley has been nominated for a Grammy as Best Traditional Blues Recording. He's been playing accoustic blues for nearly 20 years. Though he was raised in California, his roots musically and otherwise are in rural Mississippi. He was influenced by Charlie Patton, Leadbelly, Blind Willie McTell and others. Later he was also influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Taj Mahal.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis. He's just released "Footsteps of Our Fathers," the debut release on the artist's own Marsalis Music label. In the nearly two decades that he has released solo albums, he's won two Grammy Awards and was nominated for a third in 1995. He was the first band leader for Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" and appeared on the show from 1992-1995. In addition to the solo and ensemble records he's released, Marsalis has participated in various film scores as both composer and featured soloist. He is currently on tour for this album.

Hear the award-winning pianist offer two sides of Mozart's genius from inside the composer's own home in Vienna.

Sun, sound, picnics, and crowds. It's a summer music festival. On the next Talk of the Nation, we'll find out about some of the best festivals across the country. Classical, jazz, folk, bluegrass, world music, blues. What's your favorite music festival? Join guest host Melinda Penkava for a look at your summer music festival picks, on Talk of the Nation from NPR News.