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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.)

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.