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Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Pioneer Recording Bands 1917-1920, a new collection of jazz recorded before 1920 by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and the Earl Fuller Orchestra.

In memory of the late, great R&B singer, rock historian Ed Ward gives us a guided tour of a famous Ray Charles studio rehearsal tape, circa 1953.

California musician Skylar Tang, 16, is the winner of a Jazz at Lincoln Center contest. She'll accept the award in New York this weekend.

Jazz tenor saxophonist-clarinetist-composer David Murray discusses Gwotet, his new CD with the Gwo-Ka Masters, and surprises us with an in-studio demonstration of his varied music legacy.

Musician Andy Narell has made his name by coaxing tunes out of sawed-off oil barrels. He's one of the best-known performers on the steel pan, also known as the steel drum.

The CD Forever, For Always, For Luther is dedicated to vocal legend Luther Vandross. A number of smooth jazz artists take turns paying tribute to Vandross, who is recovering from a diabetes-related stroke he suffered in 2003. Singer Lalah Hathaway and Rex Rideout, one of the project's producers, join NPR's Tavis Smiley to talk about the CD project.

NPR's Scott Simon remembers Ray Charles, who died this week, with a musical selection.

The new musical Cookin' at the Cookery tells the tale of blues singer Alberta Hunter's career and her comeback after 50 years at age 82. NPR's Tony Cox speaks with the show's writer, as well as its lead actress, Tony Award-winning Ann Duquesnay.

Library music, the instrumental sounds behind 1970s film, TV and radio productions, is a little-known treasure of soul, jazz and funk. Collector David Hollander has made it his mission to introduce library music to the masses.

Some of the biggest names in music joined Ray Charles for the late musician's final CD, Genius Loves Company. Hear longtime friend and keyboardist Billy Preston and album co-producer Phil Ramone talk about Ray Charles the man, his music and his lasting legacy.