Terry Gross

Singer Wilhelmenia Fernandez is best known for playing the role of Bess in the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess. She makes her film debut in the new movie Diva.

The folk singer made a career as a musician after the breakup of her marriage. Now a resident of the Delaware Water Gap, she is helping raise money to fund a private investigation of a series of axe murders in that town. A member of the musical community, Eddie Joubert, was one of the victims. Sorrels performs some of her songs a cappella in studio.

In his regular feature Interval, jazz critic Francis Davis considers the impact of two groups which arose from the Chicago collective, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).

The artist was commissioned to create a piece for the city, which he titled Philadelphia Cornucopia. The installation features whimsical portrayals of historical figures from early American history. His public art has also been featured in New York and Minneapolis.

In addition to being an in-demand bass player, Milt Hinton is an accomplished photographer. His portraits offer a candid look into the lives of famous jazz musicians. He and Fresh Air host Terry Gross talk about the experience of black musicians touring the segregated South and listen to highlights from Hinton's recording career.

Freeman's time studying with Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) was crucial to his musical development. A student of both the avant-garde and traditional bop traditions, his compositions draw inspiration from different facets of the African American experience.

In between a series of odd jobs, the two folk musicians made a living performing across the country before settling down in Philadelphia. They join Fresh Air to showcase the kind of energetic music they can make with their traditional instruments.

Matthew Lesko specializes in helping individuals and businesses find specialized information and financial assistance programs from the government. He contributes to the NPR program Morning Edition and writes a column for Good Housekeeping.

Philadelphia-based artist Raphael Ferrer gave up a career in jazz to become a visual artist. He has just completed a sculpture in Fairhill Square Park. He tell Terry Gross about his unique aesthetic and his particular investment in vibrant Latino neighborhoods thriving in blighted areas of the Bronx and Philadelphia.

Bill Irwin's art draws on diverse influences, including the American vaudeville tradition, clowning, and ballet. His unique approach to dance is featured in his new show, Regard of Flight.