Terry Gross

Jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton. He invented a four-mallet grip for the instrument that is used by many contemporary players. Burton left Stan Getz's quartet in the mid 60's (at the age of 24) to form his own combo; a few years later he hired a young guitarist named Pat Metheny, giving Metheny his first taste of big time jazz. Burton has been teaching percussion and improvisation classes at the Berklee School of Music in Boston; in 1985 he was named Dean of Curriculum there. Burton has over fifty albums to his credit and three Grammy awards. (originally broadcast 1/5/94)

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews “O Brother Where Art Thou,” starring George Clooney. Directed and written by the Coen brothers, it’s loosely based on Homer’s “The Odyssey.”

Elvin Jones, considered one of the most influential drummers in jazz history. He’s been a bandleader for over 30 years. He’s played with all the great names in jazz. In the early sixties, he played with Charlie Parker. He also did a brief stint with Duke Ellington’s band before going out on his own. (originally broadcast 1/7/98)

Singer and actress Annie Ross. Ross is best-known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. She also wrote "Twisted," which was recorded by both Joni Mitchell and Bette Midler. She made her acting debut in the 1974 play "Kennedy's Children," and has appeared in such films as "The Homecoming," "Yanks," and Robert Altman’s "Short Cuts." (Rebroadcast from 3/2/90)

Jazz pianist Marian McPartland. Though British-born, white and a woman, McPartland has had a forty-year career in a profession that is largely male and black. She is heard on many National Public Radio stations in her popular series with leading jazz artists. (REBROADCAST from 9/8/87)

Jazz musician James Moody. Just after World War II, Moody joined the bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie and played with Milt Jackson. His most famous recording is of an improvisatory piece he performed in 1949, now known as "Moody's Mood For Love." Terry talked to him in 1996, about his CD, "Young At Heart," (Warner Brothers) which had just been released. It is a collection of Frank Sinatra tunes. In this CD, MOODY performed as vocalist, tenor/alto/soprano saxist and flutist.

Band leader Woody Herman. Herman was the leader of numerous big bands, all variously called The Thundering Herd. His bands were noted for their dazzling improvisation combined with their incisive ensemble playing. He died in 1987. (ORIGINAL BROADCAST: May 1986 and 8/19/986)

Jazz Saxophonist, Stan Getz. Born in Philadelphia in 1927, Getz got his start playing with Woody Herman's band. He later went on to form his own quartet. He has worked with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton. In the early 1960's, Getz became the first American musician closely identified with the bossa nova movement. He died in 1991. (REBROADCAST FROM 6/14/90)

We remember actor Jason Robards. He died yesterday at the age of 78, after a long battle with cancer. He was an actor for over 50 years. He won Oscars for his performances as Ben Bradlee in "All the President's Men," and Dashiell Hammett in "Julia." In 1956 Robards first came to the attention of the critics with his performance in Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh." His performance helped define the role for a generation. It also began Robards collaboration with director Jose Quintero, resurrecting the works of O'Neill.

Jazz vocalist Anita O'Day. She joined Gene Krupa's band in 1941. She later sang with Stan Kenton. She is still performing today (ORIGINAL BROADCAST: 12/3/87).