In-Studio Performances

Fresh Air went national in 1987, and we're celebrating that 20th anniversary by revisiting some classic interviews. In this segment: German jazz artist Marty Grosz plays the music of Fats Waller. Rebroadcast from June 26, 1987.

In honor of Fresh Air's 10th anniversary as a national show, musician Dave Frishberg performs an original song, commissioned by the show's staff.

Boogie-woogie pianist Marcia Ball performs. Ball lives in Austin, Texas, where she is known as the Queen of the Keyboards, and a pioneer of the vibrant rhythm and blues scene there. (Rebroadcast)

In celebration Mardi Gras, New Orleans pianist Mac Rebennack (otherwise known as Dr. John) plays some Mardi Gras tunes. (this is a rebroadcast of an earlier performance piece, April 22, 1988).

Egyptian-born poet Gregory Djanikian (ja-NIK-ee-ann) reads a poem about his early memories of moving to America and starting school.

Jazz pianist Kenny Barron pays tribute to jazz great Thelonious Monk.

Robert Kaplow and The Punsters return to Fresh Air with advice on how to get through the new school year. The Punsters are Kaplow, Tim Korzun, Carmen Presti, Michael Townsend, Marc Lanzoff, Ken Cohen, and Lou Ippolitio. (Produced by Tim Korzun)

Grammy Award-winning blues singer John Hammond performs two songs by blues musician Robert Johnson in Fresh Air's weekly performance segment. Hammond has performed for nearly twenty years, and in that time his style has evolved from straight-forward, rural blues to a harder-edged, urban style.

The Texas-based pianist joins Fresh Air to sing a classic boogie-woogie song and a piece of her own, about Mobile, Texas.

Staines joins Fresh Air to sing two songs.