Jazz bassist Charlie Haden. He's released his fifth album with his Quartet West, "Now is the Hour," (Verve). Haden formed the quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked with jazz musicians Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. And he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and others. Last year Haden released a much regarded album of spirituals with pianist Hank Jones, "Steal Away--Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs."
Stand up comic John Kawie. The Arab-American hails from Springfield, Conn. He's worked in concert with fellow comics Dennis Miller and Howie Mandel, and has been a contributor to Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect." He appears regularly on Comedy Central's "Stand-up, Stand-up."
An excerpt from the new public radio program "This American Life" by Ira Glass. Miles Davis' biographer shares his memories, and funny stories about Davis. "This American Life" premiers nationally in June.
Mountain climber and writer Jon Krakauer was with the group of climbers who were climbing Mt. Everest May 10-11 when a storm hit. Eight climbers were killed. Jon Krakauer was covering the climb for Outside Magazine. Terry Gross will talk with him about it. Krakauer is also the author of the book "Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains" (1990, paperback Dell)
World music critic Milo Miles reviews new collections and a reissue of Curtis Mayfield's work: "People Get Ready!" (Rhino) and "Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: The Anthology 1961-1977 (MCA), and the reissue "Curtis Mayfield's Chicago Soul," (Columbia Legacy).
Writer Karen Armstrong is the author of the best-seller "A History of God." Her new book examines how the city of Jerusalem became the holy city for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Armstrong's new book is "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths," (Knopf)
Film critic John Powers attended the Cannes Film Festival, which ended last night. He talks with Terry about the winners and the controversial moments.
Philip Hilts, correspondent on health and science policy for The New York Times. His new book is "Smokescreen: The Truth Behind the Tobacco Industry Cover-up" (Addison-Wesley). Hilts first broke the story of the now-infamous Brown and Williamson tobacco papers, which revealed when tobacco executives first learned about the addictive nature of nicotine and the dangers of smoking. Hilts' stories for the New York Times led to Congressional hearings.
"Society" Pianist Peter Mintun for a concert and interview in the Fresh Air Studio. He specializes in popular song classics of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. He just finished an engagement at the Carlyle Hotel's Bemelmans Bar in New York City and returns there in August. His recordings can be found on the Premier Recordings Label.
Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck. He's also the new Minister of Culture in Haiti. His most recent movie is "The Man By the Shore", a dark movie set in a seemingly sleepy, run-down fictional town during the middle of the dictatorship of Francois (Pappa Doc) Duvalier in the 1960s. The film is being distributed by a small New York entertainment group, KJM3 (tel. 212-689-0950). It opens on Friday May 17 at the Quad Cinema in Manhattan.
Chinese-Canadian journalist, Jan Wong.... She went to China as an idealistic radical student in the 70's and believed in the Cultural Revolution and even informed on a couple of people. But she eventually left China, totally disillusioned. Years later she returned as a reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail and covered the Tiananmen Square massacre. She talks about her new book, "Red China Blues". (Doubleday/Anchor Books, 1996)
Writer Mary Gordon. Her new memoir, "The Shadow Man: A Daughter's Search for Her Father" (Random House), is about her research into her father's past. Gordon's father died when she was seven. Gordon has written several bestselling novels, including "Final Payments" and "The Company of Women."
