The newest crop of trumpet stars are in their 20s; Wheeler is four decades older -- which may account for why he hasn't gotten more attention. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says that his beautiful tone is unmatched, and his distinctive solos have a saxophone-like quality. Tucker reviews two of Wheeler's albums on the ECM label.
Davidson's act earned him a spot on the sketch comedy show In Living Color, starring the Wayans brothers. He grew up in Washington, DC and began performing at a topless club. Davidson's comedy special will soon air on the Showtime network.
Along with bandmate Stephen Stills -- and occasionally Neil Young -- Crosby and Nash have been writing and recording folk rock songs with distinctive, tight harmonies. Their career began in the 1960s, and has weathered addiction and personal conflict. Crosby, Stills & Nash have a new album called Live It Up.
Ken Tucker reviews the first solo album by the Electric Light Orchestra and Traveling Wilburys alum. Known for his past complex and often sterile music, Lynne has since adopted a looser, rougher style that's big on charm.
Commentator Leslie Savan says that American corporations have a vested interest in breaking into Soviet Bloc markets -- and they're spreading their capitalist message through TV ads.
Journalist Randy Shilts just returned from the latest International AIDS Conference in San Francisco. He says there is a revitalized push for the development of new drug treatments and a vaccine. Yet there have been protests against the volunteer-based model of AIDS outreach and treatment. After eight years, Shilts plans to stop reporting on the disease.
Film critic Owen Gleiberman says the original Die Hard succeed in part because it was tightly plotted and plausible -- for an action movie. But it's hard to imagine Bruce Willis's John McClane fighting terrorists throughout the sprawl of Washington, D.C.
Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the attention paid to how people talk says more about class status and regionalism than a decline in effective communication. He explains.
Shortly after Ray Charles endured a family tragedy, he started to go blind. His mother feared for his future, but Charles was able to make a career in music. Rock historian Ed Ward describes how Charles, who was steeped in the tradition of Nat King Cole, developed his own unique voice.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two new recordings of pianist Dubravka Tomsic on the Stradivari label. He says the CDs, released after a series of successful recitals by Tomsic, are filled with fireworks, even on the slower, delicate pieces.
Lee says his substantial height kept him from landing leading man roles. During his long-running career, he's appeared in over 150 films. Lee made a name for himself in horror, playing both Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. He's starring in the forthcoming sequel to Gremlins.
Murray is one of the few cello players working in jazz. She says class and cultural differences between black and white communities can explain why fewer African American children learn classical instruments. She appears on Muhal Richard Abrams' new album, The Hearinga Suite.
Book critic John Leonard says Joseph Wambaugh's police thrillers vary in quality, though they're all enjoyable. The writer's newest book, The Golden Orange, about an ex-cop in Southern California, is a return to form.
The first episode of the PBS documentary series' new season, about playwright Preston Sturges, has TV critic David Bianculli excited for forthcoming profiles of other cultural figures. He says the program isn't just engaging -- it inspires him to further explore the work of each American master.
Kevin Whitehead reviews albums by Muhal Richard Abrams and Walter Thompson. Both bandleaders came from the 1960s avant-garde scene, and incorporate all styles of jazz into their music, including traditional bop, free improvisation, and electronic sounds.
A new edition of photographer David Douglas Duncan's 1951 book This is War, which captures images of Marines in Korea, has just been published. Duncan is also known for his several photos of Pablo Picasso.
Writer, poet, and commentator Andrei Codrescu. His thoughts regularly appear on "All Things Considered," and he also recently reported for ATC on the changes in his native country, Romania.
Rock musician Chrissie Hynde. She's the head of the rock band, "The Pretenders." The band's got a new album called "Packed!" It's on Sire/Warner Brothers.
Actress Celeste Holm. She appeared in the films such as "All About Eve," "Gentlemen's Agreement," and "High Society," on Broadway in shows such as "Oklahoma!" and "The King and I," and in numerous television roles over the years. She's now taking part in a retrospective of 20th Century Fox films being held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
