Jazz

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead takes a historic look at boogie-woogie piano music. Includes such piano players as Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, and Jimmy Yancey.

Rock historian Ed Ward reacquaints us with the music of Louis Jordan. In the late 1940's he was one of the highest-grossing black acts in the country.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead tells us about a milestone in jazz history -- the 50th anniversary of tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins' recording of "Body and Soul." He says Hawkins was the best tenor saxophonist ever...and "Body and Soul" was his greatest masterpiece.

Rock and roll historian Ed Ward profiles Memphis soul musician and producer Willie Mitchell. Mitchell was a trumpeter whose own tastes ran to jazz and soul. But Mitchell enjoyed his greatest success as a producer and talent scout. He launched the careers of Al Green, Ann Peebles and O.V.Wright.

Guest critic Milo Miles has a primer on world music, and he examines why it should, by all rights, be more popular in the U.S. than it is. Miles is the former rock critic for The Boston Phoenix.

Many contemporary musicians cite Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young as among the prime innovators of jazz sax saxophone. But historian Loren Schoenberg says we shouldn't overlook the soulful contributions of Herschel Evans, who played with Count Basie's band.

Author and poet Al Young reads some of his autobiographical writing about the African American experience in the 1930s, and the cultural impact Coleman Hawkins' recording of "Body and Soul" had on his family.

Jazz musician and historian Loren Schoenberg profiles Red Norvo, a pioneering xylophonist who began his recording career in the 1930s.

In celebration of the coming of spring, jazz pianist Dave McKenna performs three songs with "April" in the title.

Jazz pianist Dave McKenna is known both for his large repertoire of songs and his improvisatory skill. He joins Fresh Air to offer a musical meditation on the change of seasons.