Jazz

Author Diane Wood Middlebrook has written "Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton." (Houghton Mifflin) It traces the life of jazz musician Billy Tipton who passed as a man most of her life. Middlebrooke also wrote "Anne Sexton: A Biography." She is a professor of english at Stanford University in California.

Memphis-born saxophonist Hank Crawford. Before going out on his own, he backed B.B. King and played with Ray Charles. He eventually became musical director for Charles' band and he credits what he learned about playing soulful music from Charles. His newest CD "Hank Crawford: Memphis Ray and a Touch of Moody" (32 Jazz) collects music from his previous recordings: "More Soul," "From the Heart," "Soul of the Ballad," and "Dig These Blues."

Saxophonist, guitarist, and musicologist Allen Lowe. He's the author of the book "American Pop: from Minstrel to Mojo: On Record 1893-1956" (Cadence Jazz Books) which is an examination of the roots of pop by way of recorded music.

Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. He's the son of the legendary jazz musician John Coltrane, and was two years old when his father passed away. He's just completed his first album as band leader, "Moving Pictures" (RCA Victor)

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new CD "Hubsongs" a new collection of Freddie Hubbard songs performed by Tim Hagans and Marcus Printup. It has been released on Capitol Records.

Jazz singer and pianist Blossom Dearie. She has been called "One of the last of the great supper-club singers". Her following is mainly centered in New York and London. For years, she has performed in London and New York. This year, she is appearing at Danny's Skylight Room in Manhattan.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Fred Hersch Plays Monk: Thelonious" (Nonesuch) and "Monk's World" by Italian pianist Umberto Petrin (on the Splasc label).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the Rahsaan Roland Kirk reissue "Dog Years in the Fourth Ring" (32/Jazz)

Rock historian Ed Ward considers the music of Mardi Gras.

Writer Susan J. Miller talks about her new book "Never Let Me Down: A Memoir" published by Henry Holt. Her story recounts how at the age of 21 years-old her whole sense of self was changed when her father revealed he had been a heroin addict for 15 years. Miller lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Excerpts from her memoir have appeared in Harper's and Granata. This is her first book.