Music

Actress and singer Virginia Capers discusses her career and upcoming movie "North Avenue Irregulars."

Carla Bley, jazz musician and composer, and trumpeter Mike Mantler join the show to discuss their upcoming concert and The Carla Bley Band's album "Musique Mecanique."

Winnie Winston is a pedal steel guitar player, composer, and music teacher. He discusses his latest album "Steel Wool."

Nat Hentoff joins the show via telephone to discuss his relationship with the late Charlie Mingus.

Jazz drummer Dannie Richmond joins the show to discuss his work with the recently deceased Charlie Mingus.

Penn Jillette, Teller, and Wier Chrisemer form the troop Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. Today, they, sound engineer Marc Garland, and guitarist Gary Anderson, join the show for an interview and perform their music, comedy, and magic. The group also shares their favorite classical records.

Flute player and visual artist Lloyd McNeill talks about his career.

Percussionist Ray Mantilla joins Terry Gross to talk about Latin jazz and listen to recordings from throughout his career.

Poet Rod Mckuen also has a career as a record producer who reissues classic recordings of popular music on the Stanyan Record Label.

David Izenzon is classically-trained bass player who performs with free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman. Later in life he became a psychotherapist, and now works to educate people about the dangers of marijuana abuse.

Minimalist composer Steve Reich explains his approach to writing music.

Tom Waits discusses his fame, his unique voice and his small role in the film Paradise Alley.

Part two of Terry Gross's interview with James Burke and Linda Burke, the son and granddaughter of songwriter Joe Burke.

Joe Burke was an influential popular songwriter. Terry Gross talks about his legacy with his son James Burke and granddaughter Linda Burke, and plays some classic recordings of his songs. This is part one of her interview.

Billy Taylor performs improvisations and jazz standards in front of a live studio audience, then tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about his career.

Steve Rash recently directed his first film, The Buddy Holly Story, about the late rock and roll progenitor.

Drummer Mickey Roker tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about his performing an recording career as a jazz musician.

Terry Gross continues her interview with jazz producer Bob Porter. He talks about reissuing recordings from the Savoy Record Company.

Part one of an interview with jazz record producer Bob Porter. He talks about his work with the Savoy Record Company and how he chooses what recordings to reissue for new audiences.

Classical singer Marni Nixon is best known for dubbing vocals for musical films like West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and The King and I. She tells Terry Gross about expanding the audience for opera and concert music.