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Pianist Billy Taylor hosts an encore presentation the 2002 Jazz Piano Christmas at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Freddy Cole, Henry Butler, Andrew Hill, Jason Moran and Bill Charlap play swingin' holiday classics.

Born into Brothels, a new documentary film, tells the story of children growing up in poverty in Calcutta's red-light district who find hope in a newfound skill -- photography. NPR's Melissa Block talks with filmmaker Zana Briski.

Crafts such as knitting, beading and papermaking are getting an update from Gen-Xers who have embraced crafting as both a hobby and a small business. Now, do-it-yourself craft markets are full of tchotchkes geared toward hip consumers. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

Slate contributor Seth Stevenson grades the latest television advertising campaign by CNN.com, the Web site for Cable News Network.

The music of Mikhail Glinka earned him credit for launching Russian nationalism. But his most famous opera, "A Life for the Tsar," is filled with the music of Poland, not Russia. Musicologist Richard Taruskin explores national identity in music.

Beth Nielsen Chapman's songs have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill and other major artists. On her new collection of Latin hymns, the singer-songwriter finds a different voice within to sing the spiritual songs of her Catholic youth.

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks with Chris Douridas of member station KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif., about up-and-coming musician Ray LaMontagne, a former shoe factory worker with a distinctive singing voice and signature songwriting style who now has a hit debut album, Trouble.

Oscar Brown Jr. travels the United States to tell stories of African-American history. His song "Bid 'Em In" — in which he plays the part of a slave auctioneer — prompted an animated short film now eligible for an Oscar. Hear Brown and NPR's Tavis Smiley.

Outrageously sexy, multi-talented entertainer Eartha Kitt has been igniting crowds for more than half of a century. Kitt turns 78 years old this January, but still has that legendary velvet purr to her voice. Kitt recently sat for a chat with reporter Allison Keyes about her latest project — a stage play called Expectations.

Technology expert Omar Wasow of BlackPlanet.com talks about high-tech gadgets for the holidays. Wasow talks about features to look for in digital cameras -- explaining megapixels, memory cards and creating prints. He also talks about high-end headphones and Web sites that compare gizmos.