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NPR's Tavis Smiley talks to five-time Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon. The jazz singer discusses her new CD Live, her career and her efforts to teach music to children.

Most pop and country music stars seem more interested in image than issues. Then there's Steve Earle, who speaks with NPR's Steve Inskeep about his politically charged music and the new documentary Just An American Boy: A Film About Steve Earle.

Branford Marsalis was born into one of the great jazz families: his father is pianist Ellis and his brother is trumpet player Wynton Marsalis. He has a new album, Eternal, on Rounder Records. (This interview first aired Oct. 21, 2002.)

Chris Nickson reviews cellist David Darling's latest CD, called Mudanin Kata. It's a collaboration with a group of rural Taiwanese named the Wulu Bunun, just released on Riverboat Records.

Wynton Marsalis has been playing the trumpet since he was 6, and won his first Grammy at 20 and has 9 total. He's also the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize. His latest album is The Magic Hour. (This Interview first aired Dec. 7, 1994.)

Alan Cheuse reviews The Curse of the Appropriate Man by South African expatriate writer Lynn Freed. The book is a collection of short fiction, with mostly Jewish South African female characters.

Lamont Dozier built his legacy on Motown hits like "Baby Love," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch," and "Heat Wave." These are just a handful of the 54 number-one hits written by the Grammy Award-winning songwriter-producer. NPR's Tony Cox talks with the Detroit native about his successful career and his latest album Reflections Of...

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton presents his annual holiday gift guide, with the latest edition of "Director's Cuts." Suggestions include the Blind Boys of Alabama (left), whose new CD, Go Tell It On the Mountain, features vocals by Tom Wait, Chrissie Hynde and others.

Take a dollop of Stevie Ray Vaughan, a pinch of Santana and a helping of Ritchie Valens and you might come up with a band that sounds a lot like Los Lonely Boys. The Austin-based group of Mexican-American brothers also has country music roots and considers Willie Nelson a patron of sorts. NPR's Felix Contreras reports. Hear band members discuss one of their recording sessions and listen to selections from their debut CD.

Bud Powell was one of the great jazz innovators. He transferred many of Charlie Parker's pieces to the piano by playing speedy single-note lines with his right hand. Powell's innovative technique is displayed on these albums, which feature Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, and Fats Navarro.