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This week marks the centennial of the birth of Coleman Hawkins, the jazz saxophonist who helped define his instrument. A new recording compiles some of Coleman Hawkins' best work, and critic Jim Fusilli says it's a must-have for any fan of American music.

Many may not recognize The Dana Owens album as the latest work of Queen Latifah. Music critic Oliver Wang reviews her new album and says its ballads are far from the hip-hop sound that brought her fame.

Delayed for a U.S. release because of its Cuban connections, Briyumba Palo Congo transforms the sounds of Havana into classic jazz. Recorded by Chucho Valdes, the album frequently pays homage to Gershwin and Ellington. Don't miss the swinging Latin version of "Rhapsody in Blue."

Django Reinhardt was burned in a fire when he was 18 and lost the use of two fingers. Yet he managed to rise to the top of the jazz world. The Classic Early Recordings allows us to hear Reinhardt in his early years, when his unique gypsy flamenco guitaring was just becoming popular in the United States.

Dr. Billy Taylor is perhaps best known as one of the founders of public radio. He also is a pianist and composer who has produced more than fifteen albums. Solo was his first solo piano recording. Album highlights include "All Bit of Bedlam" and "All the Things You Are."

It would be impossible to put all of Charlie Parker's significant recordings on one album, but Yardbird Suite: The Ultimate Charlie Parker Collection comes close. This two-CD set contains most of Bird's 1945 bebop sessions, as well as "Ko-Ko," one of NPR's "100 Most Important Works of the 20th Century."

Timbales virtuoso. Vibraphonist. Bongo player. Saxophonist. These are just a few of Tito Puente's titles. Perhaps best known for his appearance in the 1992 film The Mambo Kings, he also helped fuel the cha-cha craze in the 1950s. This five-disc set gives a broad overview of Puente's innovative, danceable style.

When people think of Latin jazz, they often think of just one name: Tito Puente. Nicknamed "The King of Mambo," the Puerto Rican recorded more than 100 albums and won multiple Grammy Awards. In 1984, Puente performed his Latin magic in front of a San Francisco audience, resulting in El Rey: Live 1984.

By the time Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster recorded this album, they already had an established working relationship. For years, the two saxophonists had been playing in informal, private jam sessions in Los Angeles. The CD reissue of Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster has five bonus tracks.

Day to Day book reviewer David Kipen looks at social critic Greil Marcus' new book Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan at the Crossroads.