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Pianist Eldar Djangirov plays like a seasoned jazz artist, but he's just 18 years old. He moved to Kansas City from his native Kyrgyzstan in 1998, drawn in part by the city's jazz history. He recently stopped by NPR's Studio 4A to talk to Liane Hansen about his music and rattle the keyboard.

Linda Wertheimer talks about the new movie Crash with film reviewer Joan Kaufman. A large and diverse cast and a script from Million Dollar Baby writer Paul Haggis make for a thoughtful look at a topic that makes so many people uncomfortable.

Director Ron Howard discusses his latest film, Cinderella Man, a rags-to-riches true story of boxer James Braddock, whose improbable rise during the Great Depression embodied the hopes of the suffering. Howard says that what makes the movie intriguing is the combination of the protagonist's actions both in life and sport.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ron Howard. Edelstein says he fell for the shmaltzy flick, "a three-hanky weeper."

Kevin Barnes is the front man of the Athens, Georgia neo-psychedelic band: Of Montreal. He talks with NPR's Liane Hansen about their latest album, The Sunlandic Twins.

Slate advertising critic Seth Stevenson talks with Madeleine Brand about his listener survey of the most misused songs in television commercials. Listeners chose "Lust for Life," Iggy Pop's ode to drug culture, which is featured in an ad for the Royal Caribbean cruise line.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert by legendary tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He turns 75 Wednesday.

The extent of the damage to museums, parks, galleries and theaters in areas affected by Katrina is not yet known. Leaders in the arts and cultural communities are starting to take stock of what survived.

The Japanese director won the Academy Award for Spirited Away. His latest animated work is Howl's Moving Castle. He and others talk about making serious films for audiences young and old.

Concert pianist Kit Armstrong's mature talent contrasts sharply with his diminutive stage presence. At 13, he's performing this weekend with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He spoke to Liane Hansen in between rehearsals.