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Vibraphonist Stefon Harris' new album African Tarantella: Dances with Duke features music from Duke Ellington's 1970 "The New Orleans Suite" and "The Queen's Suite." Harris' Quartet performs those songs well as his own compositions in a full concert recorded for JazzSet.

Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru is the first album of Chicha music released outside of Peru. The unique music style grew out of the booming cities of the Peruvian Amazon in 1970 and incorporates surf guitars, synthesizers and distinctive melodies.

Brian Setzer got his start in the '80s rockabilly band Stray Cats with hits like "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut." From the '90s until now, his main gig has been with his 17-piece big band, with six albums and Grammy Awards in tow. Hear an interview and performance from WXPN.

Terence Blanchard was born in New Orleans — a place where it means something to take up the trumpet. The trumpeter honors the legacy of jazz legend Louis Armstrong at the 2007 University of Michigan Jazz Festival recorded by JazzSet.

James Joyce's Finnegans Wake poses a challenge even to the most ambitious readers. Poet Paul Muldoon and Jacki Lyden discover Finnegans' musicality as they listen to an archival recording of James Joyce reading from his final novel.

Trumpeter Enrico Rava, one of the first Italian musicians to have worked and recorded in America in the 1960s, has a sound that blends an Italian flow and colors with the configuration of jazz. Hear him at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Chestnut knows how to conjure up a spirit of romance: Just listen to the jaunty jazz pianist's reinvention of "Love Me Tender" on his new CD, Cyrus Plays Elvis. It's a great example of how a gifted musician can take a sappy song and set it free.

DeRose began her jazz career at the keyboard. When arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome made playing impossible, she discovered a talent for singing. Now she's back at the piano too.

With 13 days still to go, some listeners might be crying "Enough!" (already) when the carols play. Fresh Air's resident rock critic offers up two Christmas albums that might help make the holiday chestnuts seem fresh again.

Kurt Elling's expressive, flexible baritone with a four-octave range can fly over horn lines, caress a love song, or recite poetry. The tenor performs on stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.