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Thelonious Monk, who would have been 91 on Thursday, wrote many great songs. But a great many covers of his music wind up butchered by interpreters who seem not to understand it. From the scores of full-length tributes, here are five which demonstrate the good sense to keep Monk weird.

Thomas' April 23 death at age 71 brings to a close one of the most significant avant-garde experiments ever conducted within the confines of pop music. Rock critic Ken Tucker reflects on his legacy.

The saxophonist, one of jazz's enlightened elders, reflects in an interview on his latest album with his New Quartet and on remaining in the moment while rifling through his back pages.

NPR Music presents 12 titles that range from the art of album covers to disco to Def Jam to metal to MTV. Our favorite music reads were mostly revealing biographies and wide-spanning analyses.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra has recorded a new Christmas album: Dig That Crazy Christmas. It's a rocking combination of traditional Christmas carols — and a few other spirited rock, swing and blues tunes.

Pink Martini brought its eclectic stylings to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles this New Year's Eve. With a splash of orchestral strings, smooth lyrics and a swig of a cha-cha, Pink Martini had the crowd raising its glasses for more.

On the new album Trombone Tribe, trombonist Roswell Rudd plays with a number of groups including his own sextet. Music critic Kevin Whitehead has a review.

If you're a music fan, the place to be this week is Austin, Texas. The annual South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival is in full swing. Music critic Stephen Thompson shares tracks from some of his favorite artists performing at the festival.

The revered saxophonist leads an agile post-bop group with Ron Miles on cornet, Scott Colley on bass and Brian Blade on drums.

The trio of players, all from Detroit, along with producer and author Sue Mingus, will be celebrated in a tribute concert next spring.