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NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Andy Corren about his new memoir "Dirtbag Queen," which memorializes his mother. He previously wrote a viral obituary for her in The Fayetteville Observer.

The brilliant song stylist Nancy Wilson has recorded more than 60 albums and moved effortlessly between jazz, pop and R&B. In recent years, Wilson has hosted NPR's popular program Jazz Profiles. She joins McPartland to swap stories and sing songs, including "Easy Living" and "The Nearness of You."

When Sarah Vaughan was a rising jazz star in her 20s, she recorded The Quintessence. The collection features solos by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell, and others.

A jazz prodigy before he turned 20, Sonny Rollins ranks with John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins as one of the great tenor saxophonists. In what is often termed his breakthrough album, 1956's Saxophone Colossus contains diverse musical elements, including a calypso, ballad, and Kurt Weill classic.

Guitarist Jim Hall's career spanned five decades. A founding member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet (1955-1956), Hall later toured with Ella Fitzgerald and performed duos with Lee Konitz. In 1963, Hall joined with Bill Evans to record a classic piano/guitar duo session, Undercurrent.

In 1965, Herbie Hancock recorded an album intended to capture the spirit and mood of the ocean — Maiden Voyage. Two of the album's tracks —"Dolphin Dance" and the title song — became jazz standards.

"Falling in love music." That is how jazz commentator Murray Horwitz describes John Coltrane's sensual 1962 album, Ballads. The 2002 re-release of the record contains a bonus disc with previously unreleased tracks, including multiple versions of "Greensleeves."

Today is the 85th birthday of jazz drummer and legendary bandleader Chico Hamilton. He has spent seventy years behind the drum kit, performing in a wide variety of styles and jazz flavors: from big band and R&B, to funky and experimental.

Patti Austin is best known as an R&B singer. But on her new album, she reinterprets the American standards of George Gershwin — including the controversial song "Swanee," made famous — and infamous — by Al Jolson.

This week's puzzle celebrates ringing in the new year. Take the letters Y-E-A-R. Add one letter and scramble to make a new word that answers the clue. For example, by adding the letter B to Y-E-A-R, with the clue "maker of aspirin," the answer would be "Bayer."