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World-renowned trumpet visionary Jon Hassell composes what he calls Fourth World music. It's an innovative sound that melds various ethnic styles, particularly African and Asian, with electronic techniques. On World Cafe, his band performs three songs from his new album in a session with host David Dye.

The pair perform songs from their collaborative jazz album, Milton + esperanza.

Toussaint was an important behind-the-scenes figure in New Orleans R&B during the '50s and '60s. He later became known for his own recordings. He died in 2015. Originally broadcast in 1988.

J.C. Hallman's audacious account of his engagement with the erotic writing of Nicholson Baker makes a splash, but critic Heller McAlpin says the book sometimes runs aground in self-indulgence.

It was in Philly where Jimmy Smith first took a church instrument and made it swing. Years later, the city's jazz community gathers to salute its many soulful pioneers of the Hammond B-3 organ.

The singer Bilal has recorded his tune "All Matter" twice in recent years: Once with the pianist Robert Glasper, and once on his own sophomore album. The recordings aren't both jazz. But they both have a lot to do with it.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WUSF listener Wendy Belkin of Clearwater, Fla.

A performer who's always managed to dodge easy trends, Will Hoge plays sharp, smart, passionate rock 'n' roll that seems to exist out of time. The Nashville singer-songwriter invests his songs, as heard on his new album The Man Who Killed Love, with a working-class feel and universal appeal. Hear Hoge perform live in concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, along with another down-to-earth rocker, Langhorne Slim.

Concertos by W.A. Mozart and John Foulds this Friday (11/28, rebroadcast Saturday 11/29)

NPR's Tavis Smiley speaks with new R&B sensation Ricky Fante, whose debut album, Rewind, harkens back to the sounds of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Al Green.