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Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Steel Guitar Jazz, the reissue of a 1963 album by Buddy Emmons.

In almost every big city, there's a band like Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans. It's the type of band that everyone knows because they're such a presence at state fairs, weddings and the local dive bars. NPR's Jacki Lyden talks with Cebar about what drives his performance.

Paul Brown continues the weekly series "Honky Tonks, Hymns, and the Blues," with a profile of the Maddox Brothers and Rose, a group that influenced the sound and showmanship of country and western music during the 1940s and '50s. The Maddox family migrated from Alabama to California in the 1930s, picked cotton and fruit crops up and down the West Coast, and performed at migrant labor camps. Their sound was an early model for Rockabilly music.

Songwriter Vic Chesnutt has often been called gifted, but in the past, his introspective, idiosyncratic music has been deemed too gloomy for the masses. On his latest CD, Silver Lake, Chesnutt's songs take an upbeat turn, though his homey narrative style and gallows humor remain. Listen to songs from Silver Lake, and watch Chesnutt's performance in NPR's studio 4A.

Soulive has a sound that's both familiar and all its own. The drums/guitar/keyboards trio continues to re-define the jazz genre with a heady blend of old-school soul, funk, rock and traditional jazz. Hear a sample from the band's latest live recording, and from earlier CDs.

Thomas Dorsey combined sacred and secular styles to create a revolution in music. His story is the latest in "Honky Tonks, Hymns and the Blues," a special 11-part weekly series on the creation of American musical traditions.

Jazz bassist Keter Betts describes his music. Betts, 75, appears on some 200 albums — he played with Dinah Washington, Stan Getz and Ella Fitzgerald.

Segundo, a member of the internationally famous Buena Vista Social Club, was known for his unique styles of singing and playing the guitar. According to producer Ry Cooder, Segundo's style was much more than Cuban; it was informed by his wide knowledge of and experience in music.

Critic Tom Moon reviews the new CD by Macy Gray. He includes Gray among a group of "neo-soul" artists — contemporary R&B musicians that have hit pay dirt by consciously emulating the sounds and songwriting devices of classic soul. The Trouble With Being Myself, evokes the sounds of Chaka Khan, Al Green and the Jackson Five.

Summer is a time to drop the top on the convertible, crank up the tunes, and enjoy the ride... Join NPR's Ned Wharton, music director for Weekend Edition Sunday, for some high-octane music including selections from The Reputation, Professor Ratbaggy and The Churchills.