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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.

Producer Roy Hurst talked with Congolese-born pop singer Marie Daulne, AKA Zap Mama. Her latest album is called Ancestry In Progress.

Music critic Ashley Kahn reviews a single song, "Hey Bartender," from the latest best-hits CD Selected Shorts by barroom balladeer Dan Hicks. He says it's as good a recording as the iconoclastic singer has ever made.

Bassist Charlie Haden talks with Roy Hurst about his role in the creation of the genre known as "free jazz." Haden's latest CD is Land of the Sun.

Day to Day music critic Christian Bordal reviews Leonard Cohen's new release, Dear Heather.

Chris Thomas King talks about his latest CD Why My Guitar Screams and Moans and his featured role in the upcoming movie Ray. Hear King and NPR's Tony Cox.

While serving in Iraq, two soldiers found they had more than the military in common -- they shared a love of rap music. Once back at base they formed a hip-hop group that takes on many subjects, including the war. The soldiers talk about their outspoken message and musical purpose with NPR's Tony Cox.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Performance Today host Fred Child about the life and music of John Philip Sousa. Sousa, often called the "March King," was born in Washington, D.C., 150 years ago Saturday.

Aaron Copland always harbored a secret desire to conduct, but his mentor, conductor Serge Koussevitzky, told him to stay home and write. After Koussevitzky died, Copland took up the baton. He talked with NPR's Fred Calland about his conducting during their 1980 interview.

In his 1980 interview with NPR's Fred Calland, Aaron Copland discusses his Second Symphony, known as the "Short Symphony" — one of the composer’s favorite works.