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Mary Lou Williams taught herself how to play the piano and performed in public by the time she was six. She composed for the New York Philharmonic, arranged for Duke Ellington, and modernized her style as one of the few "stride" pianists. 1927-1940 tracks this boogie woogie master's musical development as a young woman.

Born Eunice Kathleen Waymom, Nina Simone adopted her stage name while playing in bars in Atlantic City. Often called the "high priestess of soul," Simone recorded soul, jazz, pop, blues and gospel music. This album covers her career from 1967-1972, just before she moved to France to protest American racism.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new releases: Coldplay's X&Y and Dressy Bessy's Electrified.

Hear and download a full concert from one of England's most exciting new bands. Bloc Party's full performance at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club was originally webcast live on NPR.org on June 16. It's the latest in a series of live concerts from NPR's All Songs Considered.

Robert Siegel talks with Norwegian Jazz Pianist Tord Gustavsen about the art of jazz improvisation and his new album The Ground.

Lizz Wright burst on the scene two years ago with her debut CD Salt, and was hailed then as one of the brightest new voices in contemporary jazz. She talks about her sophomore record, Dreaming Wide Awake.

Producer Derek Rath speaks with Hamilton Lee, drummer for the London-based musical collective Trans-Global Underground. The band blends hip-hop, trance, reggae, Indian classical and several other music forms in its new album, Impossible Broadcasting.

On his latest album, Occasion, singer, pianist and actor Harry Connick Jr. teams up with jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Connick and Marsalis join guest host Frank Stasio to discuss the collaboration and play some songs from the album, which was released on Marsalis' label, Marsalis Music.

He's been awarded the 2005 Pianist of the Year award by the Jazz Journalist's Association, and he also received the first ever 2005 Playboy Magazine Jazz Artist of the Year. His new album is called Same Mother, which reflects the 30-year-old musician's current interest in the blues.

Rock bands in Lebanon recently held a concert to protest what activists see as a shrinking space for free speech.