Terry Gross

Jazz musician and historian Loren Schoenberg profiles Red Norvo, a pioneering xylophonist who began his recording career in the 1930s.

In celebration of the coming of spring, jazz pianist Dave McKenna performs three songs with "April" in the title.

Jazz pianist Dave McKenna is known both for his large repertoire of songs and his improvisatory skill. He joins Fresh Air to offer a musical meditation on the change of seasons.

Robert Kaplow and the Punsters return to Fresh Air with a satirical radio play about the Oscar-nominated film Dangerous Liaisons.

Pianist Kenny Barron says that the late jazz musician's style was jagged, percussive and dissonant. Barron performs some of Monk's compositions to demonstrate this innovative approach.

Gregory Djanikian, who has a new poetry collection published by Carnegie Mellon Press, reads a new work about American identity and the Midwest.

Jazz pianist Kenny Barron joins Fresh Air to perform some of Abdullah Ibrahim's music, as well as Barron's own composition inspired by Ibrahim.

Critic-at-large Laurie Stone says that recent advertisements, TV shows, and theater betray a cultural shift toward a new traditionalism that debases feminism and expects women to return to conventionally feminine roles.

Barron was part of the Sphere jazz ensemble and records for the ECM label. He joins Fresh Air to perform some of the songs that influenced his playing.

Now that author Salman Rushide has gone into hiding, critic-at-large Laurie Stone looks at how communities around the world have been responding to his controversial book.