Nov 26th, 2008 · The scope and breadth of Duke Ellington's compositions were far-reaching, drawing many influences together to create a cohesive and diverse sound. Composing consumed Ellington around the clock, and his musical legacy is a timeless contribution to American music.
Nov 19th, 2008 · Duke Ellington composed some of the most enduring music of the 20th century, producing more than one thousand lasting works. With groundbreaking hits such as "Sophisticated Lady" and "Mood Indigo," Ellington vividly communicated universal ideas, while inventing musical concepts that helped elevate jazz to a sophisticated art form.
Jun 25th, 2008 · After years of playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, the saxophonist emerged as a jazz virtuoso by the end of the 1950s. But it was the restless exploration to follow that made him a pioneer of American music.
Jun 18th, 2008 · The most influential jazz musician after bebop, the tenor saxophonist nurtured a career marked by rapid growth in improvisational technique and ideas. By the late 1950s, he had already produced his first masterpieces.
Jun 4th, 2008 · In the 1940s, the bandleader found himself staring at the impending decline of the Swing Era. But the sophisticated groups he put together in following years started a musical renaissance which confirmed his place in jazz history.
May 28th, 2008 · Its conception unique, its talent unmatched, no group ever swung harder than the Basie big band of the 1930s and early '40s. It transformed its leader from Bill Basie, journeyman pianist, into Count Basie, American folk hero.
May 21st, 2008 · From humble beginnings at the turn of the century, the pianist and bandleader rose to become an American success story. By 1935, Count Basie had passed through Harlem and arrived in Kansas City, primed to take his place among jazz royalty.
Jul 11th, 2006 · The Senate is holding hearings on legislation addressing the legal rights of people held in the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The hearings are a response to a Supreme Court ruling that limited the president's options for dealing with Guantanamo detainees. Steve Inskeep talks to Ari Shapiro.