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The veteran vocalist has a gift for putting the right words to a melody. She wrote some lyrics for her new CD, Distances, and she blends a poem by an Italian filmmaker with music by eccentric French composer Erik Satie.

For the Perry siblings of Tupelo, Miss. — ages 9, 14 and 16 — making music involves making unique instruments from car parts. The young family band with astonishingly mature blues chops demonstrates its craft in NPR's Studio 4A.

Whether blaring to the stratosphere or holding back to fit a room, Jon Faddis' trumpet is always in conversation. Faddis is a personal hero to many aspiring trumpeters. Here, he performs at Jazz Standard in New York with his quartet and guest percussionists from West Africa.

Recently, the jazz-guitar virtuoso released his first studio recording in more than a decade. In a session on Jazz24, Jordan talks about his musical and personal evolution over the past 10 years, as well as his ongoing study of music's role in the healing process.

The new album from the Philadelphia hip-hop band The Roots contains verses from the perspective of a child soldier in Sierra Leone, a campus shooter in America, and those in the grip of addictions. Rising Down may be the group's best album.

Sinatra, Streisand, Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett — even Fred Astaire — have all recorded their songs: The husband-and-wife team of Marilyn and Alan Bergman has been writing irresistible tunes together for 50 years. Alan Bergman has recorded an album of their songs with the Berlin Radio Orchestra; it's called Lyrically.

Fresh Air's rock critic reviews The Con, the fifth album from Canadian twins Tegan and Sara Quin. Their music has been heard in a number of American TV shows, including Grey's Anatomy, The L Word and Medium.

Bay Area disc jockey Jimmy Lyons got Brubeck to play piano for the Monterey City Council more than 50 years ago to convince it to put on a festival. The Monterey Jazz Festival is in its 50th year, and Brubeck returns for his 14th appearance. Hear his complete concert.

Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and Elvis Presley aren't a likely pairing: Chestnut is one of the top pianists of a generation born many years after songs like "Love Me Tender" made Presley the king of rock 'n' roll. Hear an interview and performance from Studio 4A.

Saxophonist Frank Morgan led a life compelling enough for the big screen. A protege of Charlie Parker, Morgan took a dark turn that led to drugs, prison and, ultimately, redemption through music.