NPR Music

FIRST LISTEN First Listen: Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers, 'Border-Free' Every release by the great pianist Chucho Valdés digs deeper into the common roots of jazz and Cuban music. A tight collection of songs that span the entire Cuban musical landscape and beyond,Border-Free explores unexpected musical connections. Read this story

A BLOG SUPREME Facing Illness, An Improviser Learns The Art Of Patience For saxophonist Dayna Stephens, serenity has been a key to dealing with a rare kidney disease. It's filtered into his playing and composing, which is on the upswing despite health challenges that drain hours from his days and thousands of dollars a week from his limited budget. Read this story

MUSIC INTERVIEWS George Benson Follows The Path Of His 'Unforgettable' Idol Benson and the late Nat King Cole have a lot in common: Both started as acclaimed jazz instrumentalists, but became pop stars when they started singing. Cole was a huge influence on Benson, and the guitarist — who turned 70 this spring — pays tribute on his latest album. Read this story

Ron Carter On Piano Jazz Ron Carter has set the standard for modern jazz bass players. He rose to fame with Miles Davis, but went on to play with Stan Getz and Thelonious Monk. His recording work spans 2,000 albums, and he's had equally successful careers as a bandleader, composer and educator. Hear the bassist in a session on Piano Jazz. Read this story THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY: NPR, 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE, WASHINGTON, D.C., 20002. THIS MESSAGE WAS SENT TO CAVALCANTICLAUDIO@YAHOO.COM BASED ON YOUR NPR.ORG EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS.