NPR Music - You Must Hear This

First Listen: Thelonious Monk, 'Paris 1969' The pianist's first visit to France and the 3,000-seat Salle Pleyel concert hall ended in disaster. Fifteen years later, after he became an international star, Monk returned to the same stage with his own band, planning a surprise. Read this story

MUSIC INTERVIEWS Esperanza Spalding: Guantanamo Doesn't Represent 'Our America' The Grammy-winning musician's new recording, "We Are America," protests the controversial detention center. But she tells NPR she doesn't like to call it a protest song. It's more of a "let's get together and do something pro-active, creative and productive" song. Read this story

MUSIC INTERVIEWS 'Something That Is Very Real For Me': Ted Nash Completes His 'Chakra' The jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer embarked on a spiritual journey that spanned years before he was able to complete his new record. In a discussion with NPR's Arun Rath, Nash talks about starting from square one in educating himself about Hindu philosophy. Read this story

CODE SWITCH Arturo Sandoval: Free To Blow His Trumpet The Way He Wants NPR's Shereen Marisol Meraji spent time with Cuban trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval, just days before he accepted his adopted country's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Read this story

MARIAN MCPARTLAND'S PIANO JAZZ Kenny Werner On Piano Jazz The pianist is a musician for whom creativity is a credo and improvisation a way of life. Transforming brilliant technique into unbridled creativity is not only Werner's musical mission; it's also the subject of his popular book, Effortless Mastery. Hear an interview and performance. Read this story