NPR Music - JAZZ

First Listen: The Bad Plus, 'The Rite Of Spring' A jazz trio plays the score to Igor Stravinsky's gloriously noisy, 101-year-old fever dream of a ballet as literally as possible — and still manages to sound like itself. Read this story

MUSIC INTERVIEWS Ambrose Akinmusire: 'Music Can Tell You What It Wants To Be' One of the most talked-about names in jazz, the 32-year-old trumpeter is more auteur than star. In an extended interview, he explains why it's crucial to let his collaborators think for themselves. Read this story

MARIAN MCPARTLAND'S PIANO JAZZ Andrew Hill On Piano Jazz With his heady, bop-rooted explorations of improvised music, pianist and composer Hill stretched the boundaries of jazz. He demonstrated his mastery of melody, rhythm and technique in a 2005 session. Read this story

MARIAN MCPARTLAND'S PIANO JAZZ Nadine Jansen On Piano Jazz Marian McPartland joins the pianist and horn player in "Yesterdays" and "Nadine's Blues" in 1988. Read this story

JAZZSET WITH DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER 'Two Skirts And A Shirt' On JazzSet Rene Marie, Allan Harris and Carla Cook are in sweet harmony with a message in this concert from the KC Jazz Club in Washington, D.C. Read this story