Music

Penn Jillette, Teller, and Wier Chrisemer form the troop Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. Today, they, sound engineer Marc Garland, and guitarist Gary Anderson, join the show for an interview and perform their music, comedy, and magic. The group also shares their favorite classical records.

Jazz drummer Dannie Richmond joins the show to discuss his work with the recently deceased Charlie Mingus.

Nat Hentoff joins the show via telephone to discuss his relationship with the late Charlie Mingus.

Winnie Winston is a pedal steel guitar player, composer, and music teacher. He discusses his latest album "Steel Wool."

Carla Bley, jazz musician and composer, and trumpeter Mike Mantler join the show to discuss their upcoming concert and The Carla Bley Band's album "Musique Mecanique."

Actress and singer Virginia Capers discusses her career and upcoming movie "North Avenue Irregulars."

Blues singer and guitarist John Hammond, Jr. brings his instrument to the studio.

Big band leader Cab Calloway is still going strong at the age of 72. He joins the show to discuss his career and life.

Martin Williams is a jazz critic, writer, and academic. He currently works at the Smithsonian Institution. He discusses jazz criticism and the effect jazz has had on classical music. He also shares some of his favorite records.

Philadelphia musician Ken Ulansey joins Fresh Air to discuss his life as a musician and his travels in Europe, the Near and Middle East, and Asia. He's played and studied music in places such as Paris, Istanbul, Afghanistan, Nepal, Tehran, and India. He also brings his alto and soprano saxophones to perform in-studio.

Milt Gabler has a storied history in jazz and pop music as the owner of the Commodore Record Shop and the Commodore Record label. He's also worked with artists such as Coleman Hawkins, Jelly Roll Morton, and Billie Holliday, whose "Strange Fruit" Gabler produced. He joins the show to discuss his career.

Milt Gabler has a storied history in jazz and pop music as the owner of the Commodore Record Shop and the Commodore Record label. He's also worked with artists such as Coleman Hawkins, Jelly Roll Morton, and Billie Holliday, whose "Strange Fruit" Gabler produced. He joins the show to discuss his career.

Joan Morris and Bill Bolcom are husband and wife musicians. Joan is a singer and Bill plays the piano. They discuss their life and work together.

Jazz and bop pianist Barry Harris joins the show for an in-studio performance and discussion of his life and career.

Jazz and bop pianist Barry Harris joins the show for an in-studio performance and discussion of his life and career.

Billy Crystal is a comedian currently enjoying success on television. He also grew up around jazz musicians due to his father's business; Billie Holliday was his sometime-babysitter. Crystal joins the show to discuss his career and jazz memories. (INTERVIEW WITH DAVID KARPOFF)

Joan Morris and Bill Bolcom are husband and wife musicians. Joan is a singer and Bill plays the piano. They discuss their life and work together.

Billy Eckstine is a jazz singer and big band leader. After playing in the Earl Hines Band, he formed his own band, which was involved in the development of bop. He worked with legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan and Charlie Parker. Eckstine continues to perform as a singer. He joins the show to discuss his life and career.

Barney Kessel is a jazz guitarist, composer, and music writer. He has worked with artists such as Fred Astaire and Bille Holliday. He continues to perform across the country. He joins the show to discuss his career and life.

At 19, Jim McGowan was the victim of an assault which left him with paralyzed legs. He later worked as an R&B singer in the 1950s with the group the Four Fellows, whose song "Solider Boy" was a number one hit. He late became an academic and has written a book about an Underground Railroad figure in "The Life and Letters of Thomas Garnett," as well as a history of R&B. He is also an activist for disabled persons and was the photographer for the book "Wheelchair Champions."