Jazz

Bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding took the jazz world by storm with her grooving bass lines and neo-soul inspired vocals, and she has since broken into the mainstream with a surprise win for Best New Artist at the 2011 Grammys. She shows off her dual talents on Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun" and joins in with her pianist, Leo Genovese, to sing a tune that seems to be her motto - "Jazz Ain't Nothing But Soul."

Join us this week as host Bonnie Johnson chats with Brian McKnight about his current "JUST ME" Tour.

Brian has 13 multi-platinum albums to date and has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. He is also a recipient of several Grammy nominations, American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, NAACP Image and Blockbuster Awards, and Billboard Songwriter of The Year.

Saxophonist Frank Morgan led a life compellingenough for the big screen. A protégé of CharlieParker, Morgan's budding career as a jazz musician took a dark turn that led to drugs, prison, and, ultimately, redemption through music. In this memorial broadcast of his 2004 Piano Jazz appearance, Morgan talks about the ups and downs of his life and performs "Sophisticated Lady" and "Billie's Bounce."

Tune in to Jazz Rhythm this week to hear one of the most important jazz figures of the 20th Century, a master of the tenor sax, Coleman Hawkins.  Nicknamed both ''Hawk'' and ''Bean,'' he was also one of the few musicians of the golden jazz age to make the transition to be-bop. His unusual sense of improvisation allowed him to reach heights of expressionism that few other artists of his era had reached.

This week Canadian singer, Susie Arioli takes a straightforward, swinging approach to the Standards. Join us as host Judy Carmichael talks with her and her guitarist Jordan Officer on stage at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland.