NPR's 'Jazz Profiles' archive
Listen Willie 'The Lion' Smith: Stride Piano Master
June 11, 2008 – The flamboyant pianist was a leading purveyor of the ragtime-based style called Harlem Stride.
Listen Count Basie: The Man and His Music, Pt. 3
June 4, 2008 – The sophisticated groups of the bandleader's post-war rebirth confirmed his place in jazz history.
Listen Count Basie: The Man and His Music, Pt. 2
May 28, 2008 – Its conception unique, its talent unmatched, no group ever swung harder than the early Basie band.
Listen Count Basie: The Man and His Music, Pt. 1
May 21, 2008 – The pianist and bandleader learned Harlem stride and Kansas City blues before joining jazz royalty.
Listen Gil Evans: Distinction in Arranging
May 14, 2008 – Among the most creative arrangers ever, Evans is best known for his extensive work with Miles Davis.
Listen Bessie Smith: 'Blues Empress'
May 7, 2008 – The singer's feverish growls and impassioned delivery informed nearly all African American music.
Listen Charles Mingus: 'Fables of Bass,' Part 2
April 30, 2008 – In the mid-'50s, the bassist emerged as a truly innovative composer and uncompromising bandleader.
Listen Charles Mingus: 'Fables of Bass,' Part 1
April 23, 2008 – The powerful bassist was a prolific composer of extraordinarily innovative, highly personal music.
Listen Gerry Mulligan: Intricacy in a Lower Register
April 16, 2008 – The influential baritone saxophonist helped form the new sound that became known as "cool jazz."
Listen Bud Powell: Bebop Pianism
April 9, 2008 – The pianist redrew the course of modern jazz piano by pioneering bebop improvisation at keyboard.
Listen Benny Waters: Innovation in Longevity
April 2, 2008 – The versatile reedman's music continuously evolved over a career spanning eight decades.
Listen Sarah Vaughan: Vocal Virtuosity
March 26, 2008 – The singer, who emerged with bebop, was capable of an extraordinarily wide variety of expression.
Listen Zoot Sims: 'Brother' of Swing
March 19, 2008 – Inspired by the early masters, the saxophonist honed his sound with many of the great bandleaders.
Listen Hoagy Carmichael: 'Stardust Melodies'
March 12, 2008 – With a laid-back, familiar style, he created timeless standards indebted to his early roots in jazz.
Listen Louis Jordan: 'Jukebox King'
March 4, 2008 – The saxophonist and singer's hard-driving chart toppers made him into a founding father of R&B.
