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In the 1960s, the renegade saxophonist took children's songs, march melodies and gospel hymns and made them into powerful free improvisations. Now, he's being embraced by a generation of rock fans — and explored in a recent documentary.

When Panic at the Disco released its debut CD, its members hadn't yet graduated from high school. Three years later, Pretty. Odd marks the band's massive change from heart-on-sleeve emo-punk songs to Sgt. Pepper's-style rock. The group performs stripped-down songs in NPR's Studio 4A.

Chris Gaffney, vocalist and accordion player for the Hacienda Brothers, died last week from liver cancer at the age of 57.

There are many gifted jazz singers, and there's no shortage of accomplished acoustic bass players. But 23-year-old Esperanza Spalding's new album features both her soaring, flexible vocals and the low-end thump of her double bass.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) made a musical splash Memorial Day weekend in a performance with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra; it was later posted in a video clip on YouTube. Alexander performed a few tunes at the piano in NPR's Studio 4A.

Scheinman is an in-demand violinist who's appeared with Aretha Franklin, Bill Frisell and Lou Reed. She also plays classical music with string quartets and orchestras, and has released many albums of instrumental jazz. But her latest album, Jenny Scheinman, features her singing.

For weeks at a time in the early '90s, musicians from around the world converged on the rocker's Real World Studios to meet, mingle and make music. Sixteen years later, the fruits of their experiments are now on record.

Gnarls Barkley is best known for its massive summer hit "Crazy," from 2006's St. Elsewhere. The duo's follow-up, The Odd Couple, meshes classic R&B with infectious hip-hop grooves and cinematic production. Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse speak with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about crafting their new album.

Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed legislation that would demand North Carolina sheriffs learn the immigration status of their jails’ inmates and make an effort to hold them for federal agents.

He was one of the most promising pianists of his generation when a 1953 plane crash ended his life at the age of 31. But thanks to an enterprising Australian music lover, a new two-CD set captures Kapell at the peak of his career.