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Pianist Laurence Hobgood has been a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene for years. He has recently come to prominence as pianist, musical director and co-producer for the much-celebrated jazz singer Kurt Elling. The pianist gives an interview and performance on Piano Jazz.

The current political situation sent Firewater's Tod A. around the world to discover more music and culture. The musicians he met inspired him to return home and share what he gained. In an interview and performance from KEXP, Tod A. reveals the fruits of his travels.

Saadiq's latest disc, The Way I See It, offers up a self-conscious rendering of black soul and pop from the '50s, '60s and '70s. In an update of the classic "Oh Girl," he gets a much-needed bit of help from Jay-Z.

On his new album, Young Jeezy uses his motivational rasp to raise the spirits of people facing rising gas prices and unemployment rates. Though he's not a great rapper by traditional standards, the young Atlanta MC pads his raps with what he does best: big, clunky punchlines and inspirational refrains.

Piano Jazz showcases another bright young pianist, Jeremy Siskind. Having recently graduated from the Eastman School of Music, Siskind has already won several impressive competitions and attracted the attention of Piano Jazz's host. His skills have taken him to Japan and around the U.S.

Loudon Wainwright's new double album, High Wide and Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project, is a tribute to the old-time country banjo player who died in 1931. The singer-songwriter explains the motivations behind the project — and why Poole was such an influential country pioneer.

Though the Congolese music known as soukous was Africa's biggest pop-music style in the '70s and '80s, it only reached the U.S. in bits and pieces. But a new anthology by the musician known as Franco goes a long way toward completing the puzzle.

McCartney and Youth returned to work as The Fireman for their third and latest release together, Electric Arguments. McCartney entered the studio, without any material, and recorded 13 songs in 13 days. The legendary artist reveals how his alter ego allows him the freedom to experiment.

The former American Idol contestant, whom Paula Abdul dubbed "one funky white boy," just made Fight for Love, his second album since the competition. Yamin dishes on his soul sound, his time in the TV spotlight and, of course, his mom.

Idan Raichel has made his name by mixing cinematic Israeli pop with the sounds of his country's immigrant community. His latest album reaches even farther afield, with singers from Colombia, Rwanda and the Cape Verde Islands.