The history of jazz has been told in films like Bird and in Ken Burns' TV documentary. Today: music critic Gary Giddins talks about the new 700-page book he co-authored. Later: jazz music inspired writer Jack Kerouac. Indie rockers Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar perform songs from their soundtrack for a new Kerouac documentary.
America's Quintessential Music
Born from the meeting of ragtime and blues, jazz journeyed to Chicago, New York and beyond. Along the way, the music became as complex as America itself. Music critic and scholar Gary Giddins, co-author of the new book Jazz, explains how he tackled that epic history.
Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar's Ode to Jack Kerouac
Two big names in alternative music are joining forces to pay tribute to Jack Kerouac, the godfather of alternative fiction. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Jay Farrar of Son Volt join us to talk about and perform songs from their soundtrack for the new documentary, One Fast ...