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From 1940 to 1942 Ralph Berton hosted WNYC's daily foray into jazz called Metropolitan Review, dedicated to "the finest in recorded hot jazz." The program was radio's first serious jazz music show on the air. 

Jazz trombonist John Yao and his trio perform at the Brooklyn Lyceum on Wednesday night. Download the title song from his new album, "In The Now."

The jazz nine-piece plays each Monday night at The Stone through the end of June. Download the ensemble's song "Sly Notions."

Jazz piano great Randy Weston is one of the jazz, blues and rock luminaries performing at the Apollo Theater on Thursday night in a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America. Download his song "Fly Hi."

Jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood plays the Brooklyn Masonic Temple as part of the Undead Festival on Thursday night. Download the group's song "Amber Gris."

Jazz trio The Bad Plus continues its week-long residency at the Blue Note on Wednesday night. Download the group's tune "Beryl Love To Dance."

In the 1960s and ‘70s, Latin boogaloo arose from the jazz, soul and R&B traditions around New York. Spanish Harlem native Johnny Colon was part of the boogaloo wave and helped define the iconic sound with hits like like “Boogaloo Blues." Today, the bandleader, pianist and educator joins us for a look at boogaloo's past and present.

New York is a city of specialists from foodies to academics, laborers to shopkeepers. Every Wednesday, Niche Market will take a peek inside a different specialty store and showcase the city's purists who have made an art out of selling one commodity. Slideshow below.

Jazz quartet Jason Kao Hwang and his quartet, EDGE, perform at the Clemente Soto Velez on Monday night. Download the outfit's dazzling piece "Elemental Determination."

French-born gypsy jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel has come a long way from the Roma campsites where he honed his skills. Earlier this year, he performed his original theme to the hit Woody Allen film “Midnight in Paris” at the Academy Awards. The now New Jersey-based guitarist joins us with his band to play songs from his upcoming album, called “Origins.”

Sax player Bill Evans talks about his new album, “Dragonfly,” and about performing at the Blue Note April 10-14, which will include special guest appearances by players of Evans' pedigree: namely Mike Mainieri on vibes, John Medeski on keyboards and fusion legend trumpeter Randy Brecker. “Dragonfly” is his 19th solo album and third with his Soulgrass band, and it features a fiery ensemble that fuses Evans' lineage with American blues, bluegrass, and progressive jazz.

Indian-American jazz pianist Vijay Iyer earned widespread acclaim for his 2009 album, “Historicity.” Now, the Ph.D. advances his forward-thinking jazz with an album called “Accelerando” – which moves through a blend of original compositions and those borrowed from the likes of Duke Ellington and even Michael Jackson. Iyer and his trio play live.

Noted jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and his trio begin a five-night residency at Birdland on Tuesday night. Download the title song from the outfit's new album Accelerando.

Keyboardist and composer Craig Taborn performs with his trio at the Village Vanguard this weekend. Download "Avenging Angel," the title song from Taborn's first unaccompanied solo album. 

Eighty years before terms like “1 percenter” and “the Occupy movement” entered our conversations, the great Spanish playwright and poet Federico Garcia Lorca wrote about the inequalities he saw while living in 1930s America. Now, Spanish bassist and composer Alexis Cuadrado has set those poems to music. He unveils his jazz song cycle, "A Lorca Soundscape," live in our studio.

The pianist spent much of her career in a seldom-considered corner of the music business: She's made a living playing in bars, lounges, nightclubs and hotel lobbies. It's recounted in her memoir Piano Girl, and on this episode of Piano Jazz.

Hear Rosnes lead her quartet in New York at the world-famous Village Vanguard — where, she says, "I can turn to my left" and right, and over her shoulder, "and see the face of a jazz fan sitting a few feet away from me."

Gregory Porter says he got into songwriting because his mother was a minister. "Melodies, lyrics, thoughts come to me in the most average of places ... when I'm birdwatching, which I like to do," he said on Soundcheck. Watch a video of Porter singing "On My Way To Harlem."

Jazz drummer Henry Cole and his Afrobeat Collective brings its Afro-Latin fusion to Joe's Pub on Tuesday night. Download new single "Trabajala."

One of the great cornet players from the early jazz era was also the late husband of host Marian McPartland. Piano Jazz celebrates the legend's centennial with a special concert from the Danny Kaye Playhouse at the 2007 JVC Jazz Festival.