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Los Angeles-based singer Maia Sharp may be on her fourth album, Echo, but she's mostly made her living writing songs for other performers, including Cher, Dixie Chicks and Bonnie Raitt. After a few brushes with success, this time around, Sharp feels like she's ready to break through.

From sorrow, the music builds to a climax of intensity, and finally reaches serene acceptance. Commentator Rob Kapilow conducts a guided tour of Barber's best-known piece.

The jazz trumpeter chats about and performs songs from his album Yesterday You Said Tomorrow. He tells guest host Audie Cornish about how he developed his signature breathy sound, and his education in jazz which came from his family, formal schooling, and the clubs in his hometown of New Orleans.

Yes, even within the hallowed halls of classical music, one can find all manner of hoodwinking, horseplay and even a raunchy song or two. Hear Renee Montagne and Miles Hoffman spin some of the more lewd and laughable musical jokes.

George Frayne, better known as Commander Cody, has been making music with his band, The Lost Planet Airmen, for decades. But beyond the boogie-woogie, swing, country and rock, there's another side to Frayne: He's also a visual artist. His new book contains pop-art portraits of cultural icons, along with personal anecdotes.

Maya is the third full-length album by M.I.A., and it rattles with hard-edged and well-produced beats and electronica. Reviewer Oliver Wang says that even if it's not her best work, the record still offers reminders of why M.I.A. is one of the most compelling and unusual artists in pop today.

The band formed in 1997 and quickly gained attention in its adopted hometown of Austin, Texas. On a new album, its members honor their idol Bob Wills, "The King of Western Swing."

Bud Powell was one of the great jazz innovators. He transferred many of Charlie Parker's pieces to the piano by playing speedy single-note lines with his right hand. Powell's innovative technique is displayed on these albums, which feature Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, and Fats Navarro.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with musician Wryn about their Tiny Desk Contest entries and their forthcoming album.

Though her process might be described as methodical, even obsessive, pianist Iren Marik isn't chilly or scholarly in performance; she's just someone who thought about the shapes and tones individual pieces of music should convey. Marik gets at exactly what's needed to bring each piece alive and adds nothing more.