He had a childhood no one could make up—with his memoir, he creates order from the chaos.

Writing for big bands, choirs, and small ensembles, Carla Bley remains a graceful and innovative voice for progressive jazz.

Four-time National Poetry Slam champion Taylor Mali connects stage and page.

The saxophonist/flutist/composer talks about expanding the tradition and language of jazz.

Sam White loves Shakespeare and loves her hometown Detroit. So she emptied her bank account and started a site-specific professional theater company, Shakespeare in Detroit. It’s amazing.

Actor Tonya Beckman: a core member of the Taffety Punk Theater Company and a Riot Grrrl in good standing. Classical theater with a difference.

Dual Lives: Deborah Bond sings like a dream, has three cds and tours internationally. But she still needs a day job to pay the bills.

Tayari Jones: an author who loves the process of writing.

Raymond Arsenault's book The Sound of Freedom examines the 30-minute concert by Marian Anderson that helped move a nation forward.

Filmmaker Sam Pollard talks about his new documentary August Wilson: The Ground on which I Stand.