On this season break ReWind, we look back at this discussion by the IBT classic trio covering one of the greatest creative forces of the 20th century: Duke Ellington.  

We look back on season 5, highlighting some of our favorite albums and playing selections we didn't include in episodes. We will be back on October 1 with season 6. Episode cover artwork designed by Ellen VanderMyde.

Co-host Jeremy takes us into uncharted territory on the podcast with American blues violinist Papa John Creach. We take a look at his long and varied career and examine why this—his debut solo album—was released several decades into his career and bursting at the seams with players from West Coast psychedelic bands.  

Guest Lauren Raham returns as we dive into the debut album by soul singer George McCrae. The hit title track is known for helping to shape disco music but we look at how the album also influenced everyone from John Lennon to Yo La Tengo.

Co-host Sean plays us some Latin jazz from Mongo Santamaria. We detail the Cuban percussionist's background and share our varying thoughts on featuring food on album covers.  

Co-host Jeremy selects American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater as the focus for this episode. Dee Dee’s long and varied career—musician, NPR host, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador—is covered in our discussion.  

Wes Wheat returns to talk about Hungarian jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó. This mid-Seventies album finds the renowned instrumentalist paired with the top talent of the Philly soul scene.  

Writer and director Jeff Feuerzeig (The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Author: The JT LeRoy Story) is our special guest as we feature the second album by singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III. A more raw and off-kilter record than his work that would follow, we speculate on how Loudon possibly created the blueprint for the work of Daniel Johnston.  

Co-host Jeremy brings a first to the program: an a cappella album. We listen to the soulful voices of the Persuasions as we learn about their interesting connections in the music business and the surprising variety of tribute albums they have recorded.  

Co-host Sean guides us into the fascinating world of private press records with the mysterious Lewis Baloue. We listen to his second album, originally released to little fanfare in 1985, and brought to much wider attention in 2014.