Studs Terkel and William (Bill) Leonard share memories of the Blue Note Jazz Club as a tribute to Frank Holzfeind. Music is played throughout the episode: "After You've Gone" by the Benny Goodman Sextet, "The Flat Feet Floogie" by Slim and Slam, "How High the Moon" by Sarah Vaughan, "Destination K.C." by Count Basie, "West End Blues" by Louis Armstrong, "Lil' Augie Is A Natural One Man" by Chet Roble, and "Rock Skippin' at the Blue Note", Duke Ellington. Songs have been removed for copyright reasons.

Studs discusses Roy Eldridge’s work as a jazz musician and recounts prevalent moments from his career.

Stanley Dance discusses jazz and his the book "The World of Swing". He tells anecdotes of jazz musicians and talks about the history of different songs. The interview is interspersed with songs of the jazz/swing genre: "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Three Little Words," "Here Comes the Man with the Jive," "Where are You," "Passing it Around," "Effervescent Blues," "Who's Sorry Now," "Sleep" and "One More Once." Music has been removed from this recording for copyright reasons.

On the eve of Irving Berlin's 101st birthday, both Studs Terkel and Tony Bennett talk about his album, "Bennett/Berlin," which is Bennett's tribute to Irving Berlin. When talking about his 90th album, Bennett explained none of Berlin's songs are dated. When asked about his own career, Bennett explained that he's learned more from his failures than he's learned from his successes.

Shel Silverstein discusses his books and children's literature, and art. Shel Silverstein discusses his contemporaries, art, and life experiences.

Benny Goodman was one of 12 children and when he was little, his father took him to a synagogue where he learned to play the clarinet. Ross Firestone's book, "Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life and Times of Benny Goodman" is full of information about the musician. Goodman was a perfectionist, always wanting to better at his craft. According to Firestone, as a band leader, Goodman never thanked any musicians that played for him or with him.

Studs interview with Ron Modell, Associate Professor of Trumpet and Director of the Jazz program at Northwestern University, Chicago. Modell talks about his students and their work in the band. He names some of his students and speaks of their individual work. He highlights their performances, awards, and future careers of those in the band. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.

Renee Fleming discusses her musical upbringing, her repertoire, her relationship to performance, and more.

Red Saunders discusses jazz music and jazz musicians.

Red Norvo remembers recording some of his albums with other performers like Mildred Bailey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Benny Goodman, as well as the revival of jazz music. Recordings are played of the following: "Lover Come Back to Me" by the Red Norvo Combo, "The Weekend of a Private Secretary" sung by Mildred Bailey, "Congo Blues" by Red Norvo And His Selected Sextet, "After You've Gone" by Red Norvo feat. Benny Goodman Sextet, "Rhee! Oh! Rhee" by Red Norvo, "The Night is Blue" by Red Norvo, and "Everything I've Got Belongs to You" by Red Norvo. Songs have been removed due to copyright.

Starting at a young age, Ramsey Lewis really loved music and as he got older, he'd practice five or six hours a day. Lewis says he knew nothing about jazz until he met Wallace Burton at the age of 15. Burton hired Lewis on the spot to play in his band. Church music, Spanish music, Duke Ellington and the Beatles, says Lewis, were all great influences to him.

In Berkeley, Calif., Ralph Gleason, jazz and pop critic, and founding editor of Rolling Stone, talks with Studs about the history of jazz and jazz artists. They talk in depth about Billie Holiday, white performers who imitated the style of black jazz singers, and jazz festivals. Songs include Holiday's "Them There Eyes" and "God Bless the Child."

Studs interviews jazz and pop critic, and founding editor of "Rolling Stone" magazine, Ralph Gleason while in Berkeley, California (3 parts). Topics include the history of jazz, blues, and jazz culture, and how race played in the development and distribution of the music. Songs include Louis Armstrong's "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You."

The blues and jazz are topics covered by Ralph Ellison. Ellison himself started to play the trumpet at the age of seven. Ellison said for him, when hearing classical music, he then had to go and find classical literature.

Music performance by Oscar Brown, Jr.