Discussing the origins of three schools of contemporary American music, their influence upon each other, and the new directions composers are taking with their music with composer and trombonist Bill Russo.

Studs interviews Jabbo Smith and presents some of his musical performances. The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording. Smith shares the story of his childhood in the Jenkins Orphanage and how he came to learn music there. He discusses the songs he wrote and people he played with throughout his career and how he came out of retirement in Holland on the trombone.