Interviewing tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and jazz promoter and critic Penny Tyler.

Terkel presents musical performance by Stan Getz

Studs Terkel comments on baseball, baseball player Sam Crawford, comedian Spike Milligan, and interviews jazz musician Sonny Rollins. Includes a voice clip of baseball player Sam Crawford.

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.

Jazz scholar and historian Richard Wang discusses Charles Mingus' "Epitaph", a 4,237 measure-long composition. Wang discusses Mingus’ upbringing and how he was trained on the trombone originally. Throughout the interview, performances of the Epitaph are played and Wang notes in the composition where listeners can hear Mingus’ classical training, as well as where other classical musicians, such as Duke Ellington and Claude Debussy, most likely were referenced as inspiration in the composition.

Richard McLanathan discusses his book "The American Tradition in the Arts" and takes Studs on a sprawling journey through artistic breakthroughs in architecture, painting, literature, and more while touching on dozens of artists and their works.

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.

Terkel comments and reads letters of ex-convict Jimmy Blake

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."