Search

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., (1.) Jazz pianist and composer FRED HERSCH. He's written a new memoir, Good Things Happen Slowly: A life in and out of Jazz. He has dozens of albums to his credit, solo and with groups. He began his music life in the closet, but came out in 1994 and also disclosed his diagnosis of HIV. In 2008 he came close to dying and was in a coma for two months. After coming out of it, he couldn't walk, talk, or lift an arm. After a long period of rehabilitation, he returned to performing and composing. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW). (2.) TV critic DAVID BIANCULLI reviews The Vietnam War, the new documentary series by Ken Burns.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., (1.) A.C. THOMPSON is a reporter with the non-profit news organization ProPublica. He has been investigating (along with the New Orleans Times-Picayune and PBS' Frontline) the alleged shootings and deaths by New Orleans Police in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. Justice Department has charged 16 current and former NOPD officers with crimes. THOMPSON is also investigating alleged hate crimes committed by a white militia in post-Katrina New Orleans. You can read the series Law & Disorder: After Katrina, New Orleans Police Shot Frequently & Asked few Questions online at http://www.propublica.org/nola/ (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW). (2.) Pianist FRED HERSCH. He's been called an 'unsung innovator of. . . borderless, individualistic jazz' by David Hajdu of The New York Times. The 54-year-old musician and composer has over 45 albums to his credit either as solo performer, bandleader, or duo partner. He has worked with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Art Farmer, Toots Thielemans, Gary Burton, Bill Frisell, and Charlie Haden. His recent album 'Whirl' (Palmetto Records) features his trio, and is his first recording since he suffered a two-month coma and went thru intense physical therapy to regain overall function, including the use of his hands. HERSCH had become ill from AIDS and a severe bout of pneumonia.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., (1.) New York Times reporter DEXTER FILKINS. In April he will receive the George Polk Award for War Reporting for 'his riveting, first-hand account of an eight-day attack on Iraqi insurgents in Falluja.' He had accompanied the Marines of Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines for 8 days in November as they took over Fallujah. Filkins filed over a dozen stories from this extreme close-up perspective. He followed the Marines from the outskirts of the city into the maze of streets, dodging suicide bombers, waking at 1:30 AM to a rebel attack, and even sustaining the threat of friendly fire when the company was mistaken for rebels by U-S troops. He has just returned from Iraq where he was covering the elections there. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW). (2.) Pianist and composer FRED HERSCH. In his 30 year career he's performed in solo, duo, trio and quintet settings. In 2003 he received the prestigious Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship which he used to work on his latest project: 'Leaves of Grass' (Palmetto) in which he leads a 10-piece ensemble which includes vocalists singing the words of Walt Whitman set to compositions by Hersch. He is touring the ensemble this month. For information: fredhersch.com/palmetto-records.com

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., INT. 1: Opera soprano DAWN UPSHAW will perform a concert (recorded at WHYY), in which she includes highlights from her just-released album "Dawn Upshaw sings Rodgers and Hart" (Nonesuch) as well selections by Leonard Bernstein, Mark Blitstein and George Gershwin. UPSHAW has more than two dozen albums to her credit and has become widely known for her ability to perform both in the opera as well as sing Broadway tunes. UPSHAW joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1984 and has performed at the Met. Many of the world's leading conductors have invited UPSHAW to appear with some of the finest orchestras, including The Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. She is known for her performance of such songs as "Manhattan," "I Didn't Know What Time it Was," "I Could Write a Book," "I Feel Pretty," and "Little Girl Blue." UPSHAW will perform two sets in the concert. In one, she will be accompanied by jazz pianist, FRED HERSCH and in the other, Broadway music director, ERIC STERN leading a 15-piece ensemble. Singer DAVID GARRISON also performs. Terry Gross will talk with both HERSCH and UPSHAW in the early part of the hour. (REBROADCAST from 11/18/1996) INT. 2: Concert continues. REV. : Concert continues.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., INT. 1: Opera soprano DAWN UPSHAW will perform a concert (recorded at WHYY), in which she includes highlights from her just-released album "Dawn Upshaw sings Rodgers and Hart" (Nonesuch) as well selections by Leonard Bernstein, Mark Blitstein and George Gershwin. UPSHAW has more than two dozen albums to her credit and has become widely known for her ability to perform both in the opera as well as sing Broadway tunes. UPSHAW joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1984 and has performed at the Met. Many of the world's leading conductors have invited UPSHAW to appear with some of the finest orchestras, including The Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. She is known for her performance of such songs as "Manhattan," "I Didn't Know What Time it Was," "I Could Write a Book," "I Feel Pretty," and "Little Girl Blue." UPSHAW will perform two sets in the concert. In one, she will be accompanied by jazz pianist, FRED HERSCH and in the other, Broadway music director, ERIC STERN leading a 15-piece ensemble. Singer DAVID GARRISON also performs. Terry Gross will talk with both HERSCH and UPSHAW in the early part of the hour.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., INT. 1: Jazz pianist Fred Hersch. His new solo album is "Fred Hersch at Maybeck." Hersch recently revealed he is HIV positive and appears on several recordings to fund raise for the disease. INT. 2: Iain Softley is the writer and director of the film "Backbeat." The film focuses on the early days of The Beatles when Stu Sutcliffe was the bass player. REV. : Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Bill Frisell's album "This Land."