The Next Big Thing is news that's not exactly news. It's a fall from the sky. It's the music and stories coming from Keba Cissoko's kora. It's an old-fashioned movie pianist named Abe. And, for pete's sake, let's not forget Mama.

What's the next big thing?
Wally Skibinski of Wally Skibinski's Polish Cavalcade of Music
Cartoonist Marisa Acocella
Artist and writer Art Spiegelman


The plunge
Jordan Hadley and Seemah Shah take the next step... and fall 10,000 feet to the ground. Producer Jad Abumrad was there.
News from NPR: Normally Private Real-life
You give us three minutes, we'll give you the world of ordinary. Written by Jule Gardner, with guest appearances from Rick Davis, Brooke Gladstone, Steve Inskeep and Karen Michel.

Out of Egypt
Writer-in-exile André Aciman finds the Alexandria of the Upper West Side.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other
Which is better? Beats us. Improv with Next Big Thing contributors Mark O'Donnell and David Rakoff.

Keba's stories
Keba Cissoko of West Africa and the Bronx stops by with his kora.

Strange but true stories
Next Big Thing Contributor Sarah Thyre is aware of herself.

The damsel's in distress
Before he became the famed principal of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brighton Beach, Abe Lass made his money as the relief pianist for silent movies. He talked about it last year with Host Dean Olsher. Lass died March 16 at age 93.

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