Rapper's Delight

Rapper and actor Mos Def has taken on Broadway with his performance in the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Topdog/Underdog" and has appeared in films such as "Monster's Ball" and "Showtime." He adds another credit to his wide-ranging career this week when he presides over the debut of the Mos Def Big Band. Featuring some of New York’s top jazz musicians and featuring material by Miles Davis, Gil-Scott Heron, Beyonce, plus his original compositions, Mos Def says the band will explore the boundaries between jazz, soul and hip-hop. He joins us with a preview. Also on the show, New Orleans pianist Henry Butler. He’s just as comfortable performing jazz, R&B and blues, as he is French art songs, opera arias, and traditional Indian music. He’s also spent much of his time away from the piano pursuing a rather unusual hobby: photography—this, despite the fact that he’s been blind since infancy. He joins us with a live performance.
Additional Resources:
» Mos Def’s Web site
» Henry Butler Web site