Prez: Beyond Billie and Basie

Saxophonist Lester Young spent his early years in a traveling carnival and earned his chops in Kansas City dancehalls. Today on Soundcheck, we look at the life and music of jazz legend Lester Young. And later: Few New York bands have a Tony Award winner in their ranks. The jumpy, jittery folk-punk quartet Old Springs Pike talks about life on different stages and performs live in our studio. And later: a violist works with young Native American composers.

The Soundcheck staff is in Berlin! Read about our adventures on a new blog, Soundcheck: On Site - Berlin.

(Pssst ... Our weeklong Berlin series begins Nov. 5!)