Fred Kasten

Herlin Riley is one of the world's finest drummers — the sort of fully engaged performer whose blend of passion, expertise and palpable joy is irresistible. He recently sat down with WWNO's Fred Kasten for the "Talkin' Jazz" interview series at the Old U.S. Mint, and talked about the profound role that family played in shaping his life in music.

Today on The Sound of Books with Fred Kasten, the recent novel by soon-to-be part-time New Orleanian Stephen Maitland-Lewis, Emeralds Never Fade.

Today on The Sound of Books with Fred Kasten, the new book from journalist and author Frye Gaillard, The Books That Mattered: A Reader's Memoir.

Today on The Sound of Books with Fred Kasten, the widely praised new memoir by journalist Susannah Cahalan: Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness.

Germaine Bazzle is one of New Orleans' most accomplished musicians — a musician whose instrument of choice is her voice. She has also exercised a profound effect on youngsters in Southeast Louisiana as a teacher, through a dozen years in Thibodeaux and an even longer tenure at Xavier Prep in New Orleans.

Germaine Bazzle recently sat down with WWNO's Fred Kasten for the "Talkin' Jazz" interview series at the Old U.S. Mint, and talked about some of her musical influences and the place that teaching has occupied in her life.

Guitarist Steve Masakowski is one of New Orleans' finest instrumentalists, a creative player with virtuoso technique and a sensibility that is both modern and deeply informed by the New Orleans tradition. He's also a first-rate composer; a longtime member of one of the great New Orleans bands, Astral Project; and an outstanding educator with a two-decade-plus tenure on the faculty at UNO.

Today on The Sound of Books with Fred Kasten, the new book by journalist and bestselling author James Mann: The Obamians: The Struggle Inside the White House to Redefine American Power.

Today on The Sound of Books with Fred Kasten, the new novel from New York Times-bestselling author Tracy Chevalier — The Last Runaway.

The pantheon of great New Orleans musicians is an extensive one, and there is no doubt that pianist Ellis Marsalis holds a richly deserved place in its upper echelons. His accomplishments as a musician and educator are of the highest order.

WWNO's Fred Kasten recently interviewed Marsalis for the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park's new "Talkin' Jazz" live interview series at the Old U.S. Mint, touching on topics such as his formative experiences growing up in New Orleans and the Jefferson Parish community of Shrewsbury.

Today on The Sound of Books with Fred Kasten, the new volume from New Orleans poet and satirist Chris Champagne — The Yat Dictionary.