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JazzSet delivers rhythm... melody... harmony... improv... every week since 1992.

Each week, host Dee Dee Bridgewater brings you music in performance, sweet and hot. With her fine, friendly voice, the 2008 Grammy nominee introduces sets from coast to coast, and beyond.

JazzSet's quality recordings capture the legends, today's top bands, and promising new talent. Occasionally, the program dips into its archives and Dee Dee shares a moment that's too good not to share.

Congratulations to 2011 Grammy Award winners Dee Dee Bridgewater for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and the Mingus Big Band for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, featuring a set that was originally live on Toast of the Nation and later on JazzSet.

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January 24 - Mark Turner Quartet: Live At The Village Vanguard

NPR Music cites Mark Turner's "floating chromaticism, rhythmic mindfulness and lightness of tone." He's the tenor saxophonist in last week's Abbey Lincoln tribute on JazzSet, leading his wide age-range quartet with newcomer pianist David Virelles from Cuba, Ben Street on bass, and the late Paul Motian (1931-2011) on drums, on this JazzSet.

January 31 - Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra

O'Farrill is making his big dreams for Afro-Latin jazz come true. This set from Newport presents three generations of composers, from Arturo O'Farrill's father Chico to Arturo himself to Dafnis Prieto and Gabriel Alegría from Cuba and Peru respectively, and one big exuberant ensemble to play them.

February 7 - Steve Wilson and Bird with Strings at the Kennedy Center

Bebop met chamber music at the 1949 Charlie Parker with Strings recording session. Steve Wilson brings a fresh, original take to this classic material, including a piece or two that did not get recorded. He beamingly calls his string quintet "the crown jewels" with his working group -- Bruce Barth, Michael Bowie and Lewis Nash -- at the KC Jazz Club.

February 14- The Mingus Orchestra: Better Get It In Your Soul at St. Bartholomew's Church

Charles Mingus (1922-79) wrote, ". . . it is time our children were raised to think they can play bassoon, French horn, English horn, full percussion, violin, cello. If we so-called jazz musicians who are composers, the spontaneous composers, started including these instruments in our music, it would open everything up." This acoustic concert, held on the weekend of the annual Charles Mingus High School Competition in New York, effectively follows through on his premise.

February 21 - An Either/Orchestra Premiere: "The Collected Unconcious" by leader Russ Gershon

After visiting Ethiopia in 2004 and 2011, the adventurous E/O (together since 1985) now improvises in the modes and rhythms of the country's music, on this multi-part suite. As an appetizer, Gershon adapts songs by Nerses Nalbandian, an Armenian who left a strong imprint on Ethiopian music. Thanks to Chamber Music America's New Jazz Works program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

February 28 - Kevin Eubanks at the Detroit Jazz Festival

The guitarist stepped off nightly TV, released the album Zen Food, and toured throughout the year in 2011. They loved him at the Amphitheatre stage in Detroit. Ross Davis wrote in JazzTimes that Eubanks "featured his own fine lines and plenty of room for his band mates to shine, most especially saxophonist Bill Pierce."

March 6 - Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band at the Kennedy Center

Born March 13, 1925, Haynes worked with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan and John Coltrane, and continues to set the pace on the drums to this day. "He's so loose-limbed, writes JazzSet producer Mark Schramm. "There's not a trace of strain in any part of his body. Whether he's playing softly with brushes, or swinging with his trademark ride cymbal rhythm, or leaning in and driving the group, it's all done as if he were dancing at the drums." With Jaleel Shaw, Martin Bejerano and David Wong as the youth.

March 13 - Avishai Cohen Triveni with Guest Anat Cohen at Newport

The Sanskrit word Triveni translates as "the place where three sacred rivers meet." With Drew Gress and Eric Harland, bass and drums, trumpeter Avishai opens on Don Cherry's "Art Deco," tips his hat to Ornette Coleman and Charles Mingus, then welcomes his sister Anat on clarinet for the second half of a wonderful set.

March 20 - Regina Carter's Reverse Thread at Newport

In her continuing project Reverse Thread, MacArthur Fellow Regina Carter weaves a group sound from African melodies on her violin with accordion, the harp-like kora, bass and drums. The group interprets music from Mali and Madagascar and dedicates a piece to New Orleans. Will Holshouser, Yacouba Sissoko, Chris Lightcap and Alvester Garnett are the band. NPR Music calls this set from Newport "a bright, vibrant show."

March 27 - Renee Rosnes at the Village Vanguard

Pianist Renee says when she's onstage at the Village Vanguard, she turns to the left and sees a jazz fan a few feet away, and the same to the right and over her shoulder. The intimacy inspires a beautiful late night set from Renee's quartet. Steve Nelson on vibes, Peter Washington on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums.

April 3 - Benny Green's Monk with Gary Smulyan at the KC Jazz Club

The Kennedy Center is the home of the low blow tonight, as five-time DownBeat baritone sax poll winner Gary Smulyan joins the committed, brilliant pianist Benny Green. Listen for rhythmic energy, quirky Thelonious Monk melodies, humor, and the Washingtons -- Peter and Kenny (no relation) -- ideal on bass and drums. Benny Green's birthday is April 4.