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Vladimir Horowitz, born 100 years ago today, was considered by music critics to be the greatest pianist of his time. Like magic, his fingers would fly over the keys, leaving audiences awestruck. On Morning Edition, music commentator Miles Hoffman talks with NPR's Bob Edwards about what made Horowitz such a great musician.

You may know them as Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock. Or as Michael Diamond, Adam Yauch, and Adam Horovitz. Or simply, the Beastie Boys. For their new concert film, Awesome; I... Shot That!, they gave cameras to their fans in the crowd.

More than 30 musicians have joined The Waterboys at one time or another, and the Irish band's style has varied from majestic rock to Celtic folk to the more experimental and contemporary rock of recent years. Hear leader Mike Scott and the band in an interview and performance.

The musical group Soulfege is making a name for themselves with their eclectic mix of West African, reggae and hip-hop music. Members of the group recently visited NPR for an in-studio performance of some of their biggest hits. The band talks about their commitment to making music with a positive message.

With others and alone, pianist Kenny Barron has a relaxed style that belies his ability to stir up a holy storm at the keys. Most significantly, he spent four years with Dizzy Gillespie in the '60s, leading to work with Freddie Hubbard and Yusef Lateef before he co-founded Sphere. Hear a concert from JazzSet.

In the last 30 years of jazz, bassist Reid has been a major-league support player with saxophonist Dexter Gordon, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, and trombonist JJ Johnson. These days, he works as a composer and bandleader. Hear a full concert recorded by JazzSet.

The death of Cuban conga master Carlos "Patato" Valdes this past December provides a sad opportunity to dig out one of his best-known recordings. In 1968, Patato recorded a towering rumba recording, with what's essentially an Afro-Cuban supergroup.

When Sidney Bechet played, the walls trembled, the pulse accelerated and the heart skipped a beat. His music was passion and energy transformed into musical notes.

"Henry Plainview," from the Radiohead guitarist's score for There Will Be Blood, is the stuff of what philosopher Edmund Burke called "the sublime": art that has the power to destroy. It's hard to imagine the film's Henry Plainview without "Henry Plainview."

The pianist, the composer, his tunes and her talent. On her new album Chasing Pianos, pianist Valentina Lisitsa plays the propulsive, evocative music of Michael Nyman's film scores.