Our show today about the life and times of Thelonious Monk had us peering into the jazz world to look for the children of the “George Washington of be-bop.” Who are Monk’s musical and spiritual heirs?

Thelonious Monk. Jazz giant. American hipster. A new biography takes us into his life and enigmatic music.

Hip-hop legend and Wu Tang Clan founder The RZA on life lessons and the “Tao of Wu.”

We’ll talk with Broadway legend — of “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” and “Bye Bye Birdie” fame — Chita Rivera.

“The Beatles: Rock Band” is the video game event of the season. We’ll ask its creator how it changes the way we experience music.

We are the world, in the street. An LA team takes its microphones and cameras to musicians worldwide to make a new documentary and CD.

Tunes from old Appalachia with a new bluegrass twist. The hit folk band “Crooked Still” plays for us in our studio.

We talk with classical guitar virtuoso Eliot Fisk, about the guitar as bridge between cultures. Plus: video of Fisk performing an encore in our studio.

We’ll look back on Leonard Bernstein, who took the helm of the New York Philharmonic 50 years ago, and changed American music.

Bob Dylan talked at length with historian Douglas Brinkley for Rolling Stone. We talk with Brinkley about Dylan and America now.

A new documentary captures jazz now, from the living icons of modern jazz to those pushing the music in new directions.

Novelist Arthur Phillips on music, muses, mixtapes and his new novel, “The Song Is You.”

We talk with the Blind Boys of Alabama about their new album, and making music, “Down in New Orleans.”

We hear from underground artist Jon Nelson, who uses musical mashups to tap into our media-age dreams.

The craze for karaoke. Equalizer or embarrassment? One devotee tells the uninitiated what they’re missing.

We’ll talk with the director of “Notorious” about the life and death of rapper Biggie Smalls — and the state of hip hop.

Aretha Franklin sang on the Capitol steps. Who’s next in the world of soul? We’ll talk with rising star Alice Smith.

Jazz legend Count Basie helped make the American soundtrack of the 1930s. We listen back, and ask if America has a soundtrack today.

We hear the story of one writer’s magnificent obsession with the great American ballad, House of the Rising Sun.

In an archive edition of On Point, we jam with guitar legend Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon of Phish.