Pop songs, protest, poetic musings - vocalist Abbey Lincoln (1930-2010) explored a passionate spectrum of styles on her way to being hailed as the premiere jazz singer of her time. Geoffrey Smith picks highlights from a unique career.

Ever since the 1920s, stride piano has been party-time music, and it still is. Geoffrey Smith celebrates its two-fisted, tuneful energy with three modern stride masters, Ralph Sutton, Dick Hyman and Dick Wellstood.

Anita O'Day (1919-2006) and June Christy ( 1925-1990) were queens of big band singing in the 1940s and 50s, starring with Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton before going solo. O'Day was hot, Christy was cool, and Geoffrey Smith compares their styles and careers.