It’s South Africa week at BoL. We highlight veteran vocalist/instrumentalist/composer/activist Hugh Masekela and emerging keeper of the flame Thandiswa. We also consider the popular dance music of Kwaito with a spotlight on Phat Joe and supergroup TKZee plus a peek at one of the first kwaito hits by Bob Mabena featuring Dr. Khumalo. Amandla!

This is the big one! Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack, David Nathan with The Sweet Inspirations, Courtney Pine with Jhelisa, present the classic "Tryin’ Times." Roots reggae around the world with Ini Kamoze, Michael Rose, Alpha Blondy, Nengo Vieira e Tribo D’Abraão, and Fat Freddy’s Drop. Finally, Steve Lawrence, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn and Marlena Shaw (with three versions!) interpret "Go Away, Little Boy." Over an hour and 20 minutes of juke box bliss.

In Langton Hughes’ Mother To Son, the mother admonishes the son not to turn back, sit down, or fall. "I’se still climbin’," she says, "And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair." This week at BoL we’re featuring songs about our mothers: strong, courageous and tenacious women. Women who may not know a thing about crystal, but do know all about stairs and climbing and never giving up. So, to all the mothers, we say Happy Mother’s Day, and, thank you.

Once again, it’s Gil Scott-Heron week at BoL. We begin with four of Gil’s classic blues ballads, move on to tunes from Gil’s last studio album, Spirits, and end with three versions of a Gil Scott-Heron classic, one by R&B great Esther Phillips, one by Gil’s former partner Brian Jackson and the last by Gil himself. The way we see it, you can never have too much Gil. Enjoy!