By Evan Haga Ones & Twos, the new Blue Note album from pianist and composer Gerald Clayton, is a project of rare ingenuity comprising many layers, all of them fascinating. And while the music is engaging on a purely visceral level, to truly appreciate the imagination at play throughout the album takes a bit of unpacking. Clayton’s new album is a collection of deftly written, groove-minded,... read more

By Bob Blumenthal Branford Marsalis, one of the world’s most preeminent saxophonists, is now being recognized as a musician whose talent knows no boundaries. A peerless instrumentalist and bandleader in the jazz world, recent years have found him performing as a classical soloist with symphony orchestras, composing scores for major motion pictures and Broadway shows, composing a symphony for a full classical... read more

By Chris Martins Maya Delilah sits — typically cross-legged, often on a table, always holding a guitar — at the intersection of old soul and new pop, where autumn chill meets summer breeze, and deeply felt experience gets swirled up with never-ending daydream. The 24-year-old London singer, songwriter, and guitarist has thus far given fans windows into her world: colorful EPs that greet heartache with humor;... read more

By Evan Haga To be sure, the guitarist and composer Nels Cline has range. Think of how he elevates the songs of Jeff Tweedy as a member of Wilco, or the diverse musical terrain he’s traversed on his albums for Blue Note Records over the past decade — from the gorgeous, sweeping mood music of Lovers to the wide-open sonic audacity of Share the Wealth, the latter featuring his longtime group The Nels Cline... read more

By Evan Haga The genesis of the acclaimed jazz group ARTEMIS can be traced back to 2016 when pianist Renee Rosnes first assembled an all-star ensemble to celebrate International Women’s Day with live performances in Europe. Nine years on, as the band releases its third Blue Note album, ARBORESQUE, the collective continues to demonstrate its staying power and prove how the music transcends any notion of... read more