By Nia June For The Love Of It All is more than trumpeter and composer Brandon Woody’s recording debut; it is a manifesto, a ritual, a hymn to the enduring power of love. Joined by his band Upendo — Troy Long (piano, organ, Rhodes, keyboards), Quincy Phillips (drums), and Michael Saunders (bass) with special guests Imani-Grace (vocals), Vittorio Stropoli (aux synth) — Woody extends an invitation into... read more

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