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The Best Jazz of 2018

The definition of "jazz" has never been broader, and the music has never been brighter. Two PopMatters critics pick their favorites in four modern jazz categories.

Justin Cober-Lake and Will Layman

Music

David Murray Teams with Saul Williams on Blues for Memo and Makes His Best Record in Many Years

Elite saxophonist David Murray teams with poet Saul Williams to create his most thrilling recording in decades—a proto or progressive hip-hop grounded in soulful jazz.

Music

Saul Williams Commands Attention at Summerstage (Photos + Video)

Saul Williams played a free, powerful Summerstage show ahead of his appearance at Afropunk this weekend.

Music

Laying the Groundwork: An Interview With Saul Williams

Poet/musician/auteur Saul Williams discusses the influence of Haitian post-apocalyptic art on his music, artist and listener responsibility, and more.

Interviews

Saul Williams - "The Noise Came From Here" (Singles Going Steady)

Ferguson needs protest anthems, and this is a terrific one.

Music

Afropunk Fest: 24 August 2013 - Brooklyn, NY (Day 1 Photos)

Pictures from Afropunk Fest Day 1, including ones of Saul Williams and the kids of Unlocking the Truth, are here.

Events

Saul Williams: Volcanic Sunlight

Williams actually seems to be moving away from the righteous fury that informed his earliest albums, and has admitted that he set out to make a pop album this time around.

Music

CMJ 2009: Day 2 - Javelin + The xx + Saul Williams/Afro-Punk Tour

The CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival invades New York City this week. Here's the latest from PopMatters' writers on the beat. Words and Pictures by Stephen Stirling

Stephen Stirling

Music

"The Real is Just as Magical as the Fictitious": An Intimate Talk with Saul Williams

Few people would give their new album away for free online. Fewer would stop a prison brawl by reciting a poem. Fewer still do all this while making a powerful statement about the issue of race in our country today. Saul Williams does all these things.

Music

The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop by Saul Williams

Certain things never change: s'mores are still delicious, rainbows are still happy, calculus is still confusing, and Saul Williams is still angry at mainstream hip-hop culture.

Michael Frauenhofer

Reviews

Pop Ten

MetalMatters: May 2019 - Back to the Basics and Prepare for Takeoff

Jackie Chan's 10 Best Films

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The Best Jazz of 2018

The definition of "jazz" has never been broader, and the music has never been brighter. Two PopMatters critics pick their favorites in four modern jazz categories.

David Murray Teams with Saul Williams on Blues for Memo and Makes His Best Record in Many Years

Elite saxophonist David Murray teams with poet Saul Williams to create his most thrilling recording in decades—a proto or progressive hip-hop grounded in soulful jazz.

Saul Williams Commands Attention at Summerstage (Photos + Video)

Saul Williams played a free, powerful Summerstage show ahead of his appearance at Afropunk this weekend.

Laying the Groundwork: An Interview With Saul Williams

Poet/musician/auteur Saul Williams discusses the influence of Haitian post-apocalyptic art on his music, artist and listener responsibility, and more.

Saul Williams - "The Noise Came From Here" (Singles Going Steady)

Ferguson needs protest anthems, and this is a terrific one.

Afropunk Fest: 24 August 2013 - Brooklyn, NY (Day 1 Photos)

Pictures from Afropunk Fest Day 1, including ones of Saul Williams and the kids of Unlocking the Truth, are here.

Saul Williams: Volcanic Sunlight

Williams actually seems to be moving away from the righteous fury that informed his earliest albums, and has admitted that he set out to make a pop album this time around.

Saul Williams + Afro-Punk Tour: 27 October 2009 - Double Door, Chicago

Words by Chris Catania. Pictures by Colleen Catania

CMJ 2009: Day 2 - Javelin + The xx + Saul Williams/Afro-Punk Tour

The CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival invades New York City this week. Here's the latest from PopMatters' writers on the beat. Words and Pictures by Stephen Stirling

Mercury Rev, Clinic, PAS/CAL...

"The Real is Just as Magical as the Fictitious": An Intimate Talk with Saul Williams

Few people would give their new album away for free online. Fewer would stop a prison brawl by reciting a poem. Fewer still do all this while making a powerful statement about the issue of race in our country today. Saul Williams does all these things.

The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop by Saul Williams

Certain things never change: s'mores are still delicious, rainbows are still happy, calculus is still confusing, and Saul Williams is still angry at mainstream hip-hop culture.

Saul Williams: self-titled

Saul Williams: Amethyst Rock Star

Jenny Lewis Goes the Extra Smile on the Road to Her Happy Place

MetalMatters: May 2019 - Back to the Basics and Prepare for Takeoff

Ordinary Elephant's 'Honest' Is One of the Best Folk Duo Records in Recent Memory

Nils Lofgren Celebrates Love, Loss, Friendship Via 'Blue With Lou'

The Small Glories Sing the Praises of "Alberta" (premiere + interview)

Budokan Boys Create a Strange, Unsettling Musical Landscape on 'DAD IS BAD'

The Small Glories Sing the Praises of "Alberta" (premiere + interview)

Thornato and Benjamín Vanegas Team Up for "Mama Clo" (premiere)

Eclectic Metal's Irata Prepare to Issue Latest Set, 'Tower' (album stream)

Anna Volpe Lets It "Burn" (premiere)

Lydia Luce Revisits "Sausalito" with a Live Performance (premiere)

Bobby Oroza Soulfully Croons About a "Lonely Girl" in His Latest Single (premiere)

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters Offer Up More Than Just Another Road Song With "18 Wheels" (premiere)

Australian DJ Brooke Evers Serves Up Another Dancefloor Shaker with "Feel It" (premiere)

The Get Ahead Ruminate Over the Obscured Visions of "Faint Outline" (premiere)