Jill Scott’s New Music Is As Vibrant As Ever
Jill Scott’s new album fits seamlessly with pop’s retro-futuristic fascination with the 1980s. Her signature mix of poetry, hip-hop, jazz, and soul is as vibrant as ever.
soul jazz
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Thrills on a NYC Night in 1963
Rahsaan Roland Kirk had an idiosyncratic style that fused hard bop with more melodic elements from gospel, blues, and pop. He had a theatrical stage presence.
Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few Celebrate ‘A Love Supreme’
Isaiah Collier’s performance becomes compelling in a way that surpasses expectations, bringing John Coltrane’s famous “sheets of sound” to life.
![Mourning [A] BLKstar Deliver a Rich and Nuanced Album](https://www.popmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mourning-A-BLKstar-by-Emanuel-Wallace-720x380.webp)
Mourning [A] BLKstar Deliver a Rich and Nuanced Album
Cleveland’s Mourning [A] BLKstar give their community their flowers with an album of sprawling, intuitive free jazz and soul on Flowers for the Living.
Kenny Burrell Is Mesmerizing at the Five Spot Café
Jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell’s collection feels more like a warm vignette than a cynical freeze-frame. This is one occasion where digital files simply won’t suffice.
The Greyboy Allstars Drop a ‘Grab Bag’ of Goodies
The Greyboy Allstars’ Grab Bag: (2007-23) is a vibrant collection of previously unreleased tunes showing off the mad skills of these San Diego groove masters.
Igmar Thomas Elevates the Modern Big Band on His New LP
Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band meld classic jazz and modern hip-hop to great effect on ‘Like a Tree It Grows’ with its exciting textures and rock-solid grooves.
The Greyboy Allstars, New Monsoon, ALO, and Moonalice Rock Petaluma
Jazzy electric boogaloo funk masters, the Greyboy Allstars, headline Petaluma with strong support from regional Bay Area rockers New Monsoon and ALO.
Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few Get Spiritual on ‘The Almighty’
Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few’s The Almighty sounds like it could revive the spiritual jazz genre that was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s.
Jembaa Groove’s Jazzy Highlife Is Beautiful on ‘Ye Ankasa’
Berlin’s Jembaa Groove tap into the sonic palettes of African and diasporic forms like highlife and jazz to create a truly elevated work of art.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Pushes the Good Vibe
Funky jazz saxophonist Karl Denson celebrated another birthday at San Francisco’s Fillmore, using the occasion to deliver a funky fiesta for the new year.
Charlotte Dos Santos Unfurls Her Wings on the Exquisite ‘Morfo’
Morfo is an amplification of everything making Charlotte Dos Santos an entrancing artist: gossamer voice, luscious atmosphere, and a pervasive sense of wonder.